The Most Holy Blood of Christ, Year A – Homily

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The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 (12)
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-58
June 11, 2023

The Book of Deuteronomy is seen as a farewell address by Moses as he reminds the people of what the Lord has done for them and what they agreed to do (keep the commandments). 

God allowed them to “be afflicted with hunger.”  In their hunger, they recognized they need for God and cried out to him.  God responded by feeding them with manna, “a food unknown” to them.  (Some scholars today try to explain what the manna was in terms of substances that existed them.  The Bible is explicit in calling the manna, “a food unknown” to them.  So, it couldn’t have been a common substance).

God had brought them out of slavery from Egypt.  Jesus, Son of God, frees us from our slavery to sin.

God fed the Israelites in the desert with the manna, a food unknown to them.  Jesus feeds us with a food that we cannot fully recognize with human eyes.  It looks like bread but it has been changed into Jesus’ Body.  It is food for our souls.

Our gospel today comes from Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse.  Jesus is preparing them for the Eucharist. 

Bread is seen as a basic necessity for life.  Jesus identifies himself, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”  He tells us, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.”

No one lives forever in this world.  Jesus is speaking of life with God for eternity.

Hearing this, “The Jews quarreled among themselves.”  They struggled to understand.  The fact that they were quarreling over it would seem to indicate that some believed what Jesus said and some didn’t.  To some it sounded like cannibalism.  How could they all eat his flesh and drink his blood? 

The Jews had not experienced the Last Supper.  We have.  We know that what Jesus speaks of in this discourse is what we receive in the Eucharist.

Unfortunately, many people don’t fully get what Jesus has done for us.  When we receive the Eucharist, we are not receiving ordinary bread and wine.  No, from Jesus’ own words at the Last Supper, the bread and wine are transubstantiated into Jesus’ Body and Blood.

Transubstantiation is a big word.  It’s a word we don’t use any other time.  It should be a word we don’t use any other time.  There is nothing else like it.  The outward appearance does not change.  In faith, we know its substance is changed.

Paul speaks to the Corinthians of the cup as “a participation in the blood of Christ.”  Paul also speaks of the bread as “a participation in the body of Christ.”

What does Paul mean by participation?

On Good Friday Jesus offered his life on the Cross as a sacrifice for our sins.  The night before, at the Last Supper, He identified the bread as his body which would be given up for us and the wine as his blood which would be shed for us. 

In doing so, Jesus united the celebration of the Eucharist to his sacrifice.  Every time we celebrate Mass, we are celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus.  We do not offer a new sacrifice. Rather, God, in a way only God can, makes present to us the sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary.

As Mass, you are not just spectators.  You participate by actively engaging in the Mass.  You can call to mind the sacrifices you have made for others and ask God to unite them with Jesus’ sacrifice.

How much do you think about this at Mass?

Do you reflect on the fact that Jesus’ sacrificed his life so that your sins can be forgiven?

When you come forth for Communion, do you realize you are receiving Jesus himself?  Do you think about what that means for you?

Have you ever come to Eucharistic Adoration? 

Do you even know what Eucharistic Adoration is?

After Communion, the remaining hosts that have been consecrated are placed in the Tabernacle to be brought to the sick and homebound.

One larger host is kept in the Luna.  The Luna is small glass container that holds the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance for Eucharistic Adoration.  It is not just a piece of bread.  It is Jesus present for us in the Eucharist.  If it were just bread, there would be not point to Eucharistic Adoration.  When we accept in faith that it is Jesus, then Adoration becomes time spent with Jesus.

We offer Eucharistic Adoration on the First Friday of each month.  I strongly encourage you to come. 

Today, on this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus, we are going to do something very special at the end of our 10 am. Mass.  We are going to have a Eucharistic Procession.

What is a Eucharistic Procession?

I will take the Blessed Sacrament in the Luna and place it in the monstrance.  Then, I will incense it.

Then, our Cross-bearer will lead us out.  As the Cross passes you, remember it is not just the Cross.  Jesus is there Crucified for you.  This is the Sacrifice we have celebrated in Mass.  Then will come torch bearers, reminding us that Jesus is the light of the world.  Then, the thurifer with the smoke rising up with our prayers to God.  Then, will comes in the monstrance.  Then, two more torchbearers, followed by the lector, and then any of you who wish to join in follow.

