Jesus offers you treasure (Sunday homily)

(Today's homily is very brief, because a lay missionary from the Society of the Precious Blood spoke before Mass started.)

The twist in the story of Solomon is this:

God offered him the gift of wisdom,

Yet in the end, he ended up being guided by lust and vanity.

One of the Old Testament books attributed to Solomon 

contains the familiar words: “vanity of vanities, everything is vanity.”

If you and I aren’t careful, we can get cynical and say similar things. 

“They’re all crooks!” or, “It’s the same old thing, I’ve heard it before.”

When God became human, that was certainly not the same old thing.

And even though this Mass will be familiar – that’s what we expect – 

you and I might do well to check ourselves.

When I was a teenager, I was good at rolling my eyes, 

because even at 15, I’d seen it all before – or so I thought.

However the same it all seems, however familiar, 

there is a treasure here if you want it. 

Jesus is here for you. 

What's growing in your garden? (Sunday homily)

How do we sow either good or bad seed?

It is our daily choices: 

with the result that either the field of our soul 

has a bumper-crop of virtue, 

or it is crowded with the weeds of vice and sin.

I was reading a book by Father Basil Maturin, 

an Irish priest from a century ago, who talks about this parable. 

It was he who saw the field as our own lives. 

Father Maturin asked, “How often, as we look into our souls, 

and wonder at the evil we find there, do we not ask ourselves” 

where do these weeds come from? 

Where do laziness, wrath, lust and greed, 

and the trials that go with them, come from? 

And the answer is, “An enemy has done this.”

Now, the devil certainly does not “make me” do anything.

The enemy offers suggestions, often very appealing, 

but the choice is mine. 

So the conclusion is, you and I cannot be too careful 

about what evil we allow the enemy to sow in our lives. 

There’s a famous saying, attributed to many people:

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; 

Sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

It doesn’t take much time given to the Internet, 

going to dark places, to allow a foul habit to take deep root. 

There are folks who think this isn’t any big deal.

But materials I’m referring to involve exploitation of others 

and they are poison for ourselves and our own relationships. 

There is a growing number of people 

who are finding it difficult to have a healthy relationship 

with the opposite sex because of pornography. 

It poisons marriages, even before they begin,

and it is contributing to marital breakups. 

So it’s vital to guard our eyes from what is degrading; 

our ears from gossip and suspicion;

our heart from envy; our stomach from gluttony.

Of course, a lot of us can say, too late: 

these weeds are already in my life! 

We are frustrated to face these same weeds, 

week after week throughout our lives. 

Why doesn’t the Lord simply tear them out, when we beg him to do so?

Sometimes it happens: we have a moment of conversion 

and we receive the grace to completely overcome that bad habit; 

the weeds are, indeed, ripped out. 

But do you know what often happens next?

Someone who received a great gift of deliverance slowly slides back.

As much as we hate it, for virtue to grow in our lives, 

you and I are better off if it comes hard rather than easy;

just as it takes hard, physical labor to build our lungs and muscles.

And it is so often true that 

it is in our darkest and lowest places where we so quickly meet Jesus,

and experience him most powerfully.

There’s no place for pride when we’re flat on our face.

So, when you find it discouraging to go to confession, again, and again,

with the same sin – realize, that is exactly the medicine you need. 

It is the enemy who says, you can’t fight the weeds, 

just let them grow. 

There’s something the Gospel doesn’t say, yet we know it’s true:

Jesus has the power to turn weeds into wheat.

This has been true in my own life, 

and there are people around us who will say the same.

At this and every Mass, Jesus takes wheat – that is, bread – 

and turns it into himself.

What happened once on the Cross, for us, 

Jesus extends through time, through the Mass.

Every day, you and I bring new bread and wine, and through the priest,

Jesus himself says, “This is my Body.”

Yet there’s another wheat, another bread, 

Jesus wants above all to take in hand and say, “This is my Body.”

Do you know what that wheat is?

You and me! All of us are called to belong to his Mystical Body.

But no weeds – only the best of wheat, 

which he himself purifies and gathers and prepares. 

That’s what it means to be a Catholic;

Daily we turn our lives over to him. Patiently we return to confession. 

Jesus makes of us the best of wheat, to become part of Him.

Who is Saint Henry, our patron? (Sunday homily)

This weekend we celebrate the patron of this church, Saint Henry.

Saint Henry’s feast day falls on July 13 each year; 

for a parish or church named for a saint, that day is a solemnity 

and the bishops allow the feast to be celebrated 

on the nearest Sunday – so that’s what we’re doing this weekend.

The point is that it’s important for a parish to know its patron saint.

