Second Video Presentation in series “Being Church in Today’s World”

Posted by on

Last night I presented Part II in my new series of presentations, Being Church in Today’s World. The video recording and slides are available at http://www.renewaloffaith.org/beingchurch2022part2 .

If you watch the video in the next couple of days, you can complete an online evaluation at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQn3P-thZmI7I-t4pOxecYx2dMLIB49AlxBtaGlxxQErri1g/viewform?usp=sf_link

You can register for Part III at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A7xZL2eeRVqXl74ig-qbOw .

Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Some Saints to Consider

Posted by on

While I was on retreat last week two things happened that led me to think about some of the saints who inspire me. The first was that we celebrated the feastdays of some of them. Secondly, as I was reading St. Francis De Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life, there was a section where he discussed the saints. 

Today I would like to share some thoughts with you about these saints who inspire me. I will begin with the three feastdays that we celebrated last week. First, on October 18th, we celebrated feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. The Gospel of Luke has always been one of my favorites. The last parish I served in was St. Luke the Evangelist. That led me to think more about St. Luke as well as the saints that the individual churches are named after in that parish (see my series of presentations on those saints at www.renewaloffaith.org/saints, St. Luke is discussed in Part III).

The first reading of the day, 2 Timothy 4:10-17b, identifies Luke as a committed partner with St. Paul. As someone who feels called by God to share the gospel, I am inspired by St. Luke as an evangelist, a writer of one of the gospels. Evangelization is the very purpose of his writing his gospel. He begins his gospel, “Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received” (Luke 1:1-4). He wants the people to know the truth of Jesus Christ. He investigated “everything accurately anew” to make sure what he wrote was true. St. Luke, please help us to do the same.

Then, the next day, October 19th, we celebrated the Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs. They came to North American in the 17th century as missionaries. They are of particular significance to me because the area where they served is only a few hours from where I live. Their service to the gospel led them to martyrdom. They were among the first to bring the gospel to what is now New York State. As the practice of the faith is slipping away, we ask for the intercession of the North American Martyrs as we seek to re-evangelize people who have lost the faith and to reach out to those who have never known Jesus.

Then, on October 20th, we celebrated the Optional Memorial of St. Paul of the Cross. (His feastday actually falls on October 19th but, in the United States, it is moved to October 20th since we celebrate the North American Martyrs on the 19th). He was an 18th century priest and founder of the Congregation of the Passion, known as the Passionists. At the heart of their preaching is the Passion of Jesus Christ. In his Passion, Jesus survived greatly for us and was crucified. We must never forget this for “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). St. Paul of the Cross, please pray that we always remember what Jesus went through for us and that we help others to know the Passion of Christ.

Turning to other saints, earlier this month, on October 4th, we celebrated the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment. Part of my admiration of St. Francis is because I love being outdoors in the beauty of what God has created. What inspires me about St. Francis of Assisi is his devotion to poverty. As a diocesan priest, I do not take a vow of poverty but I do very much seek simplicity. As I sat in the cabin on retreat last week, I found myself encouraged by the simplicity of the cabin, which was literally half the size of the rectory I live in. When our lives are taken by life in a busy world, we may forget what is really important. St. Francis of Assisi, please help us to always seek simplicity.

Next, I would like to include St. Thomas Aquinas (feastday January 28th). He is known as a great scholar. Those who know me know that I love to read and learn more about our faith. However, I do not do so for intellectual reasons. St. Thomas Aquinas is known as great theologian. As I learned more about him for my series on the saints of St. Luke the Evangelist parish (www.renewaloffaith.org/saints), I was inspired by what I read regarding St. Thomas Aquinas’ purpose in his theological work. As Bishop Robert Barron writes of St. Thomas Aquinas, “As a magister of theology, his purpose is never simply to satisfy the curiosity of the mind; rather, it is to change the lives of his readers, to transform their hearts, in a word, to move them to salvation.” (Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master.  Crossroad Publishing: New York.  2008., 19, my emphasis). (St. Thomas Aquinas is covered in Part III of my series Our Saints and Intercessors). St. Thomas Aquinas, please pray that I help others to allow the Lord to transform their hearts.

