26th Sun 9.30.2007
Recently someone asked me a question that really took me back. It’s a question I would like to present to each of you.
“Do you want to go to heaven right now?” If you could choose to die right now, and you knew you would go straight to heaven if you did, would you want to go, right now?
My first response to that: “Wow, that’s a great question.” Notice I did not say yes or no, I had to think about it. I was buying time. Since then, I’ve been asking myself, “Why couldn’t I give a whole hearted ‘yes’ to that question?”
Part of me wants to give the right answer right away, “yes!” But there is another part of me that’s not so ready for the final departure. And I’m still trying to answer that question for myself. I would like to think that part of it is that I'm still a young priest and there is so much I could do for the Lord. But there is part of me that I think is a little attached to this world I'm living in right now. I'm comfortable here, I'm just reaching the point in my golf game where it is not so embarrassing.
The question forces us to look at our lives in a different perspective. I know it did for me. It raised other questions for me, ‘who am I really living for? What am I really living for? Myself or God?
Honestly, the answer is kind of mixed.
Today’s gospel challenges us to honestly look at our lives and try to answer those questions. It is clear in the gospel who the rich man was living for, himself. He was in capable of really seeing Lazarus, the poor starving man lying at his door. He was simply an obstacle to get around. He never saw the person, he couldn’t, he was too caught up in his own world. He could not be moved to compassion because his heart was too concerned with himself.
And when the rich man dies and the tables are turned, we see who is truly the poor patetic soul, and it’s not Lazarus.
Notice who first person the rich man thinks about when he finds himself in the torments of hell, himself:
“Father Abraham have pity on me, send lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in the water and cool my tongue for I am suffering torment in these flames.”
Ironic that it is lazarus that he calls upon to come to his aid, if only with a small scrap, a small drop of compassion.
Only after he discovers there is no hope for himself does he then ask that Lazarus be sent to warn his 5 brothers lest they too come to that place of eternal torment. As if fear of hell would be enough.
Fear of hell is not enough to make a life long change on the way people live their lives. For sure it can be a starting point. “Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” But it can not be the sustaining motive for being good, for striving for holiness, for longing for heaven. Just like a constant fear of loosing one’s job, of being fired, would not make a very happy employ, one who enjoys doing their job.
I think maybe the reason why I am not so ready, excited about that final launch up to heaven is I have not really let something of the reality, or what I glimpse might be the reality of what is awaiting for me in heaven.
There seems to be an endless number of movies that try paint a picture or an image of various elments of hell, of the demonic, but so few ever attempt to touch upon the glorious joys of heaven. Our culture is more focused on hell than it is heaven.
Think of the times you may have said: “Oh, I can’t wait for that”. I can’t wait for vacation, or to go on that cruise. I can’t wait to get married. We say we can’t wait because we have more than an inkling, a glimpse of what is coming, and so our imagination kicks in gear and we start to dream how glorious it is going to be.
When was the last time you said, “Oh, I can’t wait for heaven?” Probably, the only time we’ve heard that, it was from someone who was dying, physically suffering.
When we were children some of us asked the question: “What will heaven be like?” and what kind of answer to get back or did we paint in our own minds?
Probably a very vague, bland image of people walking around on clouds with white robes on, and a huge white back drop. Maybe the repetitious sound of harps being played by a couple of little chubby cherubs’ sitting on a cloud somewhere.
How many times when someone dies, particularly when they have suffered a lot, we tend to say, “they are in a better place now because there is no more suffering”.
Heaven has to be more than just a lack of suffering and a state of generic peace. It has to be more real than the vistas of plain white back drops, maybe with a few golden gates thrown in here and there.
If God created the world we live in with breath taking views and vistas, with beauty that can dazzle our senses of taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight, how much more must be awaiting us in his
Heavenly
Kingdom.
St. Paul said: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him."
And let’s not forget about his love, how unbelievably we will be able to feel and experience his love, we will be saturated with it, with him, all the time, all around us. We will never be able to get enough of it, our souls will eternally drink it in and then and only then will we say, “I am truly alive.”
Sound too good to be true? Well it is true, and you know what else sounds too good to be true but is true? You can have that love today! Right now and tomorrow and every time you come to Mass because at every mass Heaven comes down to Earth.
Something Scott Hahn said has really stuck with me, that we come to mass it’s like visiting heaven. We get a brief taste of what heaven will be like.
Jesus calls, he invites us to gather around this table, this altar like he did the first diciples at the last supper and he gives us his very life, his living body and blood to taste heaven and to be strengthened and encouraged by his love so we won’t turn away from him and feed our souls with the false food of sin, that which destroys our souls. He wants to feed and nourish us with true food, the only food that can give us everlasting life.
24 Sun OT 07
9.16.07
This past Thursday we had our 2nd RCIA class. It’s not unusual in the beginning of these classes when I ask questions that people are little hesitant to answer. It’s understandable with so many new things they are learning not wanting answer any questions wrong.
I asked what anyone might remember from the scripture account of Jesus’ baptism. Only one hand went up, and it was a young boy about 9 years old, whose grandparents are attending the RCIA classes. I was a little hesitant to call on him but seeing no one else’s hands were up, I said, “Give it a shot.”
You know what? He nailed it. He described perfectly what had happened when Jesus was baptized. A short while later I asked another question, “who knows the story of the prodigal son?” Again, no hands go up except this one little hand which shot up. Now you know from just hearing gospel, it’s pretty long and detailed. Well he remembered it all, with amazing detail.
Now my question for you is, what do you remember from this parable? What is it that stays with you?
There is one thing that has stayed with me these past couple of days, and it is the compassion of the father.
It’s important as we reflect upon this parable that we remember that Jesus tells us this parable to open our hearts to recognize the tender love and compassion of our Heavenly Father.
We commonly refer to this as the parable of the prodigal son but it really is a parable of the prodigal father. The word prodigal can be interpreted to mean “generous to a fault”.
That’s what has been staying with me, this image of a father who loves us so much, he won’t force us to stay close to him. “If you love something set it free.”
Love never forced itself on another and God’s love will never force us to stay close to him. That’s why he gave us free will.
In today’s gospel, the father love does not deny his son’s request for his part of the inheritance. Even in the face of the greatest insult a son or daughter could throw at their parents:
“I’m not going to wait for you to die to ask for my part of the inheritance that is coming to me.” And once that inheritance was spent and the younger son finds himself in dire straights, what is it that he remembers?
He remembers the generosity of his father:
“Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”
For a period of time the younger son forgot about his father, forgot about how generously his father treated all those who worked for him. He was confident that his father would treat him with the mercy and compassion, despite what he had said and done.
The father on the other hand, he never forgot about his son; never stopped thinking about him. He never stopped praying for him, and patiently awaited his return home.
“While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
The father was waiting for his son’s return. He never gave up hope that he would someday come home. How it weighed upon him until one day as searched the horizons each day hoping to see the figure of his son coming down that long road. And then that day arrived and he “caught sight of him.”
All the hurt, the sadness, the worry that filled his heart disappeared and what replaced it, compassion.
Compassion so intense it could not contain itself as he “ran to his son and embraced and kissed him.”
Jesus tells us this parable of the prodigal father because he wants to impress upon us this picture, this story, this image of compassion, of his merciful love.
Because this is more than just a story, it’s your story and it’s my story. It’s the story of each of our souls and the battle against sin which seeks to tempt us away from the Father’s House into the world of illusion which promises us happiness apart from God’s kingdom which is impossible.
There can never be any true happiness apart from God.
Church Sign: “Does God seem far away? Guess who moved?”
The obvious answer there is, we did.
But he never stops loving us, hoping and praying for our return.
-He loves us before we sin, before we take our inheritance and run.
-He still continues to love us when we are in the midst of sin, and
-His love patiently waits for each of us to make our way home.
Again and again I hear from people after confession, “why did I wait so long for this? I really need and want to do this more often.”
A question I propose for all here to ponder:
“How long has it been since your last confession?
What’s holding you back? How much longer will you wait until to experience and to celebrate with your heavenly father, his great love and compassion he wants to share with you?”
Truth to be told we are all prodigal sons and daughters who have wasted his graces, our inheritance in some way and how blessed we are to have a “Prodigal Father” who patiently waits to waste his infinite love and forgiveness on each of us.
23rd Sun 07
9.9.2007
A common theme I have seen repeated in many movies that have great battle scenes like Brave Heart, The Patriot, and Lord of the Rings;
At some point, a leader comes forward and gives a speech to those who are about to engage their enemy in battle. They acknowledge the odds are against them and anyone who wants out, who did not want to fight, should do so.
But for those who were committed to the cause, the call was made to stand ready, to stand fast, to stand together. To lay it all down on the line. That was their only hope for victory, for freedom. All or nothing. To be in it to win it, to be ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.
It seems to me that in today’s gospel Jesus wanted to send a similar message to the vast crowds that had been following him. A reality check to all these would be followers of his.
“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me can not be my disciple.”
‘woe’…. Did Jesus say ‘cross’? Stop the presses. What are we signing up here for?
The ‘cross’, that’s a loaded word and for some people it’s a dirty word. Something to be avoided at all cost. The cross equals suffering, hardship, persecution and let’s not overlook the obvious, death.
Question: “Who wants to suffer here?” Certainly, we do not want to suffer alone. Misery loves company.
Jesus is not looking for sadomasochist, people who love to suffer.
But what he is looking for is people who will suffer for love.
The whole Christian life / Gospel message can be summed up in that one word, “love”.
Not a warm fuzzy, feel good love. But a love that is so great, it necessarily becomes sacrificial. That’s the short definition of love but what does it look like?
I think every parent knows to different degrees what this kind of love looks like, what it necessarily must endure.
The kind of love that will sacrifice one’s life in so many ways for their children. No real thought process goes on here, you just automatically do it, live it.
To have to take your small child to the emergency room because they are seriously hurt or ill and you are helpless to do anything to take away their pain and fear. How many parents in heart beat would take that pain and suffering upon themselves if they could to save their son or daughter from such a fate.
Every parent who has every been in such a situation suffers along side with their child because of love. Love is always willing and ready to make that investment, that sacrifice.
And it is that kind of love that Jesus is calling from anyone who would be his disciple.
The incredibly good news about this kind of love jesus calls for; He doesn’t ask for that which he didn’t himself give. That example of a parents sacrificial love that would do anything to save their child gives us a glimpse of what motivated Jesus as he picked up and embraced his cross. He took upon himself like a divine sponge, the spiritual illness and wounds of the whole world so we could be healed, so we could be saved.
Notice, I said “healed” from our spiritual illnesses, the wounds of sin. But not in such a way that we are totally exempt/spared from it.
There is great mystery to suffering in the world we live in.
The question is often raised, if God is so good and loving, why does evil and suffering still exist in the world.
Good question. One distinction needs to be made. God does not will the evil and suffering that exists, but he permits /allows it. And only he can bring goodness out of it.
The mystery of sin and evil in the world is very much tied up with the mystery of human free will.
Without free will, without freedom there can not be true love.
Love can never be forced.
It’s scary the freedom we have been given. We can freely choose not to love or obey God.
We live in a world / society that wants to separate Christ from his Cross. There will always be a temptation to take Jesus down from the cross. It started on Good Friday before Jesus died, he was being taunted by the people, “come down from the cross, save your self!”
There are Churches that have crosses but no crucifix.
Jesus rose from the dead, we don’t need crucifix with his body on it.
Oh yes we do. Why?
Because we need to be continually reminded what love is, what it looks like, what it needs to look like in our life we are going to authentically love others.
We need to see the value, the dignity, and the power of loving in sacrificial ways.
Suffering in life is unavoidable. We can try to deaden our senses with all kinds of pain killers; physically, emotionally and spiritually numb our hearts, souls and bodies.
We can try to run from the cross but it was always be there. An invitation to turn our sufferings, our inconveniences, our struggles into a sacrifice of love.
Let’s pray for the grace as we continue with this mass, as we receive his sacrificial love for us in the Eucharist, and bring that into our hearts and souls, that we be healed by his love poured out for us, healed of our own selfishness, sinfulness, so we can try be set free, to be willing to lay it all done, to die to ourselves so we can live for him, now and forever.
22nd Sun OT 07
9.2.07
Think back to the last wedding reception you’ve been to, or any kind of reception where you had to find out what table you were suppose to be sitting at. What do we do when we are looking for our table? I know what I do. I start looking for who else is going to be sitting at my table. Is it going to be a fun table? Am I going to know anyone there? How close is my table to where the action is at?
In Jesus’ day, to be invited to dinner at one of the Pharisees’ house was considered a great honor. This where you climbed the social ladder into the elite circles. And if you were invited then it was expected that you in turn would reciprocate and invite those who invited you to come and dine at your home. Where you sat at the table said something of your status. The closer you are seated to the host of the dinner spoke volumes of how much you were held in esteem by him. Even in many of our families, we know who sits at the ‘head of the table’, where mom and dad sit and where others may or may not sit.
