Stay Awake!

Thursday of the 21st Week Ordinary

I Thessalonians 3:7-13

Matthew 24:42-51

All School Mass

Who wakes up without an alarm clock?

Who wakes up with an alarm clock?

Who wakes up by mom or dad coming in and saying,” It is time to wake up!”

It is hard to get back into the swing of things in the new school year. I bet there are days when we want to pull the covers back up and go back to sleep.

In our first reading, St. Paul says, “I have been staying up night and day praying that you continue to grow in faith in Jesus Christ.” As Paul prays, the people do grow in faith.

In our Gospel, Jesus says, “Stay awake!” There is no time in our spiritual lives to fall asleep; sometimes, we can do this.

We come to this Catholic school to learn to stay awake and learn all we can from our teachers and staff. We learn how to pray and are encouraged to works of mercy and charity.

JOE RINGS AN ALARM CLOCK RING THROUGH THE SOUND SYSTEM!

So, no naps today, “Stay Awake!”

The power God gives us!

Tuesday of the 21st Week

The Passion of John the Baptist

I Thessalonians 2: 1- 8

Mark 6:17-29

How will we use the power that has been given to us today? We have the God-given power of being made in the image and likeness of God, and we have the power by the positions we hold. We need to claim this power, own this power, and use this power for the betterment of humankind. My use of power has been the biggest learning curve in my life.

In our first reading, we hear how Paul uses the power given to him. St. Paul is a powerful man who goes about the countryside, sharing the gospel message. We are told that he does not come with flattery speech but is as gentle as a mother nursing her child. Paul suffered a lot for what he said, but he never gave up and is a good model for all pastors.

In our Gospel, John the Baptist used all his power to preach forgiveness and repentance to anyone, including King Herod.

King Herod had lots of power given to him, and once Herodias’s daughter dances before Herod’s drunken guest and he promises her anything she wants, she asks for the head of John the Baptist. Herod does not use his power to rethink what he will do, and he has John beheaded.

We have the power to make a difference in our world today. Reflect on how our power is given to build up the Body of Christ. God is calling each of us to a life of courage.

Today, we celebrate the Passion of John the Baptist. John spent his life preparing the way of the Lord. He ate locust and wild honey, and he wore camel hair.

His life culminated in the witness of his death, in which he gave himself up for the sake of the truth in testimony to Jesus Christ. May we, by his example, learn to witness to Christ until the end. 

Keys and Rocks!

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 22:19-23

Romans 11: 33-36

Matthew 16:13-20

Who, by a show of hands, likes being Catholic? Who, by a show of hands, loves being Catholic? In the upcoming weeks, we will hear more about being a disciple of Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition. I hope today to move the needle from “liking” being a Catholic to “loving” being a Catholic. Today’s readings give us a solid reason to love being a Roman Catholic! Let’s start this up so we can hit one out of the park by looking at our first reading and how it relates to our Gospel.

In our first reading, Shebna is second in command in the reign of King Hezekiah. King Hezekiah is a good and noble king, but Shebna is not a good person and is not living according to God’s will. Isaiah the prophet tells him, “The keys to the kingdom that have been given to him will be taken away and given to Eliakim; for he is God’s servant.”

In our Gospel, Jesus tells Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” When the disciples hear this, they recall Isaiah 22, where the keys of the kingdom are given to Eliakim. The disciples would have made the reference that Jesus is the King and Peter is second in charge. Jesus is establishing that Peter will be the one who will be in charge of the Church with a big ‘C’ that he wants to establish.

Peter has always been the leader in many ways, even with all of his mishaps. Peter is the one who is always mentioned first. It is Peter who preaches first after Pentecost. It is Peter who performs the first miracle in the name of Jesus Christ after the resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus says, “Peter, I say to you that you are rock, and I will build my Church upon you.” Jesus is setting up for us what lies ahead that he is establishing a Church that will stand forever against the gates of the netherworld, against every kind of evil and storm. There have now been 266 successors of Peter who have guided our Church, and there will continue to be Popes who will guide our Church. We are the only ones to say we can trace our beginning to this moment. This is a great reason to love being Catholic!

Pope Francis, who I love, recently said, “If you are the same person at the end of Mass as you were at the beginning of Mass, something went wrong.”