Why have a Eucharistic Procession?  To witness to our belief that it truly is Jesus.  Let God into your heart and you will know it is Jesus.

As we process, once we are all outside, all are invited to join in the Litany to the Sacred Heart (found in the program) led by one of our parishioners.

Then, we will return to church, where I will again incense the Blessed Sacrament and then bless you with the Blessed Sacrament with the Sign of the Cross (known as Benediction).

I pray that you all know in the depths of your heart and your soul that it is Jesus.

More From “The Old Evangelization”

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Last week I began my reflection on The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did by Eric Sammons (El Cajon, CA: Catholic Answers Press. 2017) with my article “Discipleship Necessitates Evangelization.”

In that article, I presented Sammons’ discussion of how our “fear of rejection” can keep us from sharing the faith with our family and friends. He continues that theme in chapter 4. He presents the standard excuse, “But if I don’t tell her, then perhaps over time I’ll be able to bring her closer to God” (66, my emphasis). The point is entirely valid. We should ask ourselves how we can accomplish the greater good, by being blunt with others about the truth or by trying to remain part of their life. It is very unlikely that we help them by remaining silent about the truth. Our silence can often be interpreted as approval. What good do we accomplish by hiding the truth from them? If we want them to know Jesus Christ more fully, they need the truth to do so. Staying part of their life can present further opportunity for evangelization, for their conversion. However, if we do not speak the truth, how can there be any chance for conversion?

Sammons writes about how the “fear of rejection” shows itself in parish ministry with quotes like “We can’t do that; it might upset people in the parish” (70). We don’t want to upset people needlessly. However, at times maybe they need to be upset. How else will they turn their lives more fully to God?

He also quotes the idea, “We have to meet people where they are” (70). This is true but that doesn’t mean we are supposed to leave them there. Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery,  “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more” (John 8:11). He met her where she was at in her sin but He did not say it was not a sin. He called her to conversion, “do not sin any more.”

He then refers to the common thought, “If we do that, no one will come” (70). This can be true but nothing ventured, nothing gained. As Sammons writes, we don’t know how people will respond (70). We need to ask the Holy Spirit to direct us to what we should do. We need to do something, even if some take offense. Otherwise, as Sammons writes, “Their guiding principle has been to please people, not preach the gospel to them.”

Jesus didn’t please everyone. That wasn’t his mission and it isn’t our mission. Our mission is to proclaim the gospel, not to change it to make it easier or more acceptable.

Jesus didn’t fail when people rejected him. He came not to abolish the truth. He came to fulfill it (see Matthew 5:17).

We may never know who we lead to conversion. They may undergo a conversion later in life that we never know about. Sammons offers three questions we can ask ourselves to know if we have done what God asks of us (this is what defines success).

First, “Did I accurately represent the teachings of Christ and his church” (72)?

Second, “Was I charitable in all I said and did” (72)?

Third, “Did I invite the person to draw closer to Christ” (72)?

If we have done these, we have done what God asks of us. That is success! (see the Parable of the Sentinel, Ezekiel 3:17-21). It isn’t easy. Just ask Jesus. He was crucified for what He said.

Sammons goes on to tell more stories of people who converted because someone spoke the truth to them (I encourage to read this book for yourselves). We ask the Holy Spirit for the words to say and for the courage to actually say them.

Sammons then speaks of the “heresy of low expectations” (83). Do we really expect people to change? Do we expect people to change or do we “soften the truth” to make it easier for them (83)? Do we think it is possible for people to change (84)?

Sammons writes, “Looking the other way while people live in sin because it would be “too hard” for them to escape it is not mercy – it’s cruelty…But in reality it is we who do not want to be troubled, by having to make the sacrifices necessary – such as unceasing prayer, fasting, and confrontation – to affect changes in a loved one’s life” (85).

Mercy is needed. So is truth. Sammons writes, “I once heard a priest say, “I want to be a lion from the pulpit and a lamb in the confessional” (85). I hope and pray that is what I do. Preach the truth and show mercy when people fall.

Sammons then speaks of a person who wished to start a chapter of Courage (Courage is a Catholic organization faithful to what our faith teaches about homosexuality while offering great support to those with an inclination to same-sex attraction and their family members) whose bishop told them that he didn’t “believe that people with same-sex attraction could leave the homosexual lifestyle” (86). Really? Has that bishop not read the various times in the gospels where Jesus says nothing is impossible for God?

Sammons writes, “There is no mercy in allowing a person to wallow in his sins; instead, the greatest mercy is to challenge him to confront his sins and abandon himself to God” (87).

May God give us the grace we need to speak the words He asks of us.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Three Yet One

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This Sunday we celebrate The Most Holy Trinity. In today’s second reading, Paul concludes his Second Letter to the Corinthians invoking the Trinity as he writes, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” We begin our prayers by invoking the Trinity with the Sign of the Cross. At Mass, the greeting I generally use after the Sign of the Cross comes from these words of Paul. The Trinity is three persons yet one God.

The three, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit form a perfect unity. It is a unity that we cannot fully understand, limited by our humanity. It is a mystery. Here are two slides from my presentation, Praying With the Trinity.

In our today’s first reading, God came down in a “cloud.” The cloud symbolizes mystery. We cannot fully comprehend God but we don’t need to. While we can be “a stiff-necked people,” God still chooses to receive us as his own. He gives us the faith to believe. He chooses to reveal himself to us. The question is are we willing to accept what God reveals to us.

Why does God receive us as his own? For the same reason He “gave his only Son.” Because “God so loved the world.” It is God’s very nature to love us. It is not that we earn his love. We can’t earn it and we don’t have to. God chooses to love us because “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

There is perfect intimacy between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Intimacy is not about physical relationship. Intimacy is to know one another’s innermost being and to be in union.

It is hard for us to understand this because, in our humanity, we are imperfect. Thus, unity between people is strained. God still calls us to unity. As Paul writes, “Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” God wants us to be one. Knowing our imperfections, Paul starts with a call to mend our ways. We need to repent and ask God who is perfect to mend us.

Striving to come together, to “agree with one another” we need to “encourage one another.” When we agree with one another we begin to live in peace. The fullness of peace comes not from agreeing just with each other. It comes when we live in agreement with God, thy kingdom come, thy will be done.

Moses went up the mountain because that is what the LORD commanded him to do. Jesus was crucified in obedience to the Father (see Philippians 2:5-11). Why was Jesus willing to be obedient? Because his love for the Father was perfect. Jesus did not come to “condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

The Trinity is a mystery but not a mystery to be solved. It is a mystery to be embraced in love.

We can trust God. He is a “merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” We can trust him. We ask him to make us one with him, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Discipleship Necessitates Evangelization

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I recently read The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did by Eric Sammons (El Cajon, CA: Catholic Answers Press. 2017). When I saw the title, I ordered it based on my continuing desire to evangelize. As I read it, I found it as much about discipleship, if not more, than evangelization. The bottom line is that if we are going to be disciples, we need to evangelize, we need to share our faith. If you are interested in understanding the importance of sharing our faith, I encourage you to read this book.

Evangelization is not limited to a parish program. Sammons writes, “This book isn’t intended to help you start a new evangelization program in your parish or diocese. It’s intended to be a practical guide for everyday use in your interactions with family, friends, coworkers, and fellow parishioners” (13). We are all aware of the long decline in attendance at Mass. What many are not aware of is how each parishioner has a part to play in reversing the decline.

Sammons offers the example of Claire who did her job and keep quiet about her faith until one day when her coworkers were talking in support of abortion. She felt compelled to speak up. Because she spoke up, one of her coworkers, Linda, admitted to her that she had had an abortion and felt God won’t forgive her. Claire led her to Project Rachel and forgiveness. If Claire hadn’t spoken up, where would Linda be today (18-21)?

Why might we not want to evangelize? Sammons answers with four simple words, “A fear of rejection” (23). When we are speaking with family and friends who we enjoy being with, we don’t want to hurt our relationship with them. So, when we see them living contrary to our faith, we remain silent rather than jeopardize our relationship with them. I have a question. If we are really their friend, shouldn’t we tell them the truth about what they are doing? We are not called to force the faith on others. We are called to offer it to them and let them decide (see Ezekiel 3:17-21 and Luke 9:51-56).

We might think it is the role of trained theologians to share the faith. Sammons reminds us that Jesus chose Mary Magdalene to share the good news of his Resurrection with the other disciples. She was not a trained scholar. She was a sinner. Yet, God called her to share the faith. God wants you to share the faith. In fact, the average parishioner can be in a better position to share how important their faith is than priests, religious, deacons, or scholars. People expect the “professionals” to speak well of the faith. When the ordinary parishioner does the same, it flows from the heart and serves as witness to what our faith really means to them.

We share our faith in our actions but our actions are only a first step. Sammons presents “the four “Ps” of evangelization: Practicing the Faith, Prayer, Penance, and Preaching” (25). Prayer helps us in our discipleship because it helps us know God’s will. It helps us be more attuned to God in our lives (remember what I said about “praying without ceasing” in my series, Giving Our Hearts to God:: What It Means to Pray), and it helps us increase our charity to others (Sammons, 25).

In our prayer, we come to realize our sins and confess them and willingly accept our penance. Then, we “preach,” sharing whatever words the Spirit gives us. We are not all called to give a homily at Mass. That is for the ordained, but we are all called to speak about our faith. You don’t have to give a long theological discussion. Tell others what you believe.

In chapter 3, Sammons talks about the importance of being “welcoming”. Welcoming is not limited to having friendly ushers and/or greeters at the door, a friendly priest, or a welcoming note in the bulletin (48). Nor does being “welcoming” call us to ignore people’s sins. Sammons writes on Marty Haugen’s song All are Welcome for its popularity as a welcoming song (47). It is a good song in that we are called to be welcoming to all people. However, that doesn’t mean we ignore their sins. We welcome them in to lead them to conversion from their sins. Jesus didn’t ignore the sins of people. He told the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more” (John 8:11).

Sammons point out Jesus’ words of how He will cause division in Luke 12:51-53 (49). It is not our purpose to cause division but we need to be aware there will be division when we speak the truth of our faith.

Sammons speaks of the misguided concept that a priest who speaks of people ending up in Hell will be seen as unwelcoming (50). If we care about someone, we should want to tell them that there are consequences to our sins. Actually, in today’s age, we have to start by telling them that there is sin. Jesus’ goal is to save people from their sins (Sammons, 52). If we want to be true Christian disciples, we should make this goal our own.

Could this make people uncomfortable? Of course it could! Sometimes we need to feel uncomfortable to get us to be willing to change! Sammons is a convert. He tells us that part of what led him to become Catholic was his Catholic friends in the pro-life movement weren’t afraid to let him feel uncomfortable when they prayed the rosary in public (55).

Jesus says the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor. To love our neighbor we need to be welcoming in the same way Jesus was and we need to tell them the truth about sin and Hell.

We pray that the Holy Spirit give us the gifts of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and right judgment (counsel) to know what to say to others and the gift of courage (fortitude) to actually say it.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Honoring Mary and Honoring Those Who Died in Service

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A few years ago Pope Francis decreed that the Monday after Pentecost would be celebrated as the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. That’s today (5/29/23). Our first reading today comes from Genesis right after Adam and Eve commit the first sin, the original sin. It was the first sin but it was not the last sin. Sin continues today.

We deal with sins of greed, people who want more for themselves. The problem is that when we take more for ourselves than we should, then someone else has less.

We also face the sin of pride. Sometimes people are more concerned with how good they look rather than caring for the needs of others. They might even be consumed by a conquest for power.

Unfortunately both sins of greed and pride (power) can lead to war. This brings us to what we celebrate today as a national holiday, Memorial Day. For many Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. Summer weather has arrived but today is not about summer weather. Memorial Day is a day in which we honor those who have given their lives in service to our country.

We must pray and work for the day when there are no wars.

Sometimes wars breakout in a locality because someone does not have enough food or water. We treat them with their proper dignity and overt war when we do what we can to make sure they have what they need.

Wars more often involve someone’s quest for power and wealth. Maybe they want to make a name for themselves. Maybe they feel they are a “superior race.” We are all equal before God. We are all children of God. We must work, with the help of God’s Grace, to sin no more.

War is Hell. People die. Today we honor those who died having answered the call to serve. War is never desirable. We must first seek peaceful resolution to conflicts. We should never start a war. It isn’t worth it. However, when another person/country starts a war, we need to ask ourselves how we are called to respond. Our Catholic faith acknowledges this is in just war theory (see my article, “Just War Theory”).

War is not good. We don’t understand it, or at least I don’t understand it. For example, Russia has been attacking the Ukraine for over a year now and I don’t understand why. Pride? Power? Greed? I do not know but I do know that it is not good. Innocent people are being killed and injured.

I wrote above of how sin can lead to war. Will sin ever be defeated? We continue to battle against sin but the ultimate victory over sin has already been won. Here, I point to our gospel reading for today. Jesus dies on the Cross. His death is victory over sin. Thank you Jesus.

So today we pray for those who those who have given their lives in service to our country and we ask Mary as Mother of the Church to watch over those presently serving and we pray to St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of the military.

St. Michael the Archangel, 
defend us in battle. 
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. 
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, 
and do thou, 
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, 
by the power of God, 
thrust into hell Satan, 
and all the evil spirits, 
who prowl about the world 
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Pentecost – Homily

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Pentecost
Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 (30)
1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13John 20:19-23
May 28, 2023

Our passage from Acts today begins, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled…”  We need to realize there are two meanings to this.  First, it was time for the Jewish Pentecost.  The Jewish feast of Pentecost had been a harvest festival and a time for celebrating the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.

The word “Pentecost” means 50 days.  It was now 50 days since Jesus had risen from the dead.  It was time for a new Christian Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

“And suddenly there came from the sky…”  Why from the sky?  Because we visualize Heaven as being above us.  What comes is from Heaven.

“A strong driving wind…”  Remember in the second story of creation how God breathed life into Adam.  The wind is like the breath of God.

“Tongues of fire…”  Remember the fire of the Burning Bush in which God appeared to Moses.  Fire can be used to purify something.  Fire (heat) can transform us.  “Tongues” points to what the Holy Spirit who comes in the “strong driving wind” as “tongues of fire” enables the disciples to do.  The people each heard the disciples speak in their own language. 

What sin had done at the Tower of Babel (they started to speak different languages), the Holy Spirit undid as it purified them.

Paul writes, “No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”  To say “Jesus is Lord” is not simply speaking these three words.  Anyone can speak them but to truly mean and understand them requires the Holy Spirit.  The first disciples received that Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the same Holy Spirit we receive in Baptism.

The Holy Spirit enables us to complete the mission given to us by Christ, to proclaim the gospel to all nations.  We all share in the mission but in “different forms of service” having been given “different kinds of spiritual gifts.”

At the time of the building of the Tower of Babel, the people were scattered by their sin when they began to speak different languages.  The Holy Spirit brought them back together as the people all heard the disciples speaking in their own language.

We are a divided world today.  We are becoming more and more polarized.  Part of this is because of those who think everyone gets to decide their own truth.  We are not united.

We are many parts but called to be one Body in Christ.

There is division over truth as people abandon what God has taught from the beginning and people think they can recreate themselves in their own image.  Our physical bodies that we receive at our conception are part of who God creates us to be.  We cannot recreate ourselves by denying who our bodies say we are.  We are created body and soul.  Our bodies say something about who we are as determined by God.

We did not create ourselves.  We cannot recreate ourselves.  Indeed, we go astray at times.  Going “astray” means we have drifted from God’s plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11).  How could we ever think we know better than God? Yet, at times that is precisely what we think.

God knew his people would stray.  That’s why God knew all along that He would send the Holy spirit to “renew the face of the earth.”  Are you willing to let God renew you, to recreate you, in being who He calls you to be?

It is not easy.  The devil is cunning in leading the world astray.  Are we afraid to speak up against the world?

Do you remember how the disciples were gathered behind locked doors after Jesus had been crucified?

Why did they lock the doors?  “…for fear of the Jews.”  They were afraid of the Jews who had Jesus crucified.  They were afraid the Jews who persecuted Jesus would do the same thing to them.

Fear can be very powerful.

What are you afraid of?

Who are you afraid of?

Does it/they keep you from following Jesus?

How do we overcome our fears?  With the Holy Spirit.  One of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is courage (aka fortitude).  It is this gift of the Holy Spirit that makes it possible to overcome our fears.  The Holy Spirit also offers gifts of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. 

When we accept these gifts, it leads us to “peace.”  The peace that Jesus offers when He says “Peace be with you” is not an earthly peace.  The Peace of Christ transcends earthly things to fill our heart and soul with real peace.  Our struggles against the false ways of the world will not instantly disappear when we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us.  However, our attitude about the struggles will change.  We realize earthly things are not really important.  It is God who brings us the peace and joy we seek.  “Peace” and “Joy” are fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16-26).

I end by stating the choice that each of us has to make.  Are you going to follow those in the world who, tricked by the devil, are abandoning the truth that comes from God, or are you going to let go of worldly ways and allow the Holy Spirit to renew you and to “renew the face of the earth?”

Is Nothing Sacred?

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Last Friday I read a news article, “Shooting at funeral home in Ecuador leaves four dead,” (by Diego Lopez Marina, Catholic News Agency, 5/19/23. Available online at https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254364/shooting-at-funeral-home-in-ecuador-leaves-four-dead). It is not the first time I have heard of a shooting at a funeral. Reading the news, I asked myself, “Is nothing sacred?”

Even among the mafia didn’t there used to be an honor code that said you left people alone at times like funerals? I also think of people who protest in an aggressive way at military funerals. War is a terribly thing and should only be a last resort. During “the military intervention” in Afghanistan and Iraq people would protest at the funerals of active duty soldiers. Here, I do not want to be interpreted as saying people shouldn’t be allowed to protest against wars in peaceful ways. Just leave the families alone. They already know the pains of war in the loss of loved one. If one is going to protest in such situations, do it respectfully and not interfere with the family’s grieving.

I also think about the new techniques of what is done with human bodies after physical depth. The human body is no longer seen as part of the person (see my article “More on Respecting the Dead,” from March of this year.

My question, “is nothing sacred,” isn’t just about funerals. In my recent article, “Reverence Lost,” I spoke of reverence in terms of our attire. I could use the same title here. It is part of a much bigger loss of the sense of things being “sacred.”

I think of the escalation of vandalism in churches since Roe v. Wade was overturned. A search on www.catholicnewagency.com using the phrase “church vandalism” came up with almost 6,000 hits. Again, I do not want to take away someone’s right to protest. I seek only to ask them to do it in a respectful way. There is nothing respectful about breaking statues, windows, or spray painting “Jane’s revenge” on churches. Some of the vandalism doesn’t even indicate their issue. Breaking a statue says nothing about what they are objecting to. It does nothing to advance true dialogue on the issues (for more on dialogue, see my article, “Seeking Real Dialogue,” part of my series of articles, “Our Relationships with Others” on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli Tutti).

We can see the loss of the sense of the sacred on Sunday mornings. It used to be that stores were not open on Sunday mornings and there were not sports or other activities. Sunday was seen as a day for the Lord. Now, the stores are open (no one is forced to go shopping then but people are required to work) and sports and other activities are scheduled then. People who want to go to church are expected to give up church to participate in these activities. Sunday is no longer sacred (for more on Sunday as a day for the Lord see my article, “Keeping the Lord’s Day: What Does It Mean to Me?”).

It can be a slippery slope. When the birth control pill became acceptable to many, it was supposed to lead to less abortions. It hasn’t. In fact, search the internet and you can find stories that show the number of abortions is up. Why? Because of the loss of the sense of life as sacred. I believe in turn this has contributed to the increase in the number of mass shootings. If ending a life in the womb through abortion is okay, people begin to think shooting others they disagree with okay.

We need to look beyond the surface at these things (see my January 2023 article, “The Need for Depth”). We need to ask ourselves why people are doing these things? We need to ask ourselves how can we contribute to real dialogue on the issues.

Those who disagree with our church teaching say we need to be more tolerant but they want to silence us when we speak what we believe. They tolerant what they believe and what to cancel out anything else. In his encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis speaks of how we search social media for people and/or material that agree with us and shut out anything else. This is not tolerance. (For more on what tolerance is, see my article, “Tolerance, Hate Speech, and Dialogue” from January 2021).

As I write this, I find myself getting “a little fired up.” I think this has a good side in that it flows from my passion to know and share God’s Truth. However, I know being “fired up” must be kept in check so that we can engage in true dialogue. I have no intention of letting the fire become acts of violence. So, instead of getting too fired up, I am going to end this article with a prayer.

Dear Lord,
People are losing the sense of the sacred.
Help us to always keep you at the center of our lives
that we may recognize all that you have given us as a gift,
a gift to be cherished.
Help us to always respect others,
even when they have forgotten the truth,
the truth as you give it to us.
Help us to be calm and compassionate.
Help us to bear the name of Christian
in a way that shows us to be your disciples.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Time Between

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“After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem.” There, “they went to the upper room” (first reading for this 7th Sunday of Easter) The upper room is where they had gathered with Jesus after his Resurrection. It is a familiar place. Just before He ascended Jesus had told his disciples to “wait for the promise of the Father.” They were to wait for the Holy Spirit who would come at Pentecost.

What did they do for the ten days until Pentecost? They “devoted themselves with one accord to prayer.” Now, there will be other times after Pentecost when we hear of the disciples coming together in prayer. Communal prayer was a regular part of their lives. Think of how we come together every week for Mass.

While prayer was a regular part of their lives, I see this time between Jesus’ Ascension and Pentecost as a special time of prayer as they prepared themselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit. I see it as a time of retreat for them.

Those of us who are baptized have already received the Holy Spirit. In Confirmation we are sealed with the same Holy Spirit. As we sit between Ascension and Pentecost, perhaps it is a good time for us to spend some time reflecting on what gifts we have been given by God and how well we are using them.

It can also be a time for us to reflect on what it means to pray. Our gospel reading for this 7th Sunday of Easter begins with Jesus raising his eyes to Heaven. He is praying. Why is He praying at this particular moment? Because his “hour has come.”

What are we trying to accomplish in prayer?

It is not simply to give God our lists of needs. We pray to “dwell in the house of the LORD.” We pray that we may “gaze of the loveliness of the LORD.” Jesus says, “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God.” Ultimately, prayer should be an encounter with God, a time to simply sit in his presence, to contemplate his presence. Contemplate does not require words. In fact, to contemplate the Lord requires silence.

In prayer we ask God to help us in our needs. In prayer we ask God to help us accept any suffering that comes us as Christians and bear them well, We ask God for the gaze to bear them well so that we may glorify him. This is not easy. When I find myself in distress, I wonder if I am bringing the suffering upon myself or is it part of my calling as a disciple of Christ. If the former, I ask God to help me let go of the suffering. If the latter, I ask for the grace that my suffering may bear fruit in leading others to Christ.

It is not easy to know the difference. When I pray about the distinction, I often use the Serenity Prayer. When I do not have the written words of the Serenity Prayer in front of me, I use the first four lines of the Serenity Prayer that are known to many (and I have memorized). When I can, I use the full length version to help me realize that the world is not as God would like it and trust “that He will make all things right.” It’s not easy but, remember, nothing is impossible for God.

Prayer is important. God wants us to come to him with our needs. More than that, God wants us to come to him in conversation. For it to be a conversation, we can’t and shouldn’t do all the talking. Don’t control the conversation. After laying your needs before the Lord, let God be in charge of what is said. At times, prayer should be silent with neither God or us speaking. At this moment, it is about being present to God and aware that He is present with us. Don’t you ever spend time with people you are close to whether nobody is talking? You are just happy to be together.

Jesus prayed. Numerous times in the gospels that He went off to pray. All 26 verses of chapter 17 of John’s Gospel are one prayer. The hour of his Passion was beginning. What did He pray for? In that prayer, He says, “I pray for them.”

Who is the “them”?

We are. Jesus is praying for us as those who believe in him.

So, take some time to pray in silence. Trust that Jesus is with us always.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Knowing What the Truth Is

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Throughout the Easter season the first reading for both daily and Sunday Mass (albeit on separate cycles) comes from the Acts of the Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the early church.

The Acts of the Apostles tells how the early church lived in community. In Acts 4:32-35 we read, “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.  With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.“

They faced repeated persecution. The disciples were arrested and placed in prison several times, only to be set free by God (for example see Acts 5:17-42). When they were told to stop preaching about Jesus, Peter replied, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29b).

The persecution of the early church would actually contribute to the spread of the faith. “On that day, there broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1).

The way of Jesus was spread not just to the Jews but also to the Gentiles. Acts chapters 10 & 11 tells how Peter came to share the faith with Gentiles. Paul would become an “Apostle to the Gentiles.”

The spread of the faith to the Gentiles would raise questions. Did Gentile converts need to be circumcised? Did Gentile converts need to follow all of the Mosaic Law?

Paul said no but not all agreed. “Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). They realized this question was too important for any one community to decide for themselves. “Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question” (Acts 15:2). This led to the first council of the church. The story of this “Council of Jerusalem” is found in Acts 15 and was our first readings at daily Mass last week.

At this council, “The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter” (Acts 15:6) and much debate took place.

How did they decide?

Acts 15:28 answers this question, “It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities.” It was not merely a human decision. It was not decided by a democratic vote. First and foremost it was a decision of the Holy Spirit that the Gentile converts did not have to be circumcised and what parts of the Mosaic practice they had to follow. (Here I will note that circumcised was not simply eliminated and forgotten. Baptism became the way one became Christian. Baptism was not a human invention. Jesus himself was baptized and it was Jesus who said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).)

They realized their work was not done with the decisions made. They had to make sure the decisions were properly communicated. “Since we have heard that some of our number [who went out] without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul” (Acts 15:24-25).

Today there are many different voices tells us contradictory opinions. Even within the church, there are those who wish to change church teaching. For example, there are those who wish to abandon what the Bible says and what our Catholic faith has taught from the beginning about same-sex relationships. I have not read where any of them offer a justification for this that is consistent with what the Church has taught (for what the Church does teach on same-sex relationships, see my article “Towards Dignity and Truth: Compassionate Dialogue on Homosexuality”).

How is one to know what is right? The first question to ask is what they say consistent with what the Church has taught? Is it consistent with what we read in Bible? Do they speak with the authority of the magisterium of the Church (the Pope and the College of Bishops) or are they offering only an opinion? Having an academic degree does not make a person part of the magisterium. I am not part of the magisterium. I cannot and do not wish to offer new teachings. I merely seek to help people understand what our faith does teach. I do my best to cite the Bible and Church teaching so that you may not what I offer is not merely my own opinion and is consistent with Church teaching. Please pray that this is I do.

In today’s world, even when we hear something in the news that the Pope has spoken, we need to be careful of how we take it. In today’s world of mass media, genuine papal quotes can be taken out of context and/or misinterpreted. If you hear something the news reports the Pope said that seems contrary to our faith, do not rely solely on the news media. Check trusted Catholic news sources and when possible look for information directly from the Vatican. When official documents on church teaching are issued, they can generally be found in several languages on the Vatican website (www.vatican.va) the same day they are published.

There is one thing you must do to ensure that the true faith is always taught. Pray! Pray that the Holy Spirit is always guiding the Church and that this voice of truth is heard.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

A Reason For Your Hope

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There is suffering in the world. We wish there wasn’t. We pray for an end to all suffering. We need to seek to do our part to alleviate suffering. Yet, we know the reality is that there is suffering. It might be from illness. It may be job-related. It may be as a consequence of our bad choices or the bad choices of another. Sometimes we have no reason for suffering.

Yet, with faith in God we have hope. Hope transcends suffering. Peter writes, “Always be ready to give an explanation for your hope but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear.” (Today’s second reading) Perhaps one of the greatest things we can do for others in sharing the faith is to share the reason we have hope.

Why do we have hope?

Because Jesus Christ willingly gave his life, dying for our sins. As Peter writes, “For Christ also suffering for sins once…that he might lead you to God.” We have hope because of Jesus.

“Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” One might interpret this to mean that Jesus’ love is conditional based on our keeping of his commandments. It doesn’t say that. His love is not conditional. God’s love for us is absolute. As Jesus says, “No one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Actually, Jesus doesn’t just say this. It is exactly what He does for us on the Cross. Jesus lays down his life for us on the Cross.

If our love for Jesus is true and pure, we will trust in him. Trusting him, means knowing that his commandments are good for us. Trusting him means keeping his commandments. Thus, loving Jesus means keeping his commandments.

In the Old Testament we heard of the tremendous works of God. In the gospels we hear of many signs done by Jesus that led people to believe in him. In the Acts of the Apostles we hear of the signs done by the Apostles that got the crowds to pay attention. All of these can be reasons for our hope.

Jesus willingly laying down his life for us should be at the top of the list.

Jesus does so much for us and it did not stop with his death. Before his death He tells us, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept.” Of course, He is speaking of the Holy Spirit.

He speaks of how the world cannot accept the Spirit of truth. Why not? Because many do not want to. If they accept what God gives as Truth, then they would have to change. They don’t want to. So, they reject it as false. Do you accept the Truth God gives us?

God will never abandon us. He will never leave us orphaned. Jesus assures us, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.“

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Peace,

Fr. Jeff