In the gospel today, all eyes are on Jesus as they gathered for dinner, observing what Jesus would say and do. What those eyes didn’t realize is that Jesus was observing them even more closely. And what does he see, what does he say.
He sees the tragic flaw of the Pharisees, their pride which has blinded them. He sees they are more concerned with themselves, how they are esteemed, their hunger for human respect. He tells them a parable that mirrors their own lives.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Unfortunately, the Pharisees don’t have a monopoly on this tragic flaw of pride, it runs throughout the whole human family. We’ve heard it before, “pride is the root of all sin.” And “pride cometh before the fall.” What was it that first started the ball of sin rolling in the history of the human family? It was the serpents suggestion, “Go ahead, eat of the forbidden fruit, and you will become like gods.” Power, prestige, the admiration and respect of all.
And it is still with us. How difficult it is for us to admit we are wrong. Pride keeps the arguments and fights we have going like gasoline on a fire, because we don’t want to be wrong. Pride keeps us from telling the truth and so we lie to “save face.” Pride keeps us wrapped up in anger because we can’t bring ourselves to forgive someone for the wrong they have done against us or our family.
It is the subtle suggestion of pride that can rationalize all the sin we do. It prevents us from taking responsibility for our own actions. “after all I deserve this, I have it coming to me.” On some level, if we have the courage to look closer, we will discover the root of pride in all our sinfulness.
That was the trap that the Pharisees had fallen into. It is a trap that is laid for us many times a day if not an hour. And in today’s gospel jesus shows us how to spring the trap. He tells us there is only one way to heal the wounds and pitfalls of pride and it is through a life of humility, true humbleness.
Pride is the vice that blinds us, that sets the trap of sin,
Humility is the virtue that opens our eyes and prevents us from stepping into it.
Obviously, humility is a pretty important virtue for us to obtain. It is more than just important to assist us in our hope for eternal life, it is essential, foundational.
But what is it? I think to really understand this eternal life saving virtue we need more than just a definition to fill our minds. We need a concrete example to imitate; we need a picture in high definition. And there is no greater example or picture of humility than Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother.
Humility is not walking around with your head down. It is not humiliation. Humility is not having a lack of self esteem or confidence in oneself. That is false humility.
True humility is knowing our true self before God. That we are and always will be in total need of his love and grace. That by ourselves we can do nothing, but with his grace we have great confidence to “do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”
When the angel came to mary and announced to her that she would become the mother of God, she had questions: “How can this be?” and she also had great faith and humility as she surrendered her entire self, body and soul to the lord:
“may it be done unto me according to thy will.”
We call that “mary’s fiat”. Her humble yes to God.
Try to imagine what it must have been like for Mary, to be constantly aware that she held within her womb, the Son of God. Feeling unworthy of the gift, the singular blessing entrusted to her, yet embracing it fully. That is humility.
I can remember the most humbling day of my life. But it was soon followed by another equally humbling day of my life. The day I was ordained a priest. I remember being overwhelmed with the thought that I had been entrusted with a gift so incredible, and that I would carry it within me for the rest of my life. And then to celebrate my first mass, to say those words, his words coming forth from my mouth and in a sense, He obeys me. God becomes flesh again, and again, because he’s given me that undeserving gift to be his priest.
And what has been so humbling every time I say mass, how keenly aware of my own sinfulness, how unworthy of the gift.
If there is one thing we most need to pray for when it comes to receiving the eucharist it most certainly is the virtue of humility.
It will safeguard us from becoming spiritually crass, hard, unaffected by his true presence in the Eucharist.
Someone asked me recently what is the most difficult thing about being a priest. That was a hard question, I really had to think about it. And this is what I have come up with. Giving Jesus in the Eucharist to those who at least in outward appearance don’t seem to care or really know what it is they are receiving, who it is they are receiving.
If anyone has ever placed a newborn baby in your arms, you know how careful, how aware you are of who and how you are holding that child. How his or her little head doesn’t have the strength yet to hold itself up. What care, awareness and concentration go into just transferring a baby from one loving hands to another.
No parent would ever entrust their child into the hands of someone who didn’t seem to care or acknowledge their presence.
Let us pray to ever continue to grow in the virtue of humility particularly as it relates to our participation in the Eucharist. For today in this mass and at every mass, Jesus, the high priest, invites all of you to come to his house and to feast with him. Each of you are his invited guests. That is a great honor never to be taken lightly or for granted. It is an invitation that also calls for a response, for us to then invite, and reinvite, to give jesus permission to become more and more of our lives. And only a humble and contrite heart can accept and receive that invitation.
“Lord I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed.”
21st Sun OT 07
8.26.07 5
When I was vacationing with my family this past July I was able to spend some time with my brother and sisters and their families. One of the things my sister Kristin planned on doing was reading the book “Oliver Twist” to them and then letting them watch the movie. I don’t think I have ever watched the whole movie through, but from what I remember it’s about a little orphan boy who escapes and learns the trade of pick pocketing to survive life in the city with no parents to take care of him. My sister thought for sure that her children would learn moral of the story, that crime does not pay.
Well, my father called me today from our camp up in VT and told me how he someone had lost the keys to his car and that my sister Kristin’s minivan was blocked in by my fathers car and she was unable to drive back to NH for her doctors’ appointment the next day.
After searching all over the camp inside and outside with flashlights, and again the next morning, my sister went into my little nieces’ bed room and asked Teresa:
“Did you see poppies keys?”. “Yes, mom”.
“Well, where are they?” “under the bed.”
“What are they doing under your bed?” I put them there.
“How did you get them?” They were in poppies pocket.
“How did you get them out of poppies pocket?” ‘very, very carefully.’ (with a big smile as she showed my sister how she slowly reached into my dads pocket and lifted them out without him noticing.
You see, we need to be very very careful what movies we let our children watch.
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How many here have lost their keys before?
Depending on the urgency, particularly if you don’t have a way to get into your car or your home, it can be very stressful. Our brains begin sifting through “what are my options? How am I going to get in?”
Nobody wants to be in that situation where you are locked out.
To be helpless and stranded is not a place we want to be.
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In today’s gospel someone asked Jesus a question about getting into heaven:
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
To which he answered:
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then you will stand outside knocking and saying: ‘Lord open the door for us’, He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from. And you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you in your company and you taught in our streets’. Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me all you evildoers!”
Some people take certain precautions to make sure they are never locked out.
Giving someone a spare key to keep just in case, hiding a spear key somewhere or keeping one in their wallet.
My dad told me he was going to do that now, so he doesn’t find himself in a situation where he or others are locked out, unable to get to where they need to go.
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The gospel challenges us to reflect upon the subject of our salvation and the absolute worse case scenario of being locked out of heaven and having no possibility of getting in.
Chances are at sometime you have been asked the question, “Are you saved?”
Maybe you heard it from someone came to your door from another church or you read it on a flyer or tract that was placed on your windshield.
It’s not an irrelevant question to ask or one that should be sidestepped too quickly.
So, I’m asking you right now: “Are you saved?”
How would you respond?
What is your honest answer?
Some possibilites: “yes, maybe, I hope so, I don’t know, at this very moment, maybe not.”
The question can be a little uncomfortable to ponder. We don’t want to even think of anything other than the sure answer of “YES I AM.”
And if you say, “Yes.” How do you know? What certainty do you have?
If ever you have been asked the question or similar questions about your faith, what you are suppose to believe in and know and have felt inadequate in answering such questions, your not alone.
It’s possible the very people who have asked you those questions were once Catholic. And someone asked them similar questions and they didn’t know the answer and subsequently left the church seeking answers for what they really believe.
It’s good to be challenged in our faith, but need to know where to go to get the answers. One thing I would recommend is www.catholic.com and the Catholic Answer Bible from Our Sunday Visitor.
So what is, or what should our response be:
“Yes, I have been saved and continue to be saved by the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Salvation is an unmerited gift, meaning there is nothing we can ever do to “earn the gift.” We will be forever indebted to God for this gift.
But it does call for a response. A new response each and every day of our life. We can loose this gift. St. James, “faith without works is dead”
“Couch potato spirituality”. Sit back, accept Jesus as savior and then I’m done. Yes, god’s all loving and merciful, but he also is all just. Jesus said “you must pick up your cross and follow me.”
A blurb from the Catholic Answer Bible under the question: “Can you loose your salvation?”
In speaking of the severe trials ahead of his followers Jesus predicted that: “the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” (Mt 24:12-13). Not the one who makes a one time confession of faith, but’ the one who perseveres to the end’.
That’s why you are here right now. Or at least it should be the reason you are. To be strengthened by the sacraments so you can persevere to the end.
Let us pray as we continue with this mass to deepen our own faith in Christ Jesus, in what we believe in, what, rather who we receive at every mass. For these are his words from John chapter 6 and how blessed we are to be Catholics who have been given such a gift:
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
18th Sun OT C
8.5.07
Bumper sticker: ‘he who dies with the most toys wins!’
I would like to make a new one: “he who dies with the most toys, still dies!”
Mark twain said: “There is no sense being the riches man in the cemetery”.
And that is what Jesus cautioned about in today’s gospel when he said: “Take care not to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
“… for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Jesus is not saying, you have to be poor, you can’t have possessions.
The question is NOT, “Do I have own too much stuff?” Rather it is:
“Does my stuff own me?”
Who am I working for? What am I working for? Why do I put so many hours, so much time and work and energy into bringing home a paycheck?
The answer to those questions can vary. My family, to provide for their needs, for a good home, food, transportation, insurance, education.
All that is Good.
But today’s gospel, Jesus gives us a word of caution. What else are you saving for? What else should you be investing in.
Think about an average time, how many hours you have spent in a week working. Full time job, maybe a part time job, maybe both.
Now compare that to how much time you spend a week, investing into your spiritual 401K. How many hours? 40? Maybe a little less, 7 hours, maybe a little less? Maybe much less? Spiritual life can not be a part time job.
In the gospels, Jesus is constantly challenging us to refocus on what is important.
That we are only on this earth a short time, that the things of this world are just passing away. We can so easily get caught up in the here and now, of working hard for a more secure and comfortable future, that the materialism that surrounds us, blurs our need to invest in things beyond this life, our eternal life.
The parable that Jesus tells of a man who worked hard and invested his time and money into building larger barns for storing up all his profits and then suddenly dies; is a true story that happens over and over again.
Talking with people who have battled cancer or some other disease, they talk about how it made them realize what’s really important in life.
Read a story the other day in a book entitled: Amazing Grace for those who suffer. 10 life changing stories of hope and healing.
One story was about this man, Carl Clevland. A very successful lawyer in New Orleans who spent most of his career fighting for the little guy, the underdog. He was ordained a permentant deacon in the Catholic Church in 1989. Almost 10 years later the FBI showed up at his door and was arrested for some illegal activities they claimed he was involved with some of his clients. At one point the prosecutors told him if he just testified what they wanted to hear, they would let him go with a slap on the wrist. He refused to purjer himself and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
With his life, his reputation, his family taken away from him. He learned a painful lesson in prison, how to appreciate the little and big things in life. He writes about how in writing back and forth with his children, he had entered more deeply into their lives than he had ever done before.
He learned many other painful lessons, that helped him appreciate the gifts God had given him. And just over two years later, his appeal to the supreme court, which had a 80,000 to 1 chance of even being accepted, was indeed accepted and the US supreme court unnamisouly overturned the lower courts decisions, setting him free.
When we are younger, life and time seem to crawl by so slowy, and then of a sudden the years start speeding by. One day you are celebrating your 1st anniversary, and the next thing you know its been 10, 15, 25 years.
What we have accumulated throughout our life will not matter much when we die. You will never see a Uhaul trailing behind a Herse. You can’t take it with you.
We have such a precious gift god has given us in both our natural life and the supernatural life of faith. Both need our attention and personal investment.
Every mass in the Eucharist we are reminded how much Jesus invested himself, his life, his blood, sweat and tears so we could have the possibility of eternal life.
Every day, every moment we think to be aware of it, we need ask for the grace to be able to invest ourselves back into him, to store up for ourselves treasure in heaven, to invest in things that really matter to our relationship with God.
Homily Notes for the Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist: June 24, 2007
Invite those who are parents here to think back to when they held their first born in their arms; what you remember feeling, thinking, how the realization of parenthood affected you.
Recently I have had a number of conversations about the 1st experiences of parenthood.
One mother shared with me that it wasn't until she held her newborn in her arms and was so filled with love for the incredible gift of her baby girl did she then realize how much her own parents loved her. How much God loved her to give her such a gift.
Another mother who just had her first child said she was so overwhelmed with love her daughter, that she dreaded the day that her little girl, growing up into those rebellious years would turn to her and say, "I hate you."
My sister in law, Tammy told me that they thought they knew what they would name their child when she was born, but she wouldn't know for sure until she was able to look at her baby and then the name would be given.
Funny story about how Fr. Jim got his name. He was the 4th child and his parents had not yet decided on a name, so while he was in the hospital he was simply,
"Baby Walther". Well the nurse who brought the baby back and forth from the nursery kept calling him 'little Jimmy' and the name stuck, at least the "Jimmy" part did.
Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist.
There were some unusual circumstances surrounding his birth. First, their was the unexpected but very welcomed announcement that Elizabeth who was thought to be barren, had conceived in her old age.
Then when it came time to name child, it was customary to name the first born son after either his father or grandfather.
But Elizabeth said, ''No, he will be called John".
A name no one in their family had been given before.
When they turned to Zechariah, who God still had on 'mute', as soon as he wrote those words, "His name is John", was able to speak again and began praising God.
Then the big buzz was, "What then will this child be? For surely the hand of God was with him."
Truly, the hand of God was upon John.
He was destined to play a unique role in salvation history. He would prepare the peoples hearts and souls for the coming of the messiah, the savior of the world.
Burning in John's heart and soul was a message, a divine mission to prepare the way for the Lord.
The day John was born, no one could have imagined how vital a role "little Johnny'' would play in salvation history.
When each of us were born, our parents looked upon us with love. Maybe they wondered what the future would hold for each of us.
There is a great mystery attached to each life. But also there is a great plan.
Sometimes that can be hard for some people to accept or embrace.
Particularly, if we haven't always had the smoothest life, if we really had to struggle.
Growing up, we can look around and see individuals that everyone says, "They are going to be successful in life." They are going to be a mover and a shaker.
We can become content with living our quiet lives, not one to make a big splash on life or be the difference maker.
And maybe it's not in God's plan for us to make a visible splash on the world.
But I believe it is in His plan for everyone one of us to make an invisible splash upon the world. A splash of grace that was made possible the day the waters of baptism splashed over us.
Because on that day, we were anointed, commissioned, empowered by the holy spirit to fulfill a mission in one sense is greater than John the Baptist.
He prepared for Christ coming with a baptism of repentance.
We are called to announced to all the world, he has come, he is still here, his love and his spirit live within each of us. That he waits for his in Holy Eucharist and in the sacrament of reconciliation.
A quote that was cited in one of our provincial newsletters that touched me so deeply, I took it with me when I went on retreat to prayerful reflect upon it and unpack it.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are we not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
God wants to work powerfully through us to touch others, to give them hope, to give them love, to be His presence.
It is false humility, to say 'not me, God won't or can't work through me.'
Imagine if Mary said 'no' to the angel's invitation to become the mother of the savior.
Mary said, "Yes", she gave her fiat, "May it be done unto me according to your word."
One of the most powerful prayers I made in my young life, I made when I was a senior in high school. I had experienced how real and powerful God's love was and I wanted to share it with others. So I said, "God use me."
After four years of asking him, giving him permission to use me, I made another powerful prayer, "If you are calling me to be a priest, I say "yes" to your plan to use me, to work through me, touch hearts and souls."
But God does not limit who and how he will touch hearts and souls to priests and religious.
It is his part of divine plan, his providence to use everyone who will give him permission to use them.
He waits for you and me to say, "yes, Lord, use me."
Mary's Yes started a tidal wave of graces that continued to ripple throughout the centuries to this very moment.
The same is true for John the Baptist.
The same is true for all of us.
There is nothing more exciting and rewarding than to humbly let God use you as an instrument of his grace, to bring faith, the experience and the encounter with the living God to others.
We don't' have to know all the answers, have all the knowledge. All we need is to know his love for us, and rely on the Holy Spirit to live and speak through us.
"In whatever way you choose to use me O Lord, to touch someone's heart and soul, I give you permission.
I give you permission to set up a divine appointment, a God incidence, so you can use me to be a messenger of the good news of Jesus Christ to someone who is
Hungry and thirsty for it
Who is lost and wants and needs to be found
Who is hurting and needs healing
Who is overwhelmed with guilt and shame and needs your love and mercy.
I give you permission today Lord, to use me.
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