Do you like being Catholic, or do you love being Catholic? What is your answer?

What are the rules of Jesus?

Friday of the 20^th Week Ordinary Time

Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22

Matthew 22: 34-40

Opening All School Mass

Q.) What rules do you remember from yesterday that your teachers went over with you on how to behave in your classrooms, in our school, and maybe on the playground?

Those are good rules to have because you need to know what is expected of us when we are here. There are two more rules that we are given that we also need to follow. These rules are so important that Jesus makes them a commandment. Jesus says the first commandment is “To love the Lord, with your heart, with your soul, and with your mind. The second commandment is “To love your neighbor as yourself.”

Q.) How are we able to show that we love the Lord, with all of our heart, with all of our soul, and all of our mind?

Q.) How are we able to show that we love our neighbor?

Jesus has made things very easy for us because all the rules and expectations you may have been given yesterday on our first day of school are all based on these two commandments.

As we gather each week in the Eucharist, may we continue to love God and show that by loving our neighbor?

What is it like to be an apostle?

Thursday, of the 20th Week Ordinary Time

Feast of St. Bartholomew

Revelation: 21: 9-14

John 1: 45-51

“What is it like to be a tree?” I thought this question would provoke a whole new level of conversation. My brother only answered,” Are you having a heat stroke?” It had been a hot day on this remote lake fishing, and now we were sitting on this island in the middle of this lake, enjoying the shade of this magnificent white pine tree. I said again, “What is it like to be a tree?” “Get in the canoe, and let’s go fishing,” I heard.

Trees have to grow where they are planted and make the most of what they have. They need to grab ahold of the soil, sink their roots deep, and grow as tall as possible. Trees need to withstand all the intense winds, snow, and rain.

What is it like to be a tree? What is it like to be an apostle?

In our first reading, we hear about this great city being held up by twelve strong pillars that give it a solid foundation to stand on. We understand these pillars as the twelve apostles.

In our Gospel, Philip says, “We have found the Lord!” Bartholomew responds, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip responds, “Come and see!” Jesus about Bartholomew, “Here is a true child of God. There is no duplicity in him.”

To be an apostle, it takes growing where you are planted, sinking deep roots, and growing strong so all the buffeting of winds and snow will not prevail against it.

Let us all be good disciples today, and enjoy a tree now and then. 

Today, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Bartholomew, one of the apostles. All the Gospel writers talk about him, but the Gospel writer John associates him with Philip and links his name as Nathanael. Bartholomew left everything behind to follow Jesus. May we imitate his desire to be with Jesus and continue the mission of Jesus that has been given to us?  

The Queenship of Mary

Tuesday of the 20^th Week Ordinary Time

Judges 6: 11-24

Matthew 19:23-30

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

It may not seem it at first, but our readings fit beautifully for us as we celebrate the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In our first reading, we hear the call of Gideon, and there are a few similarities between his call and the call of Mary. An angel visited both Mary and Gideon. Gideon and Mary both come from families with the lowest status of people. They both ask for a sign and are given it. Gideon is given a sign in the fire that cooks the meat and the unleavened cakes. Gideon and Mary give their lives to God in service to Him. 

Our Gospel is a continuation from yesterday, when a rich man asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit the kingdom of God?” Jesus gives him his answer by saying, “It will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.” The confused disciples ask, “Then who will enter the Kingdom of heaven?” The rich man goes away sad, for he cannot give away his riches. We must remember that, much like today, being wealthy was a sign of blessing from the Lord.

Peter says, “Lord, we have given up everything for you?” Jesus responds, “Whoever has given up father, mother, brother or sister for me will be given back one hundred times over what they have given. The disciples are promised each a throne in heaven. Jesus says, “The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” We still get into heaven, even as last!

We gather on the Feast Day of the Queenship of Mary. God is far more ambitious for us than we are for ourselves. It is not that we want too much. It is that we want too little. How is God calling us to be faithful to him today?

It has been seven days since we celebrated Mary’s Assumption into heaven. So it is fitting that we celebrate the Queenship of Mary today. Mary now shares in her son’s kingship as she stands at his side of the throne of heaven. We pronounce her as our Queen as truly she is.

On this day, we rejoice in the fullness of hope and the promise that God holds nothing back from us and that we ask that God’s will be done in our lives.

What do we do when God is silent?

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

Romans 11: 1315, 29-32

Matthew 15:21-28

How great is our faith? How great is our faith when God is silent? When God is silent, it does not mean that he is absent. I have discovered in my own life it means that God is waiting for me to do something.

Last week if you remember, we had Peter, who asked to go out on the water to Jesus. Jesus says, “Come,” and when Peter takes a couple of steps and takes his focus off of Jesus, he sinks. Jesus tells him, “Peter, you of little faith.” In our story today, we have a woman who has a storm in her life, and when Jesus approaches, she does not take her eyes off him, and she is told, “Great is your faith!” The response of Jesus is what we all should desire to be said about us. How do we get there?

Great Faith, in the Face of Silence, Requires a Great Need:

This woman needed to have her daughter healed from a demon that possessed her. She would do whatever it would take to heal her daughter, even if it meant humbling herself or embarrassing herself in front of others. The first step is to know what our needs are! Then asks ourselves, “Is the need out of great love?”

Great Faith, in the Face of Silence, Requires Knowing Who Can Fill a Great Need:

The second step is, do we realize our need for Jesus? This comes when we know we do not have all things figured out and when the hole in our hearts can only be healed by Jesus Christ. The Canaanite woman has great faith. She knows who Jesus is and what he can do. She is willing to risk everything and go to Jesus in faith. We should not look in all the wrong places to fill our needs.

Great Faith, in the Face of Silence, Requires Persistent Trust:

The third step is to trust God completely, even when he is silent. The first time this woman cries out, “Have pity me, Lord, Son of David.” Jesus completely ignores her and is silent. When Jesus responds in silence, she responds with faith. She moves closer, falls at his feet, and says, “Lord, help me!” She is rejected three times. Does she need more knowledge or more faith? Great faith does not give up; it gets more determined and creative.

Great Faith, in the Face of Silence, Does Not Require Our Worthiness:

When we do not get the answer to our prayers in the manner we want, it is not because we are unworthy. None of us are worthy. It is about God’s grace; we should never think less of ourselves.

What do we do when our faith is great, and God is silent? We get even more determined, don’t think less of ourselves, and place more trust in God! The final and best thing is that we come to the Eucharist to hear God’s Word spoken to us, and we are fed on His Body and Blood!

Let’s all go to the river!

Thursday of the 19^th Week

Joshua 3:7-10, 11, 13-17

Matthew 18: 21-19:1

Where is our heart today? What seems impossible? With what do we struggle with today? Now where is God in all of this?

In our first reading, these are all the questions the Israelites may have been asking as they stand at the banks of the Jordon River, and the Promise Land is on the other side. The Israelites are asking these questions because it is in the springtime of the year when the Jordon River is at its peak, and it is a raging river. Let’s not forget that they have been wandering in the desert for forty years. They do not know how to swim, so crossing this river at its height and not learning how to swim feels impossible.

God promises Joshua that he will be with the people, and he wants the priest to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the river, and God will provide them with a safe crossing. Do you think any of these priests slept all night before? As the priests do as was promised, the river stops flowing, and they and all the people cross the river on dry ground.

In our Gospel, “Jesus tells us to stop the madness and learn to forgive those who have hurt us!”

Who of us will be the first into the water!

The Assumption of our Blessed Mother

The Assumption of Mary

Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10

I Corinthians15:20-27

Luke 1:39-56

Many of you have an extraordinary devotion to the Blessed Mother. You pray the rosary daily. I do not pray the rosary daily, but I do pray it a few times a week. As we celebrate the Assumption of our Blessed Mother, we should ask ourselves, “Why are we here? What must we know, and how is this important for our salvation?” I do this whenever I am preparing a homily.  

What is it that we know about the Blessed Mother? Mary was born without sin and was chosen by God as the mother of Jesus. Mary’s “Yes” to the angel Gabriel gave her a special privilege from God that she was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.

We begin by giving God glory and praise and thanks for the special privilege he gave Mary for being the mother of Jesus. We do not worship Mary. We worship God and thank God for what he has done through Mary. We stop today and acknowledge this gift and give thanks to God. Mary always points to Jesus. She is constantly directing us to him.

I have come to understand this Solemnity in a new way, but it may not be new to you. I want to share this new understanding. In this Solemnity of Mary, we are to know that Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant. The old covenant was the holiest thing that the Israelites had. They would bring the Ark of the Covenant into battle with them. Moses spent days before the Ark of the Covenant praying for the strength to lead God’s people. Mary becomes the new Ark of the Covenant; we hear this in our readings.

In our first reading, John is given a special privilege to see this vision in heaven of the New Covenant. John sees this new covenant and describes the vision as a woman surrounded by bright light. Mary becomes the New Ark of the Covenant.

John is given this gift because, at the foot of the cross, Jesus looks down at him and says, “This is your mother,” he turns to the Blessed Mother and says, “This is your son.” From this day forward, John had the wonderful experience of having Mary live in his home.

Building on that, the Blessed Mother is the new Ark of the Covenant. We have some exciting things given to us in our Gospel. There are three things that when we hear this story. We are to think back on it. First, we are told that “Mary went in haste into the hill country of Judea.” King David hurriedly went to the hill country Judea to see the Ark of the Covenant. The second is when John the Baptist leaps into his mother’s womb. It should recall that King David leaps for joy before the Ark of the Covenant. Mary stays with her cousin for three months. The Ark of the Covenant stays in Jerusalem for three months.

Finally, what are the three things in the Ark of the Covenant? There are the Ten Commandments, the staff of Aaron, and the manna fed to the Israelites in the desert. Mary, as the New Covenant in her “Yes,” brings the new High priests into the world. We know his word is what we need to hear, and by dying on the cross and rising, he offers us his own body.

What we celebrate today is Mary is the New Covenant. May we run to her to help us in our time of need knowing that she will intercede for us? May we, like her, say, “May it be that you will be done in my life!”

Stay in the Boat!

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I Kings 19:9, 11-13

Romans 9: 1-5

Matthew 14:22-23

Why are we here? It is good to occasionally stop, think of our lives, and ask ourselves, “Why are we here?” There can be many answers to the question, but we must know one good answer.

In our first reading, Elijah is standing in a cave, and he has been told that God will pass by. He experiences how God has revealed himself to his people in wind, earthquake, and fire. But God was not in any of those ways. Elijah experienced God in a new way, in a tiny whisper, and he hid his face.

If you continue reading verse 13, God asks, “Elijah, why are you here?” Elijah responded “Because I wanted to see you! I was afraid and filled with doubt.” God continues by reassuring Elijah that he will always be with him.

Our Gospel story is another story about “Why are you here?” In our story, Jesus sends the disciples out ahead of him onto the Sea of Galilee, and in the darkest part of the night, Jesus comes out to the disciples, and they initially think he is a ghost. Knowing the disciples are scared, Jesus says, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter asks, “Lord, if it is you, let me come out to you.” Jesus responds with, “Come,” Peter climbs out of the boat and begins to sink. Peter screams, Lord, save me, and Jesus reaches down, takes Peter by the hand, and says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt.” One can now go on preaching about getting out of the boat, and I have many times.

I want to share a new insight about this story after discovering that for the Gospel writer Matthew, his favorite way to depict the “Church” was as a boat being tossed by the waves, but it is unsinkable. This was because the Church was under great persecution at this time.

Here is my new interpretation of the story. Jesus sends his disciples out across the Sea of Galilee, and he goes up the mountain to pray. Jesus clearly tells the disciples, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” However, Peter asks, “Lord, if it is you, let me come out to you.” Here is when I wonder if Jesus didn’t say something like? “Peter, I clearly told you it is me, but if you want to come, let’s see what you got!” Peter climbs over, and begins to sink, and says, “Lord, save me!” Jesus now stretches out his hand grabs Peter, and says, “Peter, why are you here? You are sinking in the water? You should have stayed in the boat! Whoever taught you that you can walk on water? Stay in the boat!” My other reason for coming to this insight is the wind and the waves only become calm when Jesus returns to the boat.  

Why are we here? Stay in the boat! What do we do when life is crashing in on us, like a crushing wind, an earthquake, or a fire? Do we throw all of our faith away, and sit and sulk? Or do we stay in the boat, the Eucharist, and hear Jesus say, “Why are you here? Stay in the boat!”