Now, I turn to St. John Fisher who shares his feastday, June 22nd, with St. Thomas More. St. John Fisher is the patron saint of the Diocese of Rochester where I serve. He was a bishop and a theologian. He was martyred along with St. Thomas More, by King Henry VIII because he would not approve Henry’s splitting the Church of England from the Catholic Church. St. John Fisher, please pray that we have the same courage and faith that you had as we deal with politicians today who reject some beliefs of our Catholic Church. (I discuss Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More in my series, Three Saints to Aid Us.)

The third saint in my series, Three Saints to Aid Us is St. Michael the Archangel who shares his feastday, September 29th, with the archangels St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. These archangels are all mentioned by name in the Bible. When I became pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Newark, NY, I read a couple of books about him and began to seek his intercession. Revelation 12:7-12 tells the story of St. Michael’s defeat, by the power of God, of Satan. When I struggle against temptation I have come to seek St. Michael’s intercession as well as God’s help by saying the Prayer of St. Michael and one Our Father. It helps.

I end with the Prayer of St. Michael (see my blog article, “The Prayer of St. Michael”).

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

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

Posted by on

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 (7a)
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14
October 23, 2022

Once again Jesus tells a parable, this time “to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.”  One would hope none of us would in this category but since it is Jesus speaking, we do well to listen anyway.

Jesus speaks of two people who went to the temple area to pray.  The first was a Pharisee.  As a Pharisee he should be a man of great faith.  How does he pray?

Jesus says the Pharisee “spoke this prayer to himself.”  Really?  He spoke a prayer to himself?  Isn’t prayer supposed to be a conversation with God?  Hum…

What words does the Pharisee say?  He begins, “O God, I thank you…”  Here he does something good as it is always good to start our prayer by thanking God. 

The Pharisee continues, “…that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector.”

Wow!

Now, he should certainly be thankful that he isn’t greedy, dishonest, or adulterous.  Greed is one of the seven deadly sins.  Dishonesty breaks the Eighth Commandment.  Adultery breaks the Sixth Commandment.  We ask for the grace to not commit any of these sins and we thank God for the grace.  But to actually say in prayer that we are not like, that we are better than others, that’s astonishing!  He even points to the tax collector in his judgment. 

Then, what does the Pharisee do?  He boasts that he fasts twice a week and tithes.  These are things that are good to do but we should not boast.  This would be pride and pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

We see a very different attitude in the prayer of the second person, a tax collector.  He knows he is a sinner.  Because of this he “stood off at a distance and would not even raises his eyes to heaven.”  He understood his unworthiness.  He also understands that God is merciful.  He “beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

Who are we like?  Are we like the Pharisee who judges himself better than others?  Do we judge others for their sin?  Do we judge others for the way they speak or the color of their skin? 

Or do we admit our sins like the tax collector and hand our sins over to God, trusting in his mercy?

Now, “The LORD is a God of justice who knows no favorites.”  He loves all of us, “though not unduly partial toward the weak…oppressed…orphans…widows.”

A parent loves all their children the same but that isn’t the same as treating them all the same.  Some children need more help than others.  God helps those who need it and open themselves to his grace.  “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted:  and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.”

The Lord listens to the one who serves him but this is not a case of if they do what He wants, He will do what they want.  We are not to serve God to get what we want in exchange.  We seek to serve God because it is right and just.

When we surrender ourselves to God’s mercy like the tax collector, God will raise us up.

Now, I would like to return to the boasting of the Pharisee in light of our second reading.  Is Paul boasting like the Pharisee?

Paul says, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”  He speaks of the “crown of righteousness” that awaits him.  This sounds like boasting.  What makes Paul different than the Pharisee?

Where does Paul say he will get the crown of righteousness from?  The Lord.  It is not of his own doing.  It is from the Lord is at work in him.  And not only in him but to all those who have sought the Lord.  Paul does not make himself out to be better than anyone else.

Paul acknowledges that Lord stood by him and gave him strength.

Paul acknowledges his sinful past and that he did not rescue himself.  It is the Lord rescued him.

Paul recognizes that all the credit for the good he has done belongs to the Lord, “to him be glory forever and ever.”

Jesus says, “for whoever exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Do you humble yourself before the Lord? 

It might seem like a dumb question as we gather in church but the Pharisee was in the temple area boasting of himself.

Do you beat your breast and confess your sins to God?

Are you open to changing your life, handing it over to God?

This weekend, at the 10 am Mass, we will celebrate the Rite of Welcoming for those who have started the RCIA process.  They are doing this because they are looking for something more.  That something is the fullness of what God offers us.

Are you open to letting the Lord change you?

Spending Time Away

Posted by on

As I write this, I am almost done with some time off.  When I write “time off” I suspect the word “vacation” probably comes to mind for many of you. 

What is the purpose of a vacation?  When I think of “vacation”, I think of time spent travelling for fun or maybe getting a project done.  Well, the last few days for me have not been about getting a project done.  However, neither have my days away been to go someplace “fun”.  Well, sort of. 

I have been someplace people go for fun.  I have been at Letchworth State Park.  I rented a cabin and walked some trails with some great views. 

From Scenic Outlook Near Castile Entrance Looking Upstream
From Scenic Outlook Near Castile Entrance Looking Downstream

However, I did not come to Letchworth to have fun. 

I came for some retreat time.  I came to get away, rest, and find God.  It wasn’t that I lost God.  I’ve been busy and distracted.  I needed to get recentered and find peace.  The search for God is what made this time a retreat rather than a vacation.

People come on vacation to Letchworth State Park to have fun hiking and enjoying the scenery.  I enjoy the walks.  Even in the midst of a busy day at the parish, I try to walk, not simply for fun or physical exercise but because it is where I find peace.  Walks can be an encounter with God. 

At Letchworth State Park, the scenery is beautiful in its physical aspects. 

Yet, the beauty that I seek on retreat goes deeper than physical beauty.  When I look at the gorge and waterfalls, I see power that formed these that reveals God’s hand in nature.  It is beautiful because God made it this way. 

Looking Upstream Middle Falls in Middle and Upper Falls barely seen

On retreat I also spend time a lot of time in prayer.  When one is on vacation, one should pray (as one should always pray) but on retreat, prayer is central.  On retreat, I spent more time than usual in prayer.

Rock with Quote

On vacation one travels.  The destination can be a holy site such as going to the Holy Land, Rome, or even a shrine that might be within driving distance.  Such vacations can (and should) have spiritual value but it may not be spiritual for everyone.  For instance, one can travel to Rome to see the beautiful art without putting God at the center.  One can travel to the Holy Land to study history rather than making a holy pilgrimage to the place where Jesus endured his Passion.  (I pray for those who go to such places for non-spiritual reasons, that their trip help open them to God’s presence in these places.)

Vacations can be educational.  As I already said, a trip to the Holy Land can teach us history.  A trip to Rome can be educational for students of art. 

Depending on where one goes on vacation, one may choose to read.  It might be reading a mystery novel for fun or it might be reading something educational.  On retreat, my reading focuses on spirituality.  Of course, as a priest who loves to learn, most of the reading I do is about faith.  On retreat, I look specifically for books that will help me improve my prayer life over knowledge.  For example, this week I started reading St. Francis De Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life.  I’ll probably use it as material for future blog articles, presentations, and homilies to help others.  Reading it now helps me grow in my own spirituality.  This is why I see this week as a retreat, not simply a vacation. 

On retreat rest is an important item.  We need to be well-rested to rebuild our connection to God.  On vacation, one might seek physical rest.  On retreat, the rest goes deeper.  On retreat we ask God to take our burdens away so we can focus on him.

Retreats are not just for priests, deacons, and religious.  Holiness is something we are all called to, no matter our state in life.  The document, Lumen Gentium, from the Second Vatican Council speaks of the universal call to holiness.  How each person lives out holiness depends on their state in life but, again, we are all called to be holy.  A retreat can help us with this.

Retreats come in different forms.  During a preached retreat, there are speakers who give talks on topics of faith.  While a preached retreat may share commonalities with a conference, the focus is different.  A conference generally focuses on knowledge and understanding while a preached retreat is geared to improving our prayer life.  If you have never been on a retreat, a preached retreat can be a good place to start.  A preached retreat may or may not include silence.

One can also make a directed or private retreat.  Either are a time of silence with prayer and spiritual reading.  The difference between a directed retreat and a private retreat is that on a directed retreat the person meets each day with a spiritual director who serves as a guide to help them see where God is leading them. 

How long should a retreat be?  There is no set length.  If you have never been on retreat, you should begin with a single overnight or a weekend retreat.  Over time, you may lengthen it to 5-8 days. 

What about location?  As I said, I have spent the last few days at Letchworth State Park.  I would not suggest this for your first retreat.  Otherwise, it might be more of a vacation than a retreat.  For anyone who is making a retreat for the first time, I encourage you to do so at a place specifically setup for retreats.  Such places help set the proper environment (with less distractions).

We all need time away from busy lives.  We need time to unwind.  Do you need a vacation to unwind or a retreat to grow in faith?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Be Persistent in Prayer

Posted by on

It is necessary for us “to pray always without become weary.” Today Jesus tells a parable of a woman who persists in her request.

She is awaiting a decision from a judge. The judge, “who neither feared God nor respected any human being“, was in no hurry to make his decision. She did not give up. She kept coming to him for his decision.

The woman’s persistence pays off. Because she kept “bothering” the judge, he decides to “deliver a just decision for her.” Does this mean all we have to do is keep nagging God to get him to do what we want?

We do not know what the case was about nor do we know what decision would have been to the liking of the woman. She does not tell him what he should decide. She asks him to “render a just decision.” There’s a lesson for us. When we pray do we tell God what to do? Or do we share our problems and our needs with God and then trust him to do what is just?

What is our objective when we are persistent in prayer? Are we trying to get God to change his mind? Or, trusting in God to “secure the rights of his chosen ones“, do we allow God to change our minds? If we pray with an open heart, we allow God to direct us to what is good for us.

We need to “be persistent, whether it is convenient or inconvenient” in prayer. The Bible, inspired by God, has numerous stories of how God has come to the aid of the Israelites when they are persistent in prayer. The Bible “is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” The Bible shows us how to be disciples.

Our first reading tells us of a battle where “Amalek came and waged war against Israel.” Led by Joshua, the Israelite soldiers “engaged Amalek in battle.” The Israelites did not seek war but they responded to defend themselves. Yet, it was not simply a battle of two armies.

As the Israelites engage Amalek, Moses is standing on the hill “with the staff of God” in his hands. It does not say he is holding his staff. It is explicit in saying it was “the staff of God.” It is the same staff that Moses held when God placed ten plaques in Egypt. It is the staff used to part the Red Sea.

As the Israelites engage Amalek in battle, it is not there battle alone to fit. God is with them as long as Moses persists in prayer. Moses “kept his hands raised up.” As long as Moses kept his hands up, “Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight.” Moses needed to persist but he grew tired. He needed help to persist. In his need, “Aaron and Hur supported his hands.“

What battles do you face? Are you facing an illness? Job issues? Family issues? Are you able to persist in prayer or have you grown weary? We are called to mindful for those who have grown tired and pray for them. We pray God’s Will be done.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Faith Comes Alive

Posted by on

October 9th is the feastday of Cardinal John Henry Newman. This year it fell on a Sunday. Sundays take precedence over the feastdays of saints (unless it is a solemnity). So, his feast was not celebrated this year. However, I when I realized it was his feastday, it made me think about how strong the faith is in people’s hearts today.

Cardinal John Henry Newman lived in 19th century England. He was raised in the Anglican Church. He was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church and served at Oxford’s Trinity College. There he became a member of the Oxford Movement, which emphasized study of the early Church fathers. This led to his conversion to the Catholic Church (“St. John Henry Newman”, Saint of the Day, https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-henry-newman). His feastday is on October 9th as the anniversary of his reception into the Catholic Church (“Celebration of Cardinal Newman’s feast day will break from tradition”, September 10, 2010. Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/20815/celebration-of-cardinal-newmans-feast-day-will-break-from-tradition).

Each of us has our own story of faith. Some have been lifelong practicing Catholics. Some people grow up in another Christian denomination but as that faith deepens, they find themselves becoming Catholic. When they come from other Christian denominations, this does not mean a rejection of the faith they were raised in. I see it as a deepening of their faith as they come to understand Catholicism.

Others who become Catholic in their adulthood may come from a spirituality outside Judeo-Christian tradition. Others might have been raised without any faith. They find themselves longer for something more. I love to hear conversion stories because they often help me appreciate the elements of our Catholic faith that lifelong Catholics sometimes take for granted.

Last week I wrote an article here called “Sacred Scripture and Tradition” based on my reading of Mark Shea’s By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition Revised and Expanded Edition (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2013). In this book, Shea tells us his conversion to the Catholic Church was not a rejection of his Evangelical roots but rather built upon it as he came to understand Tradition in the Catholic Church.

Converts tend to be more vibrant in practicing for their faith. I think this is because they have a great appreciation for what they have found in the Catholic Church. Some of them were already passionate about their faith. That passion is often part of what leads them to the Catholic Church as they look for answers in faith.

Does this mean that lifelong Catholics cannot be passionate about their faith? No. It’s not that they don’t have faith. Sometimes people are just lukewarm (see Revelation 3:16) about their faith because they take it for granted. As cradle Catholics we learn about our faith as young children. It is important to teach young children about their faith but the learning should not stop in childhood.

We learn differently as children than as adults. As children we memorize prayers and listen to the stories in the Bible. Yet, we don’t always take them to heart. As we become adults, we look for more depth and meaning. This is when our faith can really come alive if we don’t just take it for granted.

I was baptized as an infant. When I went to church as a child, there was something that I enjoyed about my faith but I didn’t understand what it was. As an adult I began to search for something more in life. This led me back to church where I have found something very powerful. Discovering the fullness of our Catholic faith has led me to a strong desire to share it with others.

What does faith mean to you? Is it something you do for an hour on Sunday? Or is it part of your whole life? Remember, “Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). If your faith is part of your whole life, what has brought you to this depth of faith? How might you share that with others?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily

Posted by on

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
2 Kings 5:14-17
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 (see 2b)
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19
October 9, 2022

Naaman was a great soldier, serving as commander in his king’s army.  He was also a leper.  He had sought a cure in many ways.  Unable to obtain a cure, he learned of the prophet Elisha and went to him for healing.

Elisha told him to go plunge into the Jordan River.  Since Naaman was not a Jew, the Jordan River was not special to him.  So, Elisha’s instruction seemed frivolous to him.  His attendants convinced him to do it.

When Naaman “plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God,” something wonderful happened.  “He was clean of his leprosy.”  Good things happen when we do what God says through his prophets.

Naaman understood the significance of his healing but he did not fully understand the source of his healing.  To show his gratitude for his healing, he returned to Elisha to offer him a gift. 

Elisha refused the gift because he knew the glory belonged to God.  It was God who had healed Naaman, not Elisha. 

Hearing this, Naaman wanted to be able to continue to show his gratitude to God so he asked to take “two mule-loads of earth” with him.  Why?  Because the belief of many in those days was that gods were gods of the local place.  So, if Naaman was going to worship the God of the Israelites back home, he would need dirt from Israelite land upon which to erect an altar.

We ask God for help.  Do we remember to thank him?

As Jesus “continued his journey to Jerusalem…ten lepers met him.”  As lepers, per the Mosaic law, “they stood at a distance” from where they cried out “Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!”  They asked for help from the one they called “master.”  They cried out in faith believing He could help them.

Did Jesus anoint them with oil?  Did He wash them with water?  Did He tell them to plunge into the Jordan River?  No. 

Jesus’ only response was to tell them “Go show yourselves to the priests.”  This was what the Mosaic Law called for after lepers were healed.  They had not yet been healed but they trusted in Jesus and did what He said.

For their trust, for their faith in Jesus, they were healed.

What was their reaction?  We do not know what nine of them did.  I hope they did what Jesus told them to do and went to the priests where they would have been declared clean.

One had a different reaction.  He recognized Jesus as the source of his healing and “returned glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.”

Do we see Jesus as the source of our healing and thank him?

When we face serious illness, we should do two things.  We should pray to God and we should ask healthcare workers for help.  When we are healed, we should thank both God and the healthcare workers.

The two are not mutually exclusively.  There are those who think physical healing comes from healthcare workers only.  Medical science is wonderful but where do they get their knowledge and abilities from?

Think about it.  When a person has a bypass operation on their heart, a vein is taken from their leg to replace the clogged arteries in their heart.  Where did they ever get the idea this could be done?  God.

The same could be true for the way other illnesses are treated.  The inspiration comes from God.  The ability to do these procedures also comes from God.  Thus, we thank God for guiding the healthcare workers and we thank the healthcare workers for using their abilities to care for people.

What about when we feel like our current prayers aren’t being answered?  In faith, we remember what God has done for us in the past and trust that He will answer our prayers at the appropriate time in accord with his will.

Until then, we ask for the grace to live with an “attitude of gratitude” for what God has already done for us.  Such gratitude can change the way we look at our present sufferings.  It gives us the strength to bear our present sufferings, to persevere in faith.

We ask God for help with many things.  Do we remember to thank him?

Sacred Scripture and Tradition

Posted by on

I recently read Mark Shea’s By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition Revised and Expanded Edition (San Francisco: Ignatius Press. 2013). Shea began his Christian life in the Evangelical Church. This book tells his story of moving from sola scriptura (from the Bible only) to his embracing of Sacred Tradition in the Catholic Church. It is his story. I will not retell his story here. You can read his story for yourself.

In this article, I want to offer some highlights of his points regarding sola scriptura and Sacred Tradition. The book tells Shea’s conversion story. However, it is not just a story. In describing his purpose in writing it, he writes, “It is written for those Catholics who wish to find a way to speak of the Faith to their Evangelical brothers and sisters that is not alienating but intelligible. It is written for Catholics who wish to understand more clearly the very real impediments to faith an Evangelical often encounters when he thinks of the Catholic faith” (17). Cradle Catholics may take our faith for granted. We take Catholic Tradition for granted. We know what we do even if we don’t understand it. However, I think it is the lack of understanding that is a core issue in Catholics who no longer practice their faith or have left for another denomination. I see what Shea says about sola scriptura and Sacred Tradition as important part of people growing in their understanding of our Catholic faith.

In the Evangelical Church, Shea was raised to reject tradition. The rejection has its ties to scripture. In fact, it flows from Jesus’ words, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees” (Mark 8:15 as quoted by Shea from RSV translation). The Jewish religious leaders had added to God’s tradition and yet fell short of practicing their faith. Evangelicals see this verse as a call to reject human tradition.

In his journey of faith, Shea comes to the question, if we reject tradition, then how is it we accept the Bible as it is. Where did the Bible come from? He writes, “I had rather absentmindedly nodded assent to the general Evangelical sense that Scripture, being “God breathed”, is therefore self-attesting and does not depend at all upon tradition…I had simply figured, “Since it’s divinely inspired, it can be discerned by any Spirit-filled believer.” I thought it was one of those “obvious” truths” (61).

Shea will go on to discuss both the origin of the Bible and how we come to know which books belong in the Bible. It comes from Sacred Tradition.

Using the book of Ecclesiastes as one example, Shea came to realize that left to his own resources, he “would never have seen Ecclesiastes as a scriptural book. Rather I accepted it because I had been taught to do so by my church” (72). Why do we accept the 73 books in the Catholic Bible as “the Bible”? Because, led by the Holy Spirit, our Catholic faith has taught us this as part of Sacred Tradition.

Shea later writes, “Therefore, I realized, one of the two things necessarily followed: either, as modernism said, the canon of Scripture was a merely human tradition or else God must have ordained some sort of revelation outside of Scripture as the means by which we could know what Scripture was. There was no third option” (83).

Still, given that Jesus told us to “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees“, how is it that we can come to accept Sacred Tradition? Shea finds the answer in the Bible. Shea writes, “Paul twice commands and commends adherence to tradition! I blinked and looked again. It was still there. First, he tells the Thessalonians, So then, brethen, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thes 2:15, RSV)” (85). Shea continues, “Second, Paul not only commands an adherence to tradition, but he expressly warns his readers to shun anybody who doesn’t” (85, see 2 Thes 3:6, RSV). Remember, in Paul’s day, there was no New Testament. The faith that Jesus brought was shared in oral tradition.

Even when the New Testament was written, it was not mean to tell us everything Jesus did. It tells us so for we read in John 20:30, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book” (see Shea, 88). Everything does not have to be in the Bible to be valuable in our faith. How do we know this? From the Bible. Shea points out how the Letter of Jude quotes a tradition from Enoch, which is not the Bible, to show us that extrabiblical sources have their place (see Shea, 95). This is not to say all extrabiblical sources are equal. We count on the Holy Spirit and Tradition to guide in the sources that are from God.

Shea then turns to Jesus’ own words to find that Tradition has its value, citing Matthew 23:2-3, as Jesus tells his disciples to obey what the teachers and Pharisees who “sit in Moses’ seat.” Shea points out that the Old Testament does not mention Moses’ seat as a sign of authority. It is point of tradition at Jesus’ time. He tells his disciples to follow that tradition even though it isn’t in the Bible (97).

As Shea comes to accept the place of Sacred Tradition, he begins to see how apostolic succession, the handing down over the ages of the faith is affirmed in the Bible. Shea quotes Jesus, “He who listens to you listens to me” (Luke 10:16, RSV as quoted by Shea, 135).

Shea later realizes that this continued as the apostles took what Jesus them and handed it on to their successors (see examples like Acts 14:23, see Shea 146-147). We are not called to decide what is true by ourselves. There needs to be a central authority. For this, God gives us the Church. We need to pray that the Church is always led by the Spirit.

What I have written here is only a taste of Shea’s whole book. If you would like to learn more, I encourage you to read the book for yourself.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Increase Our Faith

Posted by on

“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.“

These are the words that begin our gospel reading today. The apostles had seen Jesus do many miracles as He cured people and drove out demons. Through the power Jesus gave them, they had even healed people themselves. They had also heard Jesus teach. From all of this Peter professed that Jesus is the Messiah.

Through what they experienced they had come to faith in Jesus. Yet, they knew their faith was not as strong as it should be. Thus, they asked Jesus to increase their faith.

How strong is your faith? When you face sufferings, do you feel like your faith is wavering?

Sufferings are nothing new. When we suffer, we pray but we don’t always get the answer we want when we want. We see this from Habakkuk in our first reading. Habbakuk cries out, “How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene.” He faces ruin, misery, destruction, and violence.

What is the Lord’s response to Habakkuk? He gives Habakkuk a vision and tells him to “Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time…it will not be late.” God has a plan that He reveals in this vision but it is not yet time to fulfill it. He tells Habakkuk to write it down so that when it is fulfilled, the people will know that God keeps his promises. No matter how bad things get, God is with us.

Habakkuk lamented what he was going through. His lamentation might be interpreted as losing faith. Yet, we know he still has faith. How? Because he is crying out to the Lord! If he had lost his faith completely, he would not have cried out to the Lord. He still believes. He just doesn’t understand. He struggles. He needs more faith.

Returning to today’s gospel passage, how does Jesus respond to the apostles request, “Increase our faith“? Jesus replies, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.“

Ouch! A mustard seed is tiny. I have not moved a mulberry tree by merely telling it to move. I know my faith is not perfect but how small is my faith?

Actually, I’ve never tried to move a mulberry tree (or any tree) by words. I don’t expect to. Yet, I do face struggles. I try to accept them as I know Jesus calls us to carry our crosses. Paul writes to the Timothy, “bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” We are called to bear our hardships but we don’t have to do it alone. We do it with “the strength that comes from God.”

We are to “stir into flame the gift of God” that we have received. Paul speaks to Timothy of the gift that Timothy has received through the imposition of hands. He is speaking of Timothy’s ordination as a bishop. In the imposition of hands for ordination Timothy receives the gift of the Holy Spirit in a particular way. Not all are called to ordination but we do all receive the Holy Spirit through the laying of hands at Confirmation. It is a spirit of “power and love and self-control.”

We count on the Holy Spirit but we may not always listen. Whenever I hear the responsorial verse, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts,” I am puzzled. Why would anyone harden their hearts when they hear God’s voice? There are times I beg to hear God’s voice. Why won’t one listen? Perhaps it is because the Lord is saying something we don’t want to hear. The Lord may be saying “no” or “not now” or telling us to do something we don’t want. So, we pretend not to hear him or perhaps we say that it isn’t the Lord saying it. In doing so, we harden our hearts to the what the Lord is saying.

We ask the Lord for an “increase in faith” so that we may always trust in him. We long for the day when we can be with him. Until then, we seek to live as faithful servants of the Lord, doing what He commands. We do so not for glory but as what we are “obliged to do” as disciples of the Lord.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Who Wants to Talk About Money

Posted by on

Some people don’t want to hear about money at Mass. That’s okay. I don’t want to talk about money at Mass. Then why did I talk about money in my homily this past weekend?

I certainly didn’t do it because I wanted to talk about money. It was just the previous Sunday that we heard Jesus say, “You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Luke 16:13). What I said this weekend, was not about money. It involved money but it was not about money.

I say it isn’t about money yet in my homily I talked about our annual diocesan Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA), the source of funds for over half our diocesan budget and I talked about our parish deficit and our need for more giving. How is that not talking about money?

It was not my objective to simply get more money. That would not be good. As Paul writes to Timothy, “For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains” (1 Timothy 6:10). Yes, I asked people to prayerfully consider what they can give. Why? Because the money raised funds ministries in our parish and our diocese.

It’s not about the money. Money is merely a tool for the exchange of goods. For example, the electric company provides us with electricity. In turn we pay them for the electricity. The electricity is used so that we can have the lights on in church, to power the sound system that those who speak and/or sing at Mass can be heard as we share God’s Word.

We should not become attached to our money or focused on the money itself. Yet, we need it. This is nothing new. Paul, the same Paul I cited above regarding the love of money, in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 writes about a collection for Jerusalem. Today people don’t want to hear about money. Contrast this to how Paul speaks of those who begged him insistently to contribute to the collection.

Why were they so eager to contribute to the collection? Because they understood it was not about the money itself. It was “for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones” (2 Corinthians 8:4). It was to provide for others in need. We are disciples of Jesus. We are called to be good stewards of what God has given us. In doing so, we show our love for God and for our neighbor.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6, Paul writes, “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” I suppose someone might mistakenly take this verse to mean that the more we give, the more we get for ourselves. This notion is sometimes referred to as the “prosperity gospel.” Ministers use this to motivate people to give. They say in your giving you should trust in God and He will reward you for your generosity by giving you more.

Certainly, God loves a cheerful giver (see 2 Corinthians 9:7) but God does not want to us to give just to get more for ourselves. Rather, I think as disciples we should think of it in this way. If we give little, only a little is accomplished. If we give more, more ministry can be accomplished. This is what Paul points to when he says we will “reap bountifully.”

Now, one cannot give more than one has. When I speak about money, I always try to acknowledge one can’t give more than one has. What I ask is that everyone prayerfully consider what we are able to give. I say prayerfully because giving does involve trusting God when money is tight. God knows how He will provide for you. Trust in him. Then, give what you are able to and to give where God calls you to give.

Remember, it is not about money. It is about ministry. Money is merely a tool.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff