There was a man who decided, after studying world religions, that he wanted to visit a Catholic church during Mass. He wanted to see for himself a community at prayer who honestly believed that Christ was in their midst. He said, of all the religions, Catholicism offered the most amazing thing: the Body of Christ.
So he asked his Catholic friend if they could go to Mass together, and his friend was delighted to be able to share his faith. So one Sunday morning they went to church. On the way the friend explained about the different parts of the Mass: how we stand to pray and show respect, how we sit to listen, how we bow or genuflect before the Tabernacle, and how we kneel to worship. Sometimes the priest blesses the congregation with holy water. Sometimes the priest uses incense to remind us we are in the very presence of God.
The man understood only baptized Catholics in a state of grace could receive Communion. He couldn't wait to see how this effected the people who actually received the Body of Christ. That day, the men were in luck! The choir sang beautifully, and the priest gave a homily filled with Baeisms.
After Mass, over coffee and bagels, the friend eagerly waited to hear the man's reaction to attending his first ever Catholic Mass.
"So how was it?" he asked.
"Meh. OK," the man replied.
"OK? Just OK?" The friend had thought everything had been perfect. "What was wrong?"
So the man explained, "The problem wasn't what the church teaches; the problem wasn't how the truths of Catholicism were presented; the problem was the people."
The product may be perfect. The packaging may be beautiful. But if the purpose is lost, why bother?
What's the use of saying the Mass is the center and most important thing in a Catholic's life, what's the point in proclaiming Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament if the people don't believe it?
The friend was crushed, but asked, "How do you know we don't believe it?"
The man answered, "In church today I just looked around at how people act and how they dress. Looks like some are going to the beach or a ball game and others to a night club. Hardly anybody sang, except the choir. So that made what should be musical prayer into simply a performance. Some people were talking with their friends all during Mass and even in the Communion line. I saw a few texting. And one lady even answered her cell phone. But the worst part was after Mass, they didn't look to me like people who just were fed and changed by the Word of God.
"If you guys don't believe you have received the Body of Christ, why should I?"
Although these two men remained friends, the man never went back to a Catholic church again.
Does that story make you as uncomfortable as it makes me? Hits a little bit too close to home. Now we feel how the Jews must have felt in today's gospel reading when Jesus told them the parable of the vineyard.
"The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruits."
It's not enough just to belong. It's not even enough just to believe. We must also be active.
Do you know what the Mass is? Do you believe what the Mass is? Do your actions during Mass show you are focusing all your attention on God? Do any of those things that man saw at Mass apply to you?
But here's the kicker. You can dress to the nines, you can sing your heart out, you can kneel and stand and shout "Amen!" and you can believe from the very bottom of your soul that you are receiving the Body of Christ, but if you go out those doors, if your life and words and actions don't reflect your belief, your wasting your time.
And worse. You're wasting God's time. If God did not hesitate to take his vineyard away from the Jews, God's Chosen People, and give it to us, what's to stop him from taking it away from us and giving it to another people who will produce the fruits of the kingdom? People of peace whose lives have changed for the better, who forgive their enemies, who help the poor, who refuse to gossip, who defend the oppressed, who do not deceive or exploit or cheat one another?
Jesus doesn't want fans, he wants followers.
Christianity is not a spectator sport; it's full contact participation.
God doesn't want you to practice reading the Gospel, but to put the Gospel you read into practice.
Now I will be honest with you. You here are about the most inspiring community of Catholics I know. In here. Of course you can improve. We all can. Now, if you could only take what you believe in here, out into the world out there, we might succeed not only in helping God save our Church, but helping God save our world.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Our cool treasure (Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A)
Satan called. He wants his weather back.
In recent days, I've heard people say, "It's hotter than hell." Of course, I've heard others say they don't believe in hell. Clearly these people have never been to Gillette, Wyoming... or Newark, N.J.
When I was in Taegu as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the 1970s, it was very hot in the summer. I would go into the courtyard (마당) at night and pour a bucket of water over my head. By the time I went indoors I was sweating again. Or when I was a priest in Masan in the 1980s, it was so hot and humid the host would melt to the paten and I had to pry it off with my fingers. It was so soft I couldn't hold it up except with two hands. Now THAT was hotter than hell.
Hell is not so much a place, as a situation. You could be in the most beautiful place on earth, Honolulu, let's say, but if you are surrounded by people you dislike and who dislike you; people who know all your faults and sins and look down on you and ridicule you; then you'd be in hell.
On the other hand, you could be in a totally miserable place (insert your favorite New Jersey city here), but if you are with people you love, who also love you; people who know your faults and weaknesses but love you anyway, then you'd be in heaven.
I have traveled to more than 25 countries, but there is one country where the people truly seemed happy even through they were very poor. Tanzanians are always smiling, even though they don't have iPads...or even iPhones. Many don't even have electricity. Yet they are happy.
I asked a missioner to Tanzania why this was so. He explained that family is more important to them than possessions; and poverty doesn't mean having fewer things than your neighbor, but rather having nothing to show hospitality to a guest. Tanzanians will kill their last chicken in order to make a meal for a visitor and it would be highly insulting for someone to refuse this hospitality. What a missioner would do is accept the meal, and then the next day send over a couple of chicks or eggs in gratitude.
Today we have the parables of the treasure hidden in a field, which a man discovers and reburies, then goes out and sells everything he has in order to buy that field. Does the owner know there is a treasure in his field before he sells it? Wouldn't it be sad and tragic and stupid of the man to realize there is treasure but sell his land anyway because he doesn't appreciate the treasure he has?
What about us? Do we appreciate the treasure we have in our Catholic religion? The treasure of the Eucharist? What would we do to save and protect this treasure?
You all have heard the story of the time I fell into the outhouse (변소) in Korea. Well, when I was in the Peace Corps, one of my friends accidentally dropped his wallet in the outhouse. How much did he value his money, and credit cards and drivers license? Was he willing to put up with a lot of **** to get back what he valued?
Now, in recent years our religion has fallen into a rather disgusting situation. Catholicism's credibility and reputation have been seriously soiled. But inside this is our greatest treasure: the Eucharist. It enables us to live the Gospel and to see Christ in one another. It has the power to turn hell into heaven.
So if you get discouraged or disheartened by the present state of the Church, remember Christ remains with us and gives us the strength to make our world a better place.
When people criticize the Church or make fun of the Church and make your life hell because of the Church, hold your head high and do not be afraid to defend or practice your faith. After all, it's cool to be Catholic.
In recent days, I've heard people say, "It's hotter than hell." Of course, I've heard others say they don't believe in hell. Clearly these people have never been to Gillette, Wyoming... or Newark, N.J.
When I was in Taegu as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the 1970s, it was very hot in the summer. I would go into the courtyard (마당) at night and pour a bucket of water over my head. By the time I went indoors I was sweating again. Or when I was a priest in Masan in the 1980s, it was so hot and humid the host would melt to the paten and I had to pry it off with my fingers. It was so soft I couldn't hold it up except with two hands. Now THAT was hotter than hell.
Hell is not so much a place, as a situation. You could be in the most beautiful place on earth, Honolulu, let's say, but if you are surrounded by people you dislike and who dislike you; people who know all your faults and sins and look down on you and ridicule you; then you'd be in hell.
On the other hand, you could be in a totally miserable place (insert your favorite New Jersey city here), but if you are with people you love, who also love you; people who know your faults and weaknesses but love you anyway, then you'd be in heaven.
I have traveled to more than 25 countries, but there is one country where the people truly seemed happy even through they were very poor. Tanzanians are always smiling, even though they don't have iPads...or even iPhones. Many don't even have electricity. Yet they are happy.
I asked a missioner to Tanzania why this was so. He explained that family is more important to them than possessions; and poverty doesn't mean having fewer things than your neighbor, but rather having nothing to show hospitality to a guest. Tanzanians will kill their last chicken in order to make a meal for a visitor and it would be highly insulting for someone to refuse this hospitality. What a missioner would do is accept the meal, and then the next day send over a couple of chicks or eggs in gratitude.
Today we have the parables of the treasure hidden in a field, which a man discovers and reburies, then goes out and sells everything he has in order to buy that field. Does the owner know there is a treasure in his field before he sells it? Wouldn't it be sad and tragic and stupid of the man to realize there is treasure but sell his land anyway because he doesn't appreciate the treasure he has?
What about us? Do we appreciate the treasure we have in our Catholic religion? The treasure of the Eucharist? What would we do to save and protect this treasure?
You all have heard the story of the time I fell into the outhouse (변소) in Korea. Well, when I was in the Peace Corps, one of my friends accidentally dropped his wallet in the outhouse. How much did he value his money, and credit cards and drivers license? Was he willing to put up with a lot of **** to get back what he valued?
Now, in recent years our religion has fallen into a rather disgusting situation. Catholicism's credibility and reputation have been seriously soiled. But inside this is our greatest treasure: the Eucharist. It enables us to live the Gospel and to see Christ in one another. It has the power to turn hell into heaven.
So if you get discouraged or disheartened by the present state of the Church, remember Christ remains with us and gives us the strength to make our world a better place.
When people criticize the Church or make fun of the Church and make your life hell because of the Church, hold your head high and do not be afraid to defend or practice your faith. After all, it's cool to be Catholic.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
We become the Body of Christ (Feast of Corpus Christi)
There is a funny radio commercial for Netflix. I wonder if you've heard it. The announcer of an apparent gameshow asks the contestant, "If you are what you eat, what am I?" The man replies, "Pasta puttanesca." The answer sounds funny enough to make you laugh, even if you don't know the original meaning of puttanesca, which I can't tell you here. Google it. Let's just say it's pasta covered in a spicy tomato sauce of olives, capers, artichoke hearts and anchovies; and it's origin is even spicier.
Today's feast of Corpus Christi, or the Body and Blood of Christ gives us an opportunity to not only think about our understanding of the Eucharist, but our relationship to food in general.
Did you ever wonder why the Church requires us to fast from eating an hour before receiving holy communion? Of course, back when I was in high school, the rule was no food after midnight before receiving communion. Maybe the church fathers shortened the time because all the noise from the gurgling stomachs was drowning out the choir. The problem was, if you went to a later Mass, you thought even less about the meaning of the Eucharist then you did about food and wishing the priest would hurry up and finish so you could go eat breakfast.
Breakfast. Break fast.
I don't think the rule about fasting before receiving communion is just about respect for the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, but also it is about getting our attention to focus on just what it is we are actually eating, what happens to it after we digest it, and then what happens to us.
You are what you eat. If you eat healthy food, you will be healthy. If you eat junk food...? But I don't think if you eat fast food, you'll become fast. However, if we eat the Body of Christ, it becomes us. Or rather, we become it. That's why we call it communion.
As the song says, "This bread that we share is the Body of Christ, this cup of Blessing, his blood. We who come to this table bring all our wounds to be healed.
When we love one another as Christ has loved us, we become God's daughters and sons. We become for each other the bread, the cup, the presence of Christ revealed."
Too often well-meaning Catholics think communion is just about them and Jesus, that their duty as a Christians ends with them presenting themselves free from sin before the priest so they can then receive communion and go back to their pews, go back to their homes and go back to their lives...undisturbed and unchanged
Communion is both the end and beginning of our life of faith. It's not just a reward for being good, it also gives us the spiritual power we need to be better so we can go out into the world and make it a better place by giving witness to the gospel of Christ with our lives.
The Eucharist binds us to Christ but it also binds us to one another. If I eat the Body of Christ and you eat the Body of Christ, Christ dwells in us and we in him, then you and I are more than brothers and sisters in Christ. We are one in Christ.
If we bow before the Blessed Sacrament, ought we not also bow reverently to one another? If we refuse to recognize the presence of Christ in one another, we insult Our Lord as much as the person who takes the host and throws it on the ground and steps on it.
Our Lord could have taken a flower or a rock and said, "From now on, this is my body and when you see this flower or rock, think of me."
But he didn't. He chose bread, food to be broken, shared and eaten as his everlasting memorial.
The people of the world hunger for the bread of life and too often we fill them with cream puffs and doughnuts. Junk theology is just as harmful as junk food.
Yes, the church desperately needs priests to give believers the bread of life.
But the world even more desperately needs Christians, like you, to put into practice the gospel of our Lord.
We are not rocks, hard and unbreakable; we are not flowers, to look pretty for a day and then fade away. We are the Body of Christ, to give ourselves for the life of the world.
Today's feast of Corpus Christi, or the Body and Blood of Christ gives us an opportunity to not only think about our understanding of the Eucharist, but our relationship to food in general.
Did you ever wonder why the Church requires us to fast from eating an hour before receiving holy communion? Of course, back when I was in high school, the rule was no food after midnight before receiving communion. Maybe the church fathers shortened the time because all the noise from the gurgling stomachs was drowning out the choir. The problem was, if you went to a later Mass, you thought even less about the meaning of the Eucharist then you did about food and wishing the priest would hurry up and finish so you could go eat breakfast.
Breakfast. Break fast.
I don't think the rule about fasting before receiving communion is just about respect for the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, but also it is about getting our attention to focus on just what it is we are actually eating, what happens to it after we digest it, and then what happens to us.
You are what you eat. If you eat healthy food, you will be healthy. If you eat junk food...? But I don't think if you eat fast food, you'll become fast. However, if we eat the Body of Christ, it becomes us. Or rather, we become it. That's why we call it communion.
As the song says, "This bread that we share is the Body of Christ, this cup of Blessing, his blood. We who come to this table bring all our wounds to be healed.
When we love one another as Christ has loved us, we become God's daughters and sons. We become for each other the bread, the cup, the presence of Christ revealed."
Too often well-meaning Catholics think communion is just about them and Jesus, that their duty as a Christians ends with them presenting themselves free from sin before the priest so they can then receive communion and go back to their pews, go back to their homes and go back to their lives...undisturbed and unchanged
Communion is both the end and beginning of our life of faith. It's not just a reward for being good, it also gives us the spiritual power we need to be better so we can go out into the world and make it a better place by giving witness to the gospel of Christ with our lives.
The Eucharist binds us to Christ but it also binds us to one another. If I eat the Body of Christ and you eat the Body of Christ, Christ dwells in us and we in him, then you and I are more than brothers and sisters in Christ. We are one in Christ.
If we bow before the Blessed Sacrament, ought we not also bow reverently to one another? If we refuse to recognize the presence of Christ in one another, we insult Our Lord as much as the person who takes the host and throws it on the ground and steps on it.
Our Lord could have taken a flower or a rock and said, "From now on, this is my body and when you see this flower or rock, think of me."
But he didn't. He chose bread, food to be broken, shared and eaten as his everlasting memorial.
The people of the world hunger for the bread of life and too often we fill them with cream puffs and doughnuts. Junk theology is just as harmful as junk food.
Yes, the church desperately needs priests to give believers the bread of life.
But the world even more desperately needs Christians, like you, to put into practice the gospel of our Lord.
We are not rocks, hard and unbreakable; we are not flowers, to look pretty for a day and then fade away. We are the Body of Christ, to give ourselves for the life of the world.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
End of the World FAIL
I am happy to announce the world did not end yesterday. At least, not for us. Of course, for the millions of individuals who actually died yesterday, through tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters, or through war, accidents or diseases, their personal world did indeed come to an end. We can only hope and pray they were prepared to meet their God.
For me, my personal world came to an end a week ago Friday when I traveled to Guilin, China. As I got off the bus in a pouring rain, with my umbrella in one hand and my suitcase in the other, I was suddenly surrounded by a group of three pickpockets. I pushed them away twice. When I got to my hotel, I was relieved to see I still had my passport, my wallet and my airplane ticket. It was only the next day when I realized they had successfully liberated my iPhone. *sigh*
This incident could have put a damper on the rest of the trip, except I concentrated on what I still had and not on what I had lost. (My Precioussss!)
My visit to Korea reminded me to appreciate what is really important.
This was my first trip back since 1999 and many things have changed. Buddhist monks, for example, no longer wear 고무신 (rubber shoes). No, now they wear Adidas sneakers. In the past I noticed the fashion in Korea was about six months ahead of the States. If that's the case, men here should prepare to be wearing shiny neckties that sparkle like glitter on Christmas trees. Of course, six months from now will be Christmas, so that should work out just fine.
But it was while riding Seoul's wonderful subway system that I realized how much things have changed. In fact, for the first time since going to Korea in 1971 I felt like an outsider again.
Riding on the subway, I realized I was now the oldest one there. Actually I had become the 할아버지 (grandfather) that people give their seat to. But that didn't bother me.
I was usually the only foreigner in the subway car. But that didn't bother me either.
No, the only thing that bothered me was looking around and seeing I was the only person in the entire subway who didn't have a smart phone. That bothered me.
But once I got back down to Masan to visit the people from the parish I started there in 1981, they reminded me what is really important and what really matters: faith and family and friendship. And there's no iPhone app for that.
Which brings us back to the end of the world, which didn't happen yesterday. Surely none of you fell for that nonsense, right? If you did, you might want to consider signing up for a remedial 교리 (catechism) class. Jesus himself said that no one knew the day or the hour, not the angels in heaven, not even he. Only God the Father knows. And Jesus warned against false prophets who would arise with all kinds of predictions to mislead people.
Jesus says in today's gospel, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." Our religion is based on faith, not on fear. Any religion based on fear is not worth believing. Any government or political party that uses fear to control people is not worth supporting. And a life based on fear is not worth living.
When I visited Korea I saw a people who live not by fear but by faith. I saw a vibrant faith lived by a dynamic people, who've overcome poverty and hardship over the years. And they convinced me that now, more than ever, the Church in Korea needs Missioners.
As you know, Korea is the only country in the history of Christianity that brought the faith to itself without foreign missionaries. So what do I mean when I say the Church in Korea needs Missioners?
Korea doesn't need Missioners to spread the Catholic church in Korea. The Church in Korea is strong. Rather, the Church needs Korean Missioners to bring the Gospel of Christ to the world, a world torn by fear and fanaticism, a world ruled and ruined by greed and violence. Such a world deserves to end, and quickly.
Each of you in your own way have the power, indeed the duty to share your faith with the rest of the world, starting right here and right now. The old world is ending--every day--and a new world of faith and family and friendship is being born, with or without an iPhone.
For me, my personal world came to an end a week ago Friday when I traveled to Guilin, China. As I got off the bus in a pouring rain, with my umbrella in one hand and my suitcase in the other, I was suddenly surrounded by a group of three pickpockets. I pushed them away twice. When I got to my hotel, I was relieved to see I still had my passport, my wallet and my airplane ticket. It was only the next day when I realized they had successfully liberated my iPhone. *sigh*
This incident could have put a damper on the rest of the trip, except I concentrated on what I still had and not on what I had lost. (My Precioussss!)
My visit to Korea reminded me to appreciate what is really important.
This was my first trip back since 1999 and many things have changed. Buddhist monks, for example, no longer wear 고무신 (rubber shoes). No, now they wear Adidas sneakers. In the past I noticed the fashion in Korea was about six months ahead of the States. If that's the case, men here should prepare to be wearing shiny neckties that sparkle like glitter on Christmas trees. Of course, six months from now will be Christmas, so that should work out just fine.
But it was while riding Seoul's wonderful subway system that I realized how much things have changed. In fact, for the first time since going to Korea in 1971 I felt like an outsider again.
Riding on the subway, I realized I was now the oldest one there. Actually I had become the 할아버지 (grandfather) that people give their seat to. But that didn't bother me.
I was usually the only foreigner in the subway car. But that didn't bother me either.
No, the only thing that bothered me was looking around and seeing I was the only person in the entire subway who didn't have a smart phone. That bothered me.
But once I got back down to Masan to visit the people from the parish I started there in 1981, they reminded me what is really important and what really matters: faith and family and friendship. And there's no iPhone app for that.
Which brings us back to the end of the world, which didn't happen yesterday. Surely none of you fell for that nonsense, right? If you did, you might want to consider signing up for a remedial 교리 (catechism) class. Jesus himself said that no one knew the day or the hour, not the angels in heaven, not even he. Only God the Father knows. And Jesus warned against false prophets who would arise with all kinds of predictions to mislead people.
Jesus says in today's gospel, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." Our religion is based on faith, not on fear. Any religion based on fear is not worth believing. Any government or political party that uses fear to control people is not worth supporting. And a life based on fear is not worth living.
When I visited Korea I saw a people who live not by fear but by faith. I saw a vibrant faith lived by a dynamic people, who've overcome poverty and hardship over the years. And they convinced me that now, more than ever, the Church in Korea needs Missioners.
As you know, Korea is the only country in the history of Christianity that brought the faith to itself without foreign missionaries. So what do I mean when I say the Church in Korea needs Missioners?
Korea doesn't need Missioners to spread the Catholic church in Korea. The Church in Korea is strong. Rather, the Church needs Korean Missioners to bring the Gospel of Christ to the world, a world torn by fear and fanaticism, a world ruled and ruined by greed and violence. Such a world deserves to end, and quickly.
Each of you in your own way have the power, indeed the duty to share your faith with the rest of the world, starting right here and right now. The old world is ending--every day--and a new world of faith and family and friendship is being born, with or without an iPhone.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Palms of Passion
These palms serve as a reminder that Jesus is Lord. That Jesus is our Lord. Jesus is the center of our life. Not the government. Not money. Not power or fame or popularity. Not even religion.
We follow a crucified savior. We believe in a crucified God. We confess a crucified Lord.
God became low so that we might be raised up.
God became one of us in order to live with us, be like us and die for us.
And for what?
So that we might live no longer for ourselves but for God.
And how do we do that? How do we live for God?
By loving our neighbor as ourself.
By praying for our enemies.
By forgiving others and by asking for forgiveness.
By giving food to the hungry and liberty to captives.
By realizing the least among us is our brother and sister.
By starting each day with praise and ending each evening with gratitude.
By living life to the fullest each day.
By picking up our cross every day.
We follow Jesus even though we know he is going to the cross, because we know that to live and love and die with Christ means everlasting life.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
It's tempting! (First Sunday of Lent, Year A)
So, how are your Lenten sacrifices coming along? Did they last longer than your New Year's resolutions? Did you already forget and eat meat last Friday? Well, guess what? We still have six weeks to go. It's never too late to start and if you fail you can start over again. That applies to a lot of things in our life of faith. If you fail, start over. If you want to live a better life, today is the time to start.
Remember, our sacrifices during Lent are not supposed to make us miserable for 40 days so we can feel happy when the torture is finally over. For too many people, Lent is the time we pretend to feel sorry for our sins so we can pretend to be forgiven. We pretend Jesus really died so we can pretend he really rose from the dead. What a terrible waste, to go through our short time on earth pretending.
But death is very real. And life is very real. And so is love. And forgiveness. And mercy. The true purpose of giving things up for Lent is so we can be mindful of each moment. We can do some spring cleaning of our souls and focus in on what is real, and important, and right.
On this first Sunday of Lent we join Jesus in the desert. No distractions. No music. No texting. No email. No Facebook. No food. No busyness. We stand alone with our thoughts, with our fears, with our doubts.
Today's reading from Matthew's gospel tells us the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert precisely so he could be tempted by the devil. What's going on?
Just before he went into the desert to have a smack-down with Satan, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river by John. At that time, Jesus received a profound insight into his own identity and mission: He was the Son of God sent into the world to save sinners.
That's pretty heady stuff. And if he is not prepared, could be very dangerous. So the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to test him, to prepare him for the most important work any human has ever undertaken.
The gospel story says that after 40 days, Jesus was hungry. Ya think? Now, before the über logical or scientific people among us question whether after 40 days of fasting Jesus wouldn't be hungry, he'd be dead, let me point out that in biblical terms, 40 is short-hand for "lotsa." So, in other words, the Israelites spent lots a years wandering in the desert. And after his resurrection, Jesus spent lotsa time teaching the apostles. So here, Jesus fasted for lots of days. It's like the Korea expression 만 as in 만국기. It's not literally ten thousand flags but lots of flags.
The point is, he was very hungry. And so the tempter approaches with a modest proposal. "So, Joshua (Jesus' name in Hebrew), you had an intense revelation back there at the Jordan river. Son of God, huh? So why be hungry. If you really are who you think you are, why not use your power and change this rock into bread? That shouldn't be too difficult, IF you are God's Son. Besides, who would know? At best, it will relieve your hunger. At worst, if you fail, if you can't change a stone into bread, you can call off this charade and go home and get married to a nice Jewish girl before you get yourself into some real trouble. Here. Do it now."
Jesus was hungry. Jesus was tempted. But Jesus knew who he was and why he was born. He knew to be true to his mission and to be true to his identity, the awesome power of God that flowed through him had to be used for others, not for himself. He came to live---and die---for others. And although Jesus was very hungry, he knew that bread could fill your belly but it could not fill your soul. It cannot satisfy our deeper hunger for meaning and purpose in life. So Jesus responds, "One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Round one
Goes to Jesus.
So the devil takes Jesus to Jerusalem and makes him stand way up at the highest point of the Temple and says, "Okay, Josh, what about this Messiah business? Ya know, tradition says the Messiah will appear at the Temple. Look at the crowd gathering below. They're all watching you, wondering if you are going to jump. Go ahead. Just one more step and then, the Scripture says 'the angels will bear you up on their hands lest you dash your foot against a stone.' Won't that be a sight! Everyone will acknowledge you as the Messiah as you float gently to the ground."
Again, Jesus refuses to use his power for himself. He resists this temptation to put God to the test, even though the devil himself quotes the Scripture to tempt him. Jesus 2 - Devil 0
The third temptation is the most insidious and powerful: nothing less than all the kingdoms and empires of the world. All Jesus has to do is bow down to Satan and he can have literally all the power in the world. But Jesus recognizes this for what it is: idolatry. He rejects Satan. Jesus Game, Set, Match.
Idolatry is the worst sin in the Bible. Idolatry does not only break the first commandment, it's at the root of every sin because it makes something else more important than God.
How many dictators and tyrants and politicians sell their souls to the devil to grab and hang on to power?
Normally when we think of temptations, we think of vices. We think of walking along 42nd Street and 8th Avenue at 2:00 a.m., or taking a weekend trip to Las Vegas.
But notice Jesus' temptations are not something outwardly bad. Turning a stone into bread, performing a magic stunt, gaining world domination by a simple gesture, who would these hurt? What Satan wants Jesus to do is betray his identity as the Son of God, betray his mission to give his life for others and betray his relationship with the Father. And for what? Self gratification.
That's exactly what Satan wants us to do: betray our identities as children of God, betray our mission to live the gospel in all we say and do, and betray our relationship to God in order to gain earthly power. All for self gratification. And that's why it's important to give things up during Lent, so we can see more clearly how Satan tempts us every in many ways to forget who we are and why we are here. Coffee, chocolates, deserts, all good in themselves but also means of self gratification. We no longer enjoy these things, we need these things for our own happiness and sense of self worth
Satisfying our need for stuff, our desire for fame or popularity, our hunger for unlimited power or influence. It's all tempting. How many people give into these temptations every day? How many people lose their souls every day? Not only is the road to hell paved with good intentions, we walk down that road with baby steps, little betrayals and mindless, insensitive words and actions. We gather for Mass to ask God to help us resist temptation and to show our love and loyalty to the one who refused to turn a rock into bread, but who, instead, gave his life for us, turned bread into his body for us, that we might live, for God and for one another..
Remember, our sacrifices during Lent are not supposed to make us miserable for 40 days so we can feel happy when the torture is finally over. For too many people, Lent is the time we pretend to feel sorry for our sins so we can pretend to be forgiven. We pretend Jesus really died so we can pretend he really rose from the dead. What a terrible waste, to go through our short time on earth pretending.
But death is very real. And life is very real. And so is love. And forgiveness. And mercy. The true purpose of giving things up for Lent is so we can be mindful of each moment. We can do some spring cleaning of our souls and focus in on what is real, and important, and right.
On this first Sunday of Lent we join Jesus in the desert. No distractions. No music. No texting. No email. No Facebook. No food. No busyness. We stand alone with our thoughts, with our fears, with our doubts.
Today's reading from Matthew's gospel tells us the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert precisely so he could be tempted by the devil. What's going on?
Just before he went into the desert to have a smack-down with Satan, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river by John. At that time, Jesus received a profound insight into his own identity and mission: He was the Son of God sent into the world to save sinners.
That's pretty heady stuff. And if he is not prepared, could be very dangerous. So the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to test him, to prepare him for the most important work any human has ever undertaken.
The gospel story says that after 40 days, Jesus was hungry. Ya think? Now, before the über logical or scientific people among us question whether after 40 days of fasting Jesus wouldn't be hungry, he'd be dead, let me point out that in biblical terms, 40 is short-hand for "lotsa." So, in other words, the Israelites spent lots a years wandering in the desert. And after his resurrection, Jesus spent lotsa time teaching the apostles. So here, Jesus fasted for lots of days. It's like the Korea expression 만 as in 만국기. It's not literally ten thousand flags but lots of flags.
The point is, he was very hungry. And so the tempter approaches with a modest proposal. "So, Joshua (Jesus' name in Hebrew), you had an intense revelation back there at the Jordan river. Son of God, huh? So why be hungry. If you really are who you think you are, why not use your power and change this rock into bread? That shouldn't be too difficult, IF you are God's Son. Besides, who would know? At best, it will relieve your hunger. At worst, if you fail, if you can't change a stone into bread, you can call off this charade and go home and get married to a nice Jewish girl before you get yourself into some real trouble. Here. Do it now."
Jesus was hungry. Jesus was tempted. But Jesus knew who he was and why he was born. He knew to be true to his mission and to be true to his identity, the awesome power of God that flowed through him had to be used for others, not for himself. He came to live---and die---for others. And although Jesus was very hungry, he knew that bread could fill your belly but it could not fill your soul. It cannot satisfy our deeper hunger for meaning and purpose in life. So Jesus responds, "One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Round one
Goes to Jesus.
So the devil takes Jesus to Jerusalem and makes him stand way up at the highest point of the Temple and says, "Okay, Josh, what about this Messiah business? Ya know, tradition says the Messiah will appear at the Temple. Look at the crowd gathering below. They're all watching you, wondering if you are going to jump. Go ahead. Just one more step and then, the Scripture says 'the angels will bear you up on their hands lest you dash your foot against a stone.' Won't that be a sight! Everyone will acknowledge you as the Messiah as you float gently to the ground."
Again, Jesus refuses to use his power for himself. He resists this temptation to put God to the test, even though the devil himself quotes the Scripture to tempt him. Jesus 2 - Devil 0
The third temptation is the most insidious and powerful: nothing less than all the kingdoms and empires of the world. All Jesus has to do is bow down to Satan and he can have literally all the power in the world. But Jesus recognizes this for what it is: idolatry. He rejects Satan. Jesus Game, Set, Match.
Idolatry is the worst sin in the Bible. Idolatry does not only break the first commandment, it's at the root of every sin because it makes something else more important than God.
How many dictators and tyrants and politicians sell their souls to the devil to grab and hang on to power?
Normally when we think of temptations, we think of vices. We think of walking along 42nd Street and 8th Avenue at 2:00 a.m., or taking a weekend trip to Las Vegas.
But notice Jesus' temptations are not something outwardly bad. Turning a stone into bread, performing a magic stunt, gaining world domination by a simple gesture, who would these hurt? What Satan wants Jesus to do is betray his identity as the Son of God, betray his mission to give his life for others and betray his relationship with the Father. And for what? Self gratification.
That's exactly what Satan wants us to do: betray our identities as children of God, betray our mission to live the gospel in all we say and do, and betray our relationship to God in order to gain earthly power. All for self gratification. And that's why it's important to give things up during Lent, so we can see more clearly how Satan tempts us every in many ways to forget who we are and why we are here. Coffee, chocolates, deserts, all good in themselves but also means of self gratification. We no longer enjoy these things, we need these things for our own happiness and sense of self worth
Satisfying our need for stuff, our desire for fame or popularity, our hunger for unlimited power or influence. It's all tempting. How many people give into these temptations every day? How many people lose their souls every day? Not only is the road to hell paved with good intentions, we walk down that road with baby steps, little betrayals and mindless, insensitive words and actions. We gather for Mass to ask God to help us resist temptation and to show our love and loyalty to the one who refused to turn a rock into bread, but who, instead, gave his life for us, turned bread into his body for us, that we might live, for God and for one another..
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Making room for God (Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A)
What do you think about rules? Probably what you feel about rules will differ if you’re a parent or a child. Now, this homily is directed to the parents, so you students don’t have to listen or pay attention. In other words, act normal.
As a general rule, children and teenagers don’t like rules, and the older they get the more they like to test the limits--of the rules and of their parents’ patience. Some parents love to make rules but don’t like to enforce them, in which case the rule quickly becomes ineffective. Other parents get way too much pleasure in punishing the least infraction of a rule just to remind you who’s boss, in which case the rules become oppressive.
Usually there comes a time when a parent makes a rule such as: “Don’t go out after 10” or “Don’t go see that movie” or “Don’t hang out with those students” and when asked why, the answer of frustrated and stressed-out parents is “Because I said so.” Sometimes they add, “As long as you live under my roof, you’ll obey my rules.”
There are problems with this approach. For one, the child starts counting the years, months, weeks and days until they are on their own. And when they do ultimately get a taste of freedom they sometimes get into serious trouble.
Another problem is, in the eyes of the child the parent becomes a bully if not a tyrant. And if you’ve been following the new these past weeks, you realize tyrants usually end badly.
There are different reasons for making rules. The first is for the child’s safety. “Don’t go across the street by yourself” or “always cross at the corner.” The second is for the child’s heath and development. “Get to bed early!” and “Eat your vegetables!” and “Don’t smoke inside the house!” (Okay, I made that up to see who’s paying attention.”
[I do have to share an incident when I was in the sixth grade. In those days they had these “toy” cigarettes: a hollow paper roll with red aluminum foil on one end that looked like it was lit. When you blew on it, a puff of flour came out that looked like smoke. So one day I wanted to see my mother’s reaction to me smoking so I walked in while she was talking with my aunts. She saw me puffing away and said, “Get out of here before you burn a hole in the rug.” I was devastated. I thought she cared more about the rug than she did my health! In the tenth grade I asked my parents if I could smoke. They asked why I wanted to smoke and I said because my friends smoke. My mother said that wasn’t a good enough reason and asked me to wait until I was a senior and if I wanted to start smoking then, I could. Of course, by then, all my smoking friends had emphysema and lung cancer. Not true! I’m seeing who’s paying attention! No, by then peer pressure had lost its hold on me so I never did smoke cigarettes.]
Where was I? Oh yes, and the third reason we make rules is for the child’s character development, to teach them right and wrong, and that our actions, good and bad, have consequences. Share your toys, apologize when you do wrong, help people in trouble.
Rules have reasons, but the day comes when the child grows up and is on his or her own. The parents can only hope and pray that some of the rules of childhood have lead to positive habits as the children become adults.
The same is true of religion. We have Moses and the commandments to guide us and train us to make good decisions, much like the training wheels when learning to ride a bicycle.
St. Paul then removes the training wheels by telling us eternal life is not about obeying laws but by believing in Christ.
Then Christ comes along in today’s gospel and says it not enough just to say we believe, we must act on our faith. We must live like Christians.
This week is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. This is the time to pause and take a hard look at our life. Are we living our beliefs, or do we take our religion off when we get home and put it in the closet until next Sunday?
Have you heard the popular story about the professor who went to class with a large glass jar filled with golf balls? He asked the students if the jar was filled and all agreed it was. Then he poured in some gravel and it filled in all the empty space. Again he asked if it was filled and they said yes. Next he poured in sand but by this time the students were not so quick to answer. Lastly, when it seemed nothing more could be added, he poured n two cups of coffee.
The point of the story is, had he started with the coffee or the sand that would be the end of it. Nothing more could fill the jar. Our lives are sometimes like that. Too often we fill our hearts and minds and lives with little things that do not really matter, and then we have no room for the important stuff.
Lent is a time to empty our jars and start anew. Give up coffee, or alcohol or smoking (things which ultimately do us harm), give up TV or listening to music on your iPod nonstop, things that prevent our minds from resting and thinking, give up all the things which may not be bad in themselves but which we do without thinking. We go through each day of our life on automatic pilot. Never thinking, never really enjoying, never really living. Mindfulness and detachment are our goals in the coming 40 days. Learn to love silence and empty space.
Do acts of kindness for others, help the poor, visit the sick, console those who mourn.
Empty yourself this Lent so that we can refill our souls with nothing less than God.
Ultimately, religion is not about keeping rules but by cultivating a relationship with no one less than Jesus Christ.
As a general rule, children and teenagers don’t like rules, and the older they get the more they like to test the limits--of the rules and of their parents’ patience. Some parents love to make rules but don’t like to enforce them, in which case the rule quickly becomes ineffective. Other parents get way too much pleasure in punishing the least infraction of a rule just to remind you who’s boss, in which case the rules become oppressive.
Usually there comes a time when a parent makes a rule such as: “Don’t go out after 10” or “Don’t go see that movie” or “Don’t hang out with those students” and when asked why, the answer of frustrated and stressed-out parents is “Because I said so.” Sometimes they add, “As long as you live under my roof, you’ll obey my rules.”
There are problems with this approach. For one, the child starts counting the years, months, weeks and days until they are on their own. And when they do ultimately get a taste of freedom they sometimes get into serious trouble.
Another problem is, in the eyes of the child the parent becomes a bully if not a tyrant. And if you’ve been following the new these past weeks, you realize tyrants usually end badly.
There are different reasons for making rules. The first is for the child’s safety. “Don’t go across the street by yourself” or “always cross at the corner.” The second is for the child’s heath and development. “Get to bed early!” and “Eat your vegetables!” and “Don’t smoke inside the house!” (Okay, I made that up to see who’s paying attention.”
[I do have to share an incident when I was in the sixth grade. In those days they had these “toy” cigarettes: a hollow paper roll with red aluminum foil on one end that looked like it was lit. When you blew on it, a puff of flour came out that looked like smoke. So one day I wanted to see my mother’s reaction to me smoking so I walked in while she was talking with my aunts. She saw me puffing away and said, “Get out of here before you burn a hole in the rug.” I was devastated. I thought she cared more about the rug than she did my health! In the tenth grade I asked my parents if I could smoke. They asked why I wanted to smoke and I said because my friends smoke. My mother said that wasn’t a good enough reason and asked me to wait until I was a senior and if I wanted to start smoking then, I could. Of course, by then, all my smoking friends had emphysema and lung cancer. Not true! I’m seeing who’s paying attention! No, by then peer pressure had lost its hold on me so I never did smoke cigarettes.]
Where was I? Oh yes, and the third reason we make rules is for the child’s character development, to teach them right and wrong, and that our actions, good and bad, have consequences. Share your toys, apologize when you do wrong, help people in trouble.
Rules have reasons, but the day comes when the child grows up and is on his or her own. The parents can only hope and pray that some of the rules of childhood have lead to positive habits as the children become adults.
The same is true of religion. We have Moses and the commandments to guide us and train us to make good decisions, much like the training wheels when learning to ride a bicycle.
St. Paul then removes the training wheels by telling us eternal life is not about obeying laws but by believing in Christ.
Then Christ comes along in today’s gospel and says it not enough just to say we believe, we must act on our faith. We must live like Christians.
This week is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. This is the time to pause and take a hard look at our life. Are we living our beliefs, or do we take our religion off when we get home and put it in the closet until next Sunday?
Have you heard the popular story about the professor who went to class with a large glass jar filled with golf balls? He asked the students if the jar was filled and all agreed it was. Then he poured in some gravel and it filled in all the empty space. Again he asked if it was filled and they said yes. Next he poured in sand but by this time the students were not so quick to answer. Lastly, when it seemed nothing more could be added, he poured n two cups of coffee.
The point of the story is, had he started with the coffee or the sand that would be the end of it. Nothing more could fill the jar. Our lives are sometimes like that. Too often we fill our hearts and minds and lives with little things that do not really matter, and then we have no room for the important stuff.
Lent is a time to empty our jars and start anew. Give up coffee, or alcohol or smoking (things which ultimately do us harm), give up TV or listening to music on your iPod nonstop, things that prevent our minds from resting and thinking, give up all the things which may not be bad in themselves but which we do without thinking. We go through each day of our life on automatic pilot. Never thinking, never really enjoying, never really living. Mindfulness and detachment are our goals in the coming 40 days. Learn to love silence and empty space.
Do acts of kindness for others, help the poor, visit the sick, console those who mourn.
Empty yourself this Lent so that we can refill our souls with nothing less than God.
Ultimately, religion is not about keeping rules but by cultivating a relationship with no one less than Jesus Christ.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Seventh Sunday (Year A) Loving that S.O.B.
“Love your enemies.” With these three simple words Jesus succeeds in discouraging, if not alienating all of his followers, including me and I would guess, including all of you. I mean, seriously. LOVE your enemies? I don’t want to love them, I want to destroy them. I want to get even, or at best, see them suffer. A lot. OK, maybe I don’t want them to burn in hell forever, but maybe get a little singed in Purgatory for a few million years.
Let’s face it, revenge seems so sweet, so satisfying. That’s why we love going to the movies and seeing the bad guys get caught and punished.
It may come as a surprise to you that I do have enemies. And it may come as an even greater surprise to learn that the man I consider my enemy is another priest. We live in the same house. (Didn't Jesus say our enemies will be those of our own household?)
He made it quite clear on several occasions he doesn’t care for my dog, he doesn’t like my singing and he doesn’t care for me. To be fair, it’s not just me. He doesn’t get along with a lot of people and he is notorious for insulting just about everybody, making sarcastic remarks and for generally making life miserable for those around him.
So how am I to love such a person? I can go out of my way to avoid him. I can stop obsessing about clever comments to cut him down the next time we meet. Or I can stop speaking to him altogether. I can keep my mouth shut when others mention what a nasty old man he is. All of that is nice, but not of that is love.
Jesus demands I do more. I must pray for him….and that means more than praying that God will take him real soon.
I must pray that God remove from my heart all ill will and negative thoughts regarding this man. I have to actively pray for his good. I have to forgive him.
And I know from experience that this is impossible, at least for me. But God can do the impossible and it’s God’s job to forgive, so when I pray I am honest with God and I say, Lord, I know you commanded me to love my enemies but I find it impossible to love that S.O.B., so I am asking you to let me love and forgive him through you. Most of all, remove from my heart all negative feelings and evil desires for revenge.
Well, about a year ago, that man asked to see me and I thought, dear God, please don’t let me punch him. He wanted to see me because he said it came to his attention that he hasn’t always treated me with Christian charity and wanted to ask for my forgiveness.
I didn’t say, “I’ll think about it.” I didn’t form a committee to discuss his request. I said, “Of course I forgive you.”
So he and I both felt better. For about a week. Then he started in again saying nasty things and making life miserable. Sometimes I think that even Mother Teresa would have strangled him. Then just last week I was in the dining room at Maryknoll and I must be honest, if I see him at a table I go sit someplace else (unless it’s Lent and I want to do penance by eating a meal with him.) But he came and sat with me. We exchanged greetings and ate our meal and although there was pleasant conversation with the other people at table, he didn’t join in. When it came time for coffee and desert, I got up and cleared away the dirty dishes. I asked if I could remove his and he said, “Why yes, much appreciated. That’s very kind of you.”
Someone once said, you do not destroy your enemy when you kill him. You destroy your enemy by making him your friend.
You do not love your enemy because of who he is; you love him because of who you are.
And you are who you are because of who God is. And God is love. And God is perfect. And if we are to be sons and daughters of God, as followers of Jesus, we must struggle every day to love everyday perfectly.
No, it’s not easy. In fact, it’s impossible. But if a crucified carpenter can rise from the dead, then all things are possible by the power of that same spirit which raised Christ from the dead. And that Spirit is in all of you.
Let’s face it, revenge seems so sweet, so satisfying. That’s why we love going to the movies and seeing the bad guys get caught and punished.
It may come as a surprise to you that I do have enemies. And it may come as an even greater surprise to learn that the man I consider my enemy is another priest. We live in the same house. (Didn't Jesus say our enemies will be those of our own household?)
He made it quite clear on several occasions he doesn’t care for my dog, he doesn’t like my singing and he doesn’t care for me. To be fair, it’s not just me. He doesn’t get along with a lot of people and he is notorious for insulting just about everybody, making sarcastic remarks and for generally making life miserable for those around him.
So how am I to love such a person? I can go out of my way to avoid him. I can stop obsessing about clever comments to cut him down the next time we meet. Or I can stop speaking to him altogether. I can keep my mouth shut when others mention what a nasty old man he is. All of that is nice, but not of that is love.
Jesus demands I do more. I must pray for him….and that means more than praying that God will take him real soon.
I must pray that God remove from my heart all ill will and negative thoughts regarding this man. I have to actively pray for his good. I have to forgive him.
And I know from experience that this is impossible, at least for me. But God can do the impossible and it’s God’s job to forgive, so when I pray I am honest with God and I say, Lord, I know you commanded me to love my enemies but I find it impossible to love that S.O.B., so I am asking you to let me love and forgive him through you. Most of all, remove from my heart all negative feelings and evil desires for revenge.
Well, about a year ago, that man asked to see me and I thought, dear God, please don’t let me punch him. He wanted to see me because he said it came to his attention that he hasn’t always treated me with Christian charity and wanted to ask for my forgiveness.
I didn’t say, “I’ll think about it.” I didn’t form a committee to discuss his request. I said, “Of course I forgive you.”
So he and I both felt better. For about a week. Then he started in again saying nasty things and making life miserable. Sometimes I think that even Mother Teresa would have strangled him. Then just last week I was in the dining room at Maryknoll and I must be honest, if I see him at a table I go sit someplace else (unless it’s Lent and I want to do penance by eating a meal with him.) But he came and sat with me. We exchanged greetings and ate our meal and although there was pleasant conversation with the other people at table, he didn’t join in. When it came time for coffee and desert, I got up and cleared away the dirty dishes. I asked if I could remove his and he said, “Why yes, much appreciated. That’s very kind of you.”
Someone once said, you do not destroy your enemy when you kill him. You destroy your enemy by making him your friend.
You do not love your enemy because of who he is; you love him because of who you are.
And you are who you are because of who God is. And God is love. And God is perfect. And if we are to be sons and daughters of God, as followers of Jesus, we must struggle every day to love everyday perfectly.
No, it’s not easy. In fact, it’s impossible. But if a crucified carpenter can rise from the dead, then all things are possible by the power of that same spirit which raised Christ from the dead. And that Spirit is in all of you.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A change of heart for Valentine's Day (The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
You have no idea how often I've heard people say they've either stopped coming to church or they come but they don't "get anything out of it." My question to them is, "Well, what did you put into it?" And what exactly did you expect to get from the Mass?
If you expect nothing, that's probably what you will get. If you expect to be mildly entertained, especially during this homily, you'll most likely be mildly disappointed. Did you expect Jesus to hear and answer your prayers? Now, that may or may not happen. It depends on you.
How did you prepare for Mass today? Did you stumble out of bed at the last minute, throw on some clothes and rush out the door? Did you sit silently in your car because you had an argument with your parents, siblings or spouse? Did you curse the driver in the car ahead of you who got the last parking space?
Perhaps a more important question is: why did you come to Mass today? To meet friends? To get your parents to shut up about coming to Church? To fulfill your Sunday obligation? To avoid committing a mortal sin which would result in your going straight to hell (although deep down you really don't believe that---but why take a chance)?
Or rather did you come with a grateful heart to show God your appreciation for the blessings you received? Did you come because you really need God's help with a major crisis you are facing or for just enough strength to get you through another day or week? Did you come because you want God to do something for you or because you are ready to do something for God?
Before the proclamation of the gospel at each Mass we make three signs of the cross that God may open our minds, open our lips and open our hearts. Are you ready to receive God's message? To proclaim God's message? To believe God's message? In other words, are you ready to let the living word of God into your life so that it can transform you?
Again I ask, how did you prepare for Mass today and what did you expect to happen?
Which of you would come into the church carrying a bag of garbage? Imagine if someone actually did that! Worse, what if, at the offertory, that person came up to the altar to offer the bag of trash? And at communion time, that person came forward again, this time to add the Eucharist to the bag of trash. What a waste! What a sacrilege! But isn't that exactly what we do if we come to Mass with a heart filled with hatred, anger, jealousy, resentment, lust and greed?
In today's gospel, Jesus says, "If you find yourself offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has anything against you, leave your gift and go first and be reconciled with them and then come back and offer your gift."
If you want a life-changing experience at Mass, you've got to do your homework. Swallow your pride. Put your ego aside. Go to the one you have offended. Apologize. Make amends. Be reconciled to one another. In other words, die! Die to yourself so that Christ might live in you.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. This means a card and maybe chocolate and flowers for your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend. The classic symbol of love on Valentine's Day is a heart with an arrow through it. Did you ever think about that?
We have images of a chubby Cupid shooting his arrows by which we are smitten with our love for someone. But it's an arrow that pierces and hurts and wounds. Love hurts.
And from his place on the cross, Jesus looks down on you and says, "You're telling me?!"
While we appreciate your monetary offering at Mass, today let us also offer Jesus our hearts, however broken or wounded or fearful they may be. Let us let go of our grudges and not dwell on past hurts. Love casts out all fear. Let the love of Christ conquer your hearts and heal your hurts and cast out your fear.
In a few moments when you receive the Body of Christ and say "Amen", say it boldly and with confidence. Be prepared to return to your seat, to return to your home, to return to your family and friends as a changed person, new person ready to live a new life in Christ who now lives in you.
The person you were when who came into Mass today will not be the same person as the one who leaves.
If you expect nothing, that's probably what you will get. If you expect to be mildly entertained, especially during this homily, you'll most likely be mildly disappointed. Did you expect Jesus to hear and answer your prayers? Now, that may or may not happen. It depends on you.
How did you prepare for Mass today? Did you stumble out of bed at the last minute, throw on some clothes and rush out the door? Did you sit silently in your car because you had an argument with your parents, siblings or spouse? Did you curse the driver in the car ahead of you who got the last parking space?
Perhaps a more important question is: why did you come to Mass today? To meet friends? To get your parents to shut up about coming to Church? To fulfill your Sunday obligation? To avoid committing a mortal sin which would result in your going straight to hell (although deep down you really don't believe that---but why take a chance)?
Or rather did you come with a grateful heart to show God your appreciation for the blessings you received? Did you come because you really need God's help with a major crisis you are facing or for just enough strength to get you through another day or week? Did you come because you want God to do something for you or because you are ready to do something for God?
Before the proclamation of the gospel at each Mass we make three signs of the cross that God may open our minds, open our lips and open our hearts. Are you ready to receive God's message? To proclaim God's message? To believe God's message? In other words, are you ready to let the living word of God into your life so that it can transform you?
Again I ask, how did you prepare for Mass today and what did you expect to happen?
Which of you would come into the church carrying a bag of garbage? Imagine if someone actually did that! Worse, what if, at the offertory, that person came up to the altar to offer the bag of trash? And at communion time, that person came forward again, this time to add the Eucharist to the bag of trash. What a waste! What a sacrilege! But isn't that exactly what we do if we come to Mass with a heart filled with hatred, anger, jealousy, resentment, lust and greed?
In today's gospel, Jesus says, "If you find yourself offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has anything against you, leave your gift and go first and be reconciled with them and then come back and offer your gift."
If you want a life-changing experience at Mass, you've got to do your homework. Swallow your pride. Put your ego aside. Go to the one you have offended. Apologize. Make amends. Be reconciled to one another. In other words, die! Die to yourself so that Christ might live in you.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. This means a card and maybe chocolate and flowers for your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend. The classic symbol of love on Valentine's Day is a heart with an arrow through it. Did you ever think about that?
We have images of a chubby Cupid shooting his arrows by which we are smitten with our love for someone. But it's an arrow that pierces and hurts and wounds. Love hurts.
And from his place on the cross, Jesus looks down on you and says, "You're telling me?!"
While we appreciate your monetary offering at Mass, today let us also offer Jesus our hearts, however broken or wounded or fearful they may be. Let us let go of our grudges and not dwell on past hurts. Love casts out all fear. Let the love of Christ conquer your hearts and heal your hurts and cast out your fear.
In a few moments when you receive the Body of Christ and say "Amen", say it boldly and with confidence. Be prepared to return to your seat, to return to your home, to return to your family and friends as a changed person, new person ready to live a new life in Christ who now lives in you.
The person you were when who came into Mass today will not be the same person as the one who leaves.
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