We were entrusted to his care; Saint Henry prays for us in heaven!

Since I’m new here, I haven’t learned why 

Archbishop Alter and Father Franer picked Saint Henry. 

Perhaps some of our more senior members know; 

if so, please send me an email or call me to share that information. 

In any case, let me share a bit about Henry. 

He was born about a thousand years ago into a royal family; 

his father had been Duke of Bavaria.

But then his father fell into disfavor with the King, 

and dad was deposed from his office.

Later, the political winds changed again, and Henry and his family 

were back in their position of power and prestige.

One of the wise decisions his father made 

was to entrust Henry to be educated by the bishop Wolfgang, 

who was later recognized as a saint. 

Perhaps St. Wolfgang helped Henry learn from his family’s trials 

to focus on Christ’s kingdom, instead of his own, uncertain one?

Some people have great conversion moments;  perhaps Henry did too.

Others are set on a path of prayer early on – this was Henry’s story.

He was taught the importance of giving Jesus time every day.

Sometimes the most life-changing decisions are the simplest.

I mention all this because there is an obvious fact:

Not many politicians are declared saints! It’s not hard to understand.

What deserves attention is what makes the difference 

between the long, sad record of kings jockeying for power,

and those who humble themselves before the King of Kings?

Henry became Duke of Bavaria, later, King of Germany, 

and then Holy Roman Emperor, then the major power in Europe.

The seeds planted in his youth yielded a great harvest later.

This is why our family of parishes maintains Bishop Leibold school, 

and why it is essential our school keep Christ at the center.

A few notable details about Henry. 

So many kings valued their wives solely for giving them heirs.

He and his wife – Saint Cunegunda (yes, that was really her name!) 

did not conceive any children. 

Other kings would renounce their wives; Henry remained true to her.

Henry’s family complained to him that he was squandering his fortune;

not on palaces and politics, but on the poor.

As king, Henry commanded armies and faced wars; 

but he was notable for seeking paths of peace and reconciliation.

Where did Henry learn these things? 

Was it when he got together with other kings and dukes?

Or was it when he attended Mass, and first heard the Word of God,

and then received him in the Holy Eucharist?

Again, it’s all about what you and I really make a priority.

We always find time for what matters most. 

Saint Henry’s earthly family and kingdom are long gone.

Had he tried to secure a worldly dynasty, he would have failed.

Yet halfway around the world, you and I enjoy his spiritual friendship.

You can visit the grave of him and his queen, also a saint, 

in the cathedral of Bamberg, Germany.

But his tomb is not the center; the altar of Christ is.

Henry was king, with all the temptations and pitfalls.

Yet what mattered most was he pointed to Jesus, saying:

He is the true King – bow down to him.

How to live in the Spirit (Sunday homily)

 Let’s talk about what you and I heard Saint Paul say: 

we are “not in the flesh…(we) are in the Spirit.” 

What does this mean?

It means, first that when we were baptized, 

the Holy Spirit was given to each of us. 

God dwells in you and me!

This relationship with God is damaged by sin; 

mortal sin is called that because it “kills,” or severs, the connection.

The sacrament of confession is the normal way we revive it,

giving us the newness we received first in baptism.

When we think of the Holy Spirit, we might think of confirmation.

That sacrament can’t be understood without connection to baptism.

In a sense, confirmation is “part two” of baptism, 

“sealing” in us the Gift of the Holy Spirit – 

which is what the bishop says as he anoints us with chrism.

But let’s think about this more broadly. 

What does it mean to say the Holy Spirit is in our life. 

Or, to use Paul’s way of saying it, 

you and I are in the life of the Holy Spirit?

How is that different from being “in the flesh”?

It’s confusing, because all of us are always “in the flesh,” right?

Indeed, some of us – ahem! – are especially fleshy!

The answer is this: who is in charge?

Is my body and its appetites in charge, or is the Holy Spirit in charge?

This isn’t a matter of flipping a switch – oh, if only it were so easy!

It’s a matter of habit, and cultivating a new way of living.

One benefit of including penance and self-denial in our lives – 

not just in Lent, but throughout the year – 

is precisely to grow in our ability to master our appetites and impulses, 

instead of them mastering us.

But it isn’t just self-denial, it’s far more a matter of prayer.

And I mean both the practice of regular forms of prayer – 

morning prayers, the Rosary or Divine Mercy chaplet, 

or spiritual reading – 

as well as a certain mindset that comes from prayer.

Praying regularly does (at least) two powerful things.

First, of course, it opens us up to God and his help.

Second, it trains us to develop a different way of seeing and reacting.

It’s not easy to describe, but we all know it when we see it:

Someone who keeps her head while everyone is losing theirs.

The calm that comes from remembering God is in control, 

and that in the long run, God’s Kingdom will prevail.

There is a peace that comes, not from soothing music or a video game, 

or an adult beverage, or even from our favorite chair, but rather,

from knowing that, in addition to being in Miami Township/Springboro,

more importantly, you are right where God wants you,

wherever you are, whatever is happening.

Living in the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean you become an oracle. 

Most people don’t respond well when you say, “God told me to tell you…”

Nor does it mean that everything goes perfectly.

What living in the Holy Spirit means 

is you and I learning to let him be in charge. 

Sometimes he softens our hearts; other times, he hardens our resolve.

Sometimes he makes us bold to speak; or he helps us bite our tongue.

The same Spirit will help us discipline our spending, 

and then prompt us to be prodigal in sharing our goods with others.

If you want this life in the Spirit – and why wouldn’t you? – then ask.

But believe me when I say, there is no short-cut.

First comes our own resolve – really wanting it;

Then comes living that resolve by daily choices, prayer and self-denial.

I repeat again my invitation to confession: 

this sacrament is the mega-dose of heart-softening.

And when I say, “ask” I mean, again and again, with daily prayer.

Sometimes we say, oh, I will start praying when I have time.

Daily prayer isn’t out of reach for anyone.

Even a few minutes at the beginning, 

a few moments – pauses – through the day, 

and a few minutes at the end, will bring great fruit.

If you want Life in the Spirit, ASK.

Our nation's birth certificate

 

Our patriotic task is to 'baptize' our nation (Sunday homily)

 As we all know, Tuesday is our nation’s Independence Day, 

and I’m guessing the celebration has already begun for many of us.

This time of year, I think a little more about our nation’s history; 

about the great gift we were given by those who won our Revolution.

So, for example, the Knights of Columbus were helping parishioners

to register to vote recently. 

It’s shocking to think that anyone wouldn’t be registered to vote. 

Both in the Revolution, and again in the Civil Rights movement, 

people died to gain for us this and other precious rights.

As I thought about this homily, St. Paul’s words caught my eye.

He’s speaking about baptism and the Cross, not patriotism.

So, if you ask me what this homily is about:

It’s about what happens when we “baptize” Independence Day.

Because what our nation needs is a collective baptism. 

Taking up the cross, as Jesus said, dying to self.

I offer that because the great idol 

to which our nation tends to bow down, more than any other, 

is the seductive concept of “Choice.”

Our nation was conceived in liberty.

You and I are rightly protective of our rights in the Constitution.

Yet must we not concede there is a blind-spot?

Namely, that the right to choose 

is made more important than choosing what is right.

And this can show up in the everyday operations of our parishes, 

where instead of focusing on what’s good for all of us, 

people can end up simply pushing for what is good for themselves.

I’m talking about a part of Catholic teaching we call “the common good.” 

This applies to the family, workplace, neighborhood, and nation.

Imagine how our society would be transformed, 

if more of us were willing not to get something for ourselves, 

if that meant better for the whole of our state or our nation?

Imagine if, when the next politician stands up and says,

“Here’s a benefit or program I’m going to give to you,”

we voters said, “No! Don’t pander to us, think about the whole!”

That’s the common good.

To circle back to Saint Paul, this is all about dying to self.

The reason not to exalt “choice” above all else, 

is because good and evil aren’t a matter of majority vote.

Just because I want something, doesn’t make it right.

That’s a part of me that has to die.

That mindset has to be baptized and converted into what Jesus said: 

I did not come to be served, but to serve.

As you and I and all of us celebrate our nation’s independence, 

we might try to remember – 

and if we can do it gracefully, help others to remember – 

that the liberty you and I cherish wasn’t given to us for its own sake.

It is worth asking whether our constitutional republic can really work, 

if our people lose faith in God, or lose our moral core.

When Dr. Martin Luther King made the great difference he did, 

to help vindicate the rights of all Americans, regardless of skin color, 

he not only pointed to our Constitution,  

he also appealed to the moral compass of the majority 

whose rights did not need vindicating. He appealed to our consciences.

If that conscience had been dead, he would have failed.

It is frightening to think where that road would have led.

Thank God, Dr. King stirred us, and stirs us still, to a better vision

Of all the places and times God could have chosen for us,

He chose this country, this state, in this year.

Our nation’s conscience continues to need stirring, and converting.

Who will do it? God put you and me here for that.

Why are parishes being combined as one?

In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, we are in the midst of a diocesan-wide reorganization entitled "Beacