4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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In today’s second reading Paul writes, “I should like you to be free of anxieties.” I’m glad to hear that because I want to be free of anxiety. Who wants to be anxious? Yet, at times we are. Sometimes the concerns are real. At other times we make a mountain out of a mole hill. What makes us anxious? Generally we are made anxious over worldly matters.

There’s where Paul writes about how the unmarried person is anxious about the “things of the Lord” while the married person is anxious about “things of the world.” The married person has more to be concerned about in their family. The unmarried person does not have as much to be concerned about so they can focus more on God.

There’s one problem we need to address here. If no one marries and raises a family, the human race would die off. When Paul wrote this, he thought the Second Coming of Jesus would happen at any moment. So, there was no reason to be concerned about starting a family. It would be better to focus on the things of the Lord.

2,000 years later the Second Coming hasn’t happened. It could happen today or it might not happen for a thousand years. We do not know. We need to be prepared for the future. So, people do marry and raise families. This is good and necessary.

We do have our priests and religious who do not marry. Are they the only ones who can focus on the things of the Lord? Are they the only ones who can be saints? No!. Holiness is for everyone. What the married person, what all people need to seek is balance. We all need to have a proper concern for worldly matters, each according to their state in life. As part of “proper concern” we need to think about what makes us so busy with worldly matters. Does the world ask too much of us? Do we ask too much of ourselves in worldly matters? Are we involved in too many things to have time for the Lord? What might you give up?

We also might think about how it is we seek the Lord. A religious living in a cloistered monastery has more time for prayer and direct study. A parent raising young children doesn’t have that same amount of time to spend with the Lord. Prayer should still be a regular part of their daily lives but not in the quantity and/or way a monk or nun prays. The parent might count on others to spend time in deep theological study and then to share the core thoughts of what they learn with the parent. Here we can pray that the Lord sends prophets to help us learn.

We are all called to be prophets in sharing what we know of the Lord. Yet, we are not all called to be prophets in the same way. For Moses, service to the Lord was his full-time job. It is not for most people.

God promises that He will send prophets to deliver his messages. With lots of different things being said today, we have legitimate reason to be concerned about how we know who truly speaks in the name of the Lord. There are people who claim to do so but clearly do not. We pray for them and leave them in the Lord’s hands.

We pray that we know which ones to listen to. We pray that we actually and deeply listen so that we may live as the Lord directs. We pray that we do not harden our hearts against the Lord’s voice. Those who like their lives may harden their hearts. We must not.

How do we know who to listen to?

Here, I think of what the people in today’s gospel reading experienced in Jesus. Jesus taught in the synagogue. “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.”

The scribes were professional religious staff. They had some authority that went with their positions. Yet, the people did not perceive them as speaking with authority. Why? I suspect the biggest reason for this is that they may not have practiced what they preach.

What leads you to perceive authority in someone you encounter?

I think practicing what they preach would be part of perceiving authority for all of us. Why? To do otherwise is either to say they don’t believe what they are saying or that they think they are “outside the law.” We don’t like either of those.

We might also look to see if they speak with confidence. If they speak with doubt, then we might wonder if they believe it themselves. We might also ask ourselves if it seems like they have taken it to heart. Can they answer questions about what they say?

These are some of helps me see authority in others. I’d be interested in hearing what leads you to perceive authority in others.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #25

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The Eucharistic Prayer – The Institution Narrative

After the Epiclesis comes the Institution Narrative.  The Institution Narratives are Jesus’ own words at the Last Supper. The Catholic Church did not make up its teaching on the Eucharist.  Our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus is biblical (see Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:14-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

Jesus said, ‘this is my body…which will be given up for you…this is my blood which will be shed for you.”  Our Catholic belief that the bread is transubstantiated into the Body of Christ and that the wine is transubstantiated into the Blood of Christ comes to us directly from Jesus. 

Our Catholic belief that we are celebrating the sacrifice of Jesus’ death on the Cross comes from Jesus’ words of his body being given up and his blood that is shed for us.  We repent it each time why celebrate Mass because Jesus said “Do this in memory of me.”

Are You Like David or Saul?

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In recent days, the first readings at daily Mass have told the story of the “tension” between David and Saul.  Saul had named as the first king of Israel but failed to follow God’s direction.  David fights in Saul’s army but Saul quickly becomes jealous.  Here is a brief outline of recent readings at daily Mass (you might consider reading the whole story in 1 Samuel 8 – 2 Samuel 1)

Friday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, 1/12/24 – Israel asks for a king

Saturday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, 1/13/24 – Saul is appointed king

Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, 1/15/24 – Saul fails to do as God directs

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, 1/16/24 – God sends Samuel to anoint David

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, 1/17/24 – David defeats Goliath

Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, 1/18/24 – Saul becomes jealous of David and plots for the first time to kill David

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, 1/19/24 – David has the opportunity to kill Saul but does not.

Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Year 2, 1/20/24 – David laments Saul’s death

While Saul did not know that God had chosen David to succeed him as king, David did. David could have been eager to take the throne but he was not.  Saul was trying to kill David.  David could have killed Saul in self-defense and no human being would have faulted him for it.  However, David will not.  When Saul is killed in battle, David does not rejoice that he no longer needs to fear Saul.  David laments Saul’s death.

Who are you like?  Are you like David or Saul?  Are you prone to jealousy like Saul?  Do you look for ways to get your enemies out of your way?  Or do you, like David who values the life of Saul as the Lord’s anointed, respect the life of your enemies? 

How do you treat your enemies?  I’m not sure David would have even called Saul his enemy.  Do you have enemies?  Jesus calls us to love our enemies (see Matthew 5:43-48).  Jesus doesn’t teach us to love our enemies till nearly a thousand years after David is named king.  Yet, David shows his love for Saul in respecting Saul’s life.

Today, Jesus’ words to love our enemies need to be heard.  Why does Russia continue its attacks on Ukraine?  I don’t know.  For whatever reason, Russia has identified Ukraine as its enemy.  In the nearly two years since Russia first attacked Ukraine, what has been accomplished except death and destruction?

Do you have enemies?  Do you know why they are your enemies?

On October 7, 2023, after a long period without attacks, Hamas struck against Israel.  They have been enemies since the very beginning of Hamas.  Hamas exists because they are enemies (see David Remnick, “Letter for Israel, In the Cities of Killing.”  The New Yorker, November 6, 2023, pages 29-41. 33.  The article is available online at https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/11/06/israel-gaza-war-hamas).  Israel has a right to defend itself but Israel’s retaliation for the October 7th attacks have gone beyond reasonable defense.  There is a deep-seated hatred between them.  Military attacks will not eliminate hatred.  Only love will.  (Here I wish to make an important distinction.  Following the news, it is clear the prime minister of Israel wants to eliminate Hamas.  He has said so.  I am not convinced and doubt that all Israelites want the same.)

If you have enemies, how do you treat them?  Do you treat them with hate or with love?

There is a deep-seated “dislike” between the Israel people and the Palestinians/Muslims.  It has been a tense region for many years.  We presently see the Houthi attacking commercial ships in retaliation for Israel’s attacks.  How far are things from leading to a war much larger than just Israel and Hamas?

Restraint is in order.  We have U.S. military ships in the region defending the commercial ships in shooting down many missiles fired by the Houthi.  These are acts of defense.  There have been some strikes on Houthi bases by the U.S. and the UK.  I pray these are minimal and solely based to stop the Houthi attacks on commercial ships.  I am grateful that it has not become a full-scale war.  I pray for continued restraint by our military and pray for an immediate end to all military attacks by every government and organization I have named here.  They need to respect the life of every innocent person and, as much as possible, even respect the life of those who have guilt.  I pray that our U.S. government use its position as a world leader to work for a permanent cease fire.

One might say everything above is happening in another part of the world and, thus, doesn’t affect me.  It does affect us because world shipping is being affected and it could lead to larger wars.

There is a conflict for life that is going on in our own nation.  We are a divided people concerning life in the womb.  I am pro-life (see my series, Treating Life with Dignity and Love on Catholic pro-life teaching).  I know not everyone is.  There are people who are pro-choice.  They have free will just as I have free will.  I do not see them as my enemy just because they disagree with me.  I do not see them as evil because they disagree with me (and Catholic pro-life teaching!).  They are not evil.  They are misguided.

Any physical attack on my part against them would not help them understand my position.  Even a verbal attack of words would likely not help.  Attack is not the solution.  What is needed is genuine dialogue (how many times have I said this?). 

It might be easy to attack.  It can be much harder to dialogue.  We look at the situation from different viewpoints.  They look at abortion as an issue that is solely about choice, specifically a woman’s right to choose what to do with her body. 

For me, the only issue of choice here is to realize that, with regards to abortion, the woman’s choice is not the only choice to consider.  One might think that I am thinking about the father’s choice.  His choice in the matter is important to me.  The child in the mother’s woman is his child too.   

Please note that I said child.  It is not just a clump of cells.  It is not just part of the woman’s body.  Yes, the child is totally dependent on its mother in the womb.  For months, it will continue to be dependent on others after birth for its care. 

They think of it in terms of the woman’s choice.  I think of it in terms of life.  At the moment of conception, a unique individual is created.  It has a genetic makeup that has never existed before and will never exist after them.  I firmly believe that life begins at conception.  As a child with life, it has the same rights, including the right to choose as the mother is free to choose.  This is why I write, to support the choice of the unborn child.

The woman considering an abortion is not my enemy.  I pray that all people see that children in the womb are not the enemy of their mother. 

I know that rape is a terrible act that should never happen but a child conceived from a rape is not the enemy.  I do not want the child to become a victim.  I cannot imagine the pain of being raped.  Yet, I do not think an abortion helps.  I pray that women who are victims of rape choose life for the child, either raising the child as a loving mother themselves or giving the child to a loving husband and wife for adoption.  Love is the answer. 

Love is not easy but it is the better way.  I wonder how many times I have offended God by sinning.  I am thankful that God did not choose to hate for my sin.  God’s answer to my sin is not to destroy me.  God’s answer to your sin is not to destroy you.  God’s answer to your sin and my sin is to love.

“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” (John 3:16-17).

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B- Homily

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (4a)
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

You can see near the end of this homily, I did something different to help people understanding the Bible shapes how we celebrate Mass and what we say. This is not easy to capture in typed words. So, click here to view a video recording of this homily.

“The word of the LORD came to Jonah.”  Jonah was given a message from the Lord to share with Nineveh.  What was the message?  “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.”

Why would Nineveh be destroyed?  Because they had sinned.  The people reacted to the message Jonah delivered as God wants us to react when we sin.  They repented.

“Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.”  What did He proclaim as the gospel of God?  “Repent and believe in the gospel.”  To believe it, you need to read it.  You need to be taught.

In Psalm 25, the psalmist says, “Your ways, O LORD, make known to me, teach me your path, guide me…” 

How does the Lord make known his ways to us?  How does He guide and teach us?  We find God’s instructions to us in the Bible and He guides us to fulfill them through the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps you’ve heard televangelists and/or Evangelical Protestants say you need to join a Bible-based church.

I agree with them. 

We need to belong to a Bible-based church.  Let me tell you the name of the best Bible-based church I know, The Roman Catholic Church.

Yes, I know that as Catholics, we don’t have a good reputation for knowing the Bible.  Some people think we have replaced the Bible with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  We have not.  The Catechism flows from the Bible.  In fact, if you look at the first 100 footnotes in the Catechism, at least forty of them point us to specific Bible verses on what the Catechism helps us understand.  That’s Bible-based.

At every Sunday Mass, we hear a reading from the Old Testament (or the Acts of the Apostles during Easter), a psalm, a reading from a New Testament letter, and a gospel reading.  The first half of every Mass focuses on God’s Word.  That’s Bible-based.

Today is the Sunday of the Word of God as set by Pope Francis in 2019.  Pope Francis set this because he wants us to understand the importance of the Word of God in our lives.

From what I said about the readings, it should be clear that the Bible is important at Mass and I encourage you to read it at home.

The more we read it, the more we will realize how important it is for us as Catholics.  Do you realize how many of the prayers we say at Mass are based on Bible verses?  Do you realize how the way we celebrate Mass is shaped by what we find in the Bible?

When you get home and read your bulletin, you will find an insert I made showing how parts of the Mass come from the Bible.  It is not a complete list and I’m not going to go through every one but I do want to go over some of it now. (see below for the bulletin insert.)

I hope this helps you realize how important the Bible is to us.  I encourage you to read the Bible at home.

Now, I leave you with a question.  I’ve tried to help you understand how important the Word of God in the Bible is to us.  The question?  How has the Word of God changed you?

Homily Aid 1-21-24Download

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #24

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The Eucharistic Prayer – The Epiclesis

Within the Eucharistic Prayer, the Epiclesis is the portion where we ask the Holy Spirit to transubstantiate the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus.  In Eucharistic Prayer II, the explicit words are “Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In the Eucharistic Prayer we also ask the Holy Spirit to transform us into one body.  This is most evident in Eucharistic Prayer III – “grant that we, who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become one body, one spirit in Christ.”

Do you allow the Holy Spirit to transform you into what God calls you to be?

To Give or Not To Give

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“To give or not to give,” that is the question I put before you today.

If a person comes up to you on the street and asks for help, do you even consider giving them any assistance?

I think the most common reason people answer no is they think the person may use it to buy alcohol or drugs instead of what they claim to need.  Sadly, this is true in some cases.  Sometimes they tell a tall tale and it is easy to recognize they are lying.  In those cases, we see ourselves justified in not giving them financial assistance.  I started to type “in not helping them” but I changed my mind because there is a way that even if we know for certain they are lying that we should help them.  We should pray for them.  We pray that they come to speak the truth.  We pray that they realize what it is that they truly need (they may think they need the drugs, alcohol, etc.).  We pray that they get the help they truly need.  We pray they come to know Jesus in their hearts.

What about the rest of the people who seek help?  A few may tell tall tales while planning to use whatever they are given for bad purposes.  We shouldn’t let that discourage from helping those who truly need financial help for good purposes.  I believe the saying is “Don’t let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch.”

Still, we might feel we lack the ability to tell if the person is telling the truth.  I know.  I often feel that way.  In such cases, I think the question isn’t so much if we are to help them but how best to help.  If you want to help them, you might choose to give them money for what they say they need.  An alternative to giving them cash, if possible, is to buy them what they need.  For example, if they say they need money for a bus ticket, could you go with them to buy the bus ticket for them.  Then, you don’t have to worry about them using cash for something else. 

Another option, the option I follow myself, is that I give to local charities that offer assistance in ways I think are Christian.  Then, when someone asks for help, I direct them to the charity that I have given to.  One should not see this approach as taking the easy way out.  Before I give to any charity, I find out about them.  What types of assistance do they offer?  Are they a new charity or do they have a proven record?  Who will they provide assistance to?  How available is the assistance?  This last question is the downfall in this approach.  If they aren’t open much, how can the person get to them to get the assistance they need?  If someone legitimately runs out of food Saturday morning and the food pantry isn’t open till Monday, what do you do then?

In considering what charities you give to, I want to encourage you to check out the charity.  Does it share your values?  Some charities are easy to give to.  It can be easy as “rounding up” your total at the grocery store register with the amount going to charity.  Do you know what charity it goes to?

When considering how the charity uses the money, I am not thinking of terms of assistance to a group of people you don’t like.  All are God’s children even if they don’t know it.  All deserve to have their basic needs fulfilled.  I am thinking more in terms of something like some charities are specifically designed to help women or families with young children.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  You just need to know it so you don’t send a person to them that they won’t help.

Another thing to consider in determining which charities to support is what assistance they give beyond their immediate need.  When possible, I like to give to charities that provide for the immediate need but then can help the person/family get further assistance to find a job, a place to live, etc.  The saying is “Give a man a fish and you feed a man for a day.  Teach a man to fish and you find him for a lifetime.”  The first is good.  All charity starts here.  The second is better.

So far, my comments focus on local community needs.  When one has the means, I think it is also important to give to charities that help people in other parts of the world.  Again, all are God’s children and deserve help.  We still want to know how our donation would be used.  Here, we should also ask where in the world it will be used.  It is for you to discern how much God calls you to give locally and/or across the world.

It is for you to consider how much you can give, “each according to his means.”  In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus tells us how the poor widow was more generously in giving two coins than the rich who put in more.

Now, I would like to offer a few words about why we give.

Do you give out of obligation or do you make a free choice to give?

One could give seeking a place in Heaven for themselves.  In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus tells us we will be judged by how we help others with corporal works of mercy.  However, our motivation should be rooted in something more than saving our own soul. 

It should be rooted in love.

Here we should think about the word “charity.”  In the context I have used the word “charity/charities” above, it refers to groups who exist to help other people.  Charity also describes our giving to them.

The question is what is the motivation of the groups and what is our motivation in our charity.  The answer should be love.  We have been loved by God and in turn we love our neighbor.  In prayer we ask God to help us.  We are to do what we can to help others.

There is another type of organization that I would like to offer for your consideration.  It is churches. 

How do you see your giving to your church?  Do you see it as a membership fee?  Do you see it as paying the electric and gas bill so you can have lights and heat when you are in church?  These questions look at your giving in somewhat selfish terms.  We need to look at our giving to our church as something more than just what we get out of it in temporal ways.  Our giving to our church should be seen as our desire to give to support the work of the church, to save souls.  This too should be motivated by our love for others.

So, I end with an invitation to you to prayerfully examine your charitable giving.  Ask God how much you should give and how to give, to individuals or to charitable organizations.  And from time to time to reexamine your giving to make sure it is always in accord with God’s Will.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily

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As today’s first reading begins, “Samuel was sleeping in the temple.” Why? His mother prayed fervently for a child. When God gave her Samuel, she was so appreciative of the gift of a child that she gave Samuel back to the Lord to serve him. So, Samuel’s life centered at the temple.

As he was sleeping, three times the Lord called to Samuel. Samuel assumed the voice he heard was Eli’s. Eli was the priest and Samuel’s mentor. Samuel is eager to serve and “ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” The first two times Eli simply says that he did not call Samuel and for Samuel to go back to sleep.

When it happens a third time, Eli realizes it is the Lord calling Samuel. Samuel does not realize this on his own because he is still new to the ways of the Lord and “the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.” While not everyone is called to serve in the same way as Samuel, this passage should help us realize the importance of regular prayer, prayer that includes listening to God. If we aren’t used to listening to the Lord, how do we expect to recognize his voice when we face dire circumstances.

We must take on the same attitude that Eli directs Samuel to. We need to say to God, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” It is not enough to say we are listening. We must mean it and truly listen to what the Lord says to us. Then, whatever the Lord directs us to do, we should do it.

We must not get caught in our own wants and desires. John the Baptist attracted disciples as he called people to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John could have become prideful and keep his disciples for his own ego. He did not. John the Baptist was all about doing the Lord’s Will. When Jesus walked by in today’s gospel, those who sought honor and disciples for themselves might have remained silent. John the Baptist did not. He pointed Jesus out to his two disciples who were with him. They immediately followed Jesus. John was sent to point the way to Jesus and that is what he did.

Jesus immediately knows the two are following him. He says to them, “What are you looking for?” Were they looking to see miracles? What questions did they have? Were they looking for something temporal or were they looking for faith?

They respond by asking, “Rabbi,…where are you staying?” They are not there just to spend a few minutes to see who this Jesus character is. They want to know where He is staying so that they can spend an extended time with him. How much time do you want to spend with the Lord?

Andrew was one of the two disciples that John pointed to Jesus that day. Andrew called Jesus, “Rabbi.” That means he recognized Jesus as a teacher. Andrew wanted to learn what Jesus had come to teach. Andrew also wanted to share Jesus with others. On that same day when Andrew meet Jesus, Andrew went and told his brother Simon Peter and “brought him to Jesus.”

We don’t have to learn everything about Jesus before we point him out to others. Sharing Jesus with others starts from the heart. As soon as Andrew encountered Jesus, he knew Jesus was the Messiah. He shared that with his brother Simon Peter.

It is important that we allow Jesus to be our teacher. He does not force his ways on us. We need to learn more about the ways of the Lord. It is a lifelong process. If we are not growing, then we are dying. We should never allow ourselves to become complacent in our faith or our faith will slip away. But we don’t have to learn everything before we begin to share Jesus with others.

In fact, sharing Jesus with others may be one of our best opportunities to learn more about Jesus. Sharing what we know about our faith can help us better understand it ourselves. I know for a fact that teaching about our faith is the way I most grow in my own faith and understanding.

Now, ask yourselves, “Are you serious about your faith?” In today’s responsorial verse we cry out, “Here am I Lord, I come to do your will?” In the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “thy will be done.” Do you mean it? Do you truly strive to do God’s Will?

If you answer “yes,” then what keeps you from doing God’s Will?

If you answer “no,” then, what is it that is more important to you than God? Why do you think your will is better than God’s?

For instance, some people want to separate the body from the soul. They think that what we do with our bodies in this world does not matter for eternity. Paul knows better when he writes, “The body is not immorality, but for the Lord.” What you do with your body, whether it be overeating, sexual immorality, abuse of drugs or alcohol does matter. Our bodies are a part of the gift from God of who we are.

Jesus is our teacher and more. Listen to what He says. Seek to do his will.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #23

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The Eucharistic Prayer – Preface

The Eucharistic Prayer starts with a preface.  The preface begins with the priest saying, “The Lord be with you” and the people responding, “and with your Spirit.”  The preface ends with the “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

The GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) divides the Eucharistic Prayers into eight parts.  The first part is “thanksgiving.”  Our thanksgiving is explicit when the priest says, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.”

There are 10 Eucharistic Prayers.  There are over 50 separate prefaces.  The preface changes with the seasons or for special feasts.  Like other parts of the Mass, some of the words of the prefaces come from the Bible, most evident is Isaiah 6:3 in the “Holy, Holy, Holy.”  Also evident is “blessed is he who comes…” from Psalm 118:26 along with Matthew 21:9; 23:39, Mark 11:9, Luke 13:35; 19:38, and John 12:13.

Standing For Life

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In 1973 the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark Roe v. Wade decision that ensured a woman’s right to abortion. This was based on somehow seeing abortion as part of a woman’s right to privacy. From this, they said there was a constitutional right to abortion.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have marched each year on Washington DC to stand for life each January. In the fifty years since the Roe v. Wade decision, there have been various court battles regarding abortion but there was no major changes that I am aware of until the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case in 2022. This decision was a major shift in thinking. It did not determine whether abortion was morally right or wrong. It also did not comment on when life begins. What it did say was that there is not a right to abortion in the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, it returned the power back to the states to be able to regulate abortion.

In conservative states with a strong pro-life majority new laws have been passed or old laws still on the books restricting abortions have been enforced. Those who think a woman does have a right to abortion have sought to challenge these laws in court wherever possible. Some states have kept the laws in force where the court cases are processed while other states have placed the laws on pause until the courts decide what to do.

Liberal states where abortion is seen only as women’s reproductive health care have worked to ensure abortion in their laws and, in some cases, their state constitutions. Unfortunately, I live in a liberal state (New York State) where our governor has sought to make our state an abortion safe haven for women coming from states that have outlawed or restricted abortion. They are using tax dollars to do so. I guess my choice on life issues means nothing to them as they use my tax dollars to provide abortions to both NYS residents and people who come for other states to have an abortion.

There will continue to be court battles over abortion. It is important in those cases that we make sure that our pro-life truth is heard. However, I believe that the most important way to stand for life is not in changing laws. They could always be changed again. Yes, we need to fight for laws that respect all life and recognize that life begins at conception.

I believe the most important way to engage in pro-life efforts is to work to change people’s hearts.

If we can help people understand that life begins at conception and that the child in the womb has its own right to life, then we help to see that abortion is not a valid option. When we are successful in doing so, it won’t matter if abortion is legal because no one will want to have an abortion. (Until then, we must work to stand for the right of life for the baby in the womb.)

At this point in this article, I am tempted to write everything there is to know about Catholic pro-life teaching (along with secular arguments for why life begins at conception). This would be well beyond the scope of this present blog article. Fortunately, on my website I have the recordings of a series of four presentations, Treating Life with Dignity and Love, I did in 2021. Part I in this series presents our general arguments for the dignity of all life. Part II continues the discussion on abortion before turning to the death penalty.

Here are three slides from this series to think about.

Life in the womb is precious even when the baby has health issues.

Those who support abortion say that we do not believe in a woman’s right to choose. In actuality, what we want to do is to help women make a good choice. We want to help them see the goodness of the life in their womb.

In just under two weeks, we will celebrate the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Some people may think we no longer need to recognize the anniversary because the 2022 Dobbs decision undid Roe v. Wade. Dobbs changed the present legal status in many states but the battle for life in the womb (and at other stages of life) is not over. There is much work to be done.

I’ve already talked about our need to show our pro-life teaching. However, I know not everyone is called to take a proactive role in doing so. That doesn’t that there is no role for them to play.

As the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, January 22nd continues to be a “Day of Prayers for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children” (see https://www.respectlife.org/january-22#:~:text=the%20Diocesan%20Bishop.-,In%20all%20the%20Dioceses%20of%20the%20United%20States%20of%20America,human%20person%20committed%20through%20acts) in the Catholic Church. At daily Mass on January 22nd, there are prayers written specifically for this occasion. Will you go to daily Mass that day?

Our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) also invites us to pray a novena for life beginning on January 16th and continuing until January 24th. In our parish, during these nine days, we invite our parishioners to stay for a few minutes after daily Mass to pray the novena together. We also make print copies available for people to take home. You can find the novena prayers online at http://www.9daysforlife.com/

I will be leading a Holy Hour for Life at St. Mary’s of the Lake on Wednesday, January 24th at 7:00 pm (bring your rosary) as we conclude the 9 Days for life.

At this time of year, we offer a special focus in our prayers for life. However, I encourage you to pray for life every day.

There is more that can be done to stand for life than prayer alone. You can write your legislators to share your prolife position.

The March for Life has changed since the Dobbs decision but it does continue. Are you called to march? Since the Dobbs decision, some prolife groups are now holding prolife marches in their state capital. If there is a march in your state are you called to participate?

In Part II of my series, Treating Life with Dignity and Love, I offer a list of reasons why a woman might choose to have an abortion and ideas on what we can to help them. This includes supporting them with help during and after their pregnancy. During the pregnancy, we can provide donations to pregnancy resource centers that help the mother and baby receive proper medical care. We can contribute to groups that help the mother have proper food to eat while she’s pregnant. Our efforts must not end when the child is born. The family will still need help. They will need diapers and baby clothes (During January, St. Mary’s of the Lake and St. Benedict’s where I serve collects donations of items to help (see our parish bulletin for a list of items).

God has given us the gift of life. We must help others enjoy the gift of their lives.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Epiphany of the Lord – Homily

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The Epiphany of the Lord
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (11)
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

We come today to celebrate The Epiphany of the Lord.  In the Old Testament we hear stories of God appearing to people.  God had appeared in the burning bush to Moses and in the tiny whispering sound to Elijah. 

Now, Jesus, the Son of God has become incarnate in the flesh to become our savior.  Isaiah foretold the day, “Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow.”  Ultimately, this is fulfilled in the birth of Jesus but the Israelites receive “light” before then.

At the time Isaiah wrote this, the Israelites had been defeated by their enemies and many of the Israelites had been taken away in exile.  For them, it was a time when darkness covered the whole earth. 

It is in that time of darkness that the Lord tells his people through the prophet Isaiah, “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come.”  God is bringing the exile to an end and restoring Israel.

In Jesus’ time, Israel had again fallen.  They were under Roman rule.  Jesus Christ came to save the world and to bring light to the darkness.

For centuries since then Christianity was at the heart of Western Civilization.  But people became lax in their faith.  Society has now rejected Christian morality.  Once again, there is darkness.

We need the Light of Christ.  We are given that light at Baptism when our baptismal candle is lit and the priest or deacon says, “Receive the Light of Christ.”  What do you do with this Light?

Isaiah writes, “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.”  Do you allow the Light of Christ to shine through you to the world or do you hide the Light of Christ, perhaps even hiding it from yourself?

Isaiah speaks of those who will come from afar, from various nations, including those who will come bearing gifts of gold and frankincense. 

Psalm 72 says, “All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.”  We are not to hide the Lord from the world.  God wants to save all people.

Paul writes of how the “Gentiles are coheirs…copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

God wants to save all people.  If you look at our parishioners, you will see mostly white Americans.  Look again.  We have people in our parishes who were born on other continents including South America, Europe, and Australia.  We have people with recent roots in Asia.  Occasionally we see people from Africa here.

God’s people includes everyone.

Today’s gospel tells the story of the Epiphany of the Lord.  Among the first to see the newborn king of the Jews are magi from the east.  They are not Jews.  They are Gentiles but they are led by the star to see Jesus.

They see his star at its rising to know He has been born.  It is not random chance that they see this.  It is God’s Will.  God wants us to know that Jesus comes to save everyone.

Where do the magi first look for Jesus?  In Jerusalem of course!  Where else would one look for the newborn king of the Jews?  Yet, Jesus is not there. 

King Herod was a Jew by heritage.  He should have rejoiced at the news that Jesus was born but he did not.  Instead, he saw Jesus as a threat to his power.  If only he had opened his heart.

King Herod was not alone in being troubled by the news of Jesus birth.  We are told that all of Jerusalem was troubled with him.  They should have rejoiced at the news.  Instead it seems they realized it meant they would need to change their ways to live in accord with God’s Will.

Being of Jewish heritage, King Herod knew there were prophecies of where the Messiah was to be born.  He asked the chief priests and scribes what those prophecies said.  The answer was Bethlehem.

The Magi set out for Jerusalem.  King Herod lied to them, claiming he wanted to give homage to Jesus when what he really intended was to kill him.

The star then led the magi to Jesus.  They followed the light and encountered Jesus in person and deep in their hearts.  They “did him homage” and “opened their treasures” moved by their encounter with the Son of God.

Are you moved by your experience of Jesus’ birth?  What about his death on the Cross?  Do you follow the Light of Christ or do you make your own path?

Sitting in church one might want to say I’m here, aren’t I?

Yes, you are here.  Are you here as a fan in a sports stadium, watching what is going on but not playing on the team yourself?  Or do you make yourself part of the team?  If you want to be on Jesus’ team, then you need to play by his rules and let the Light of Christ shine through you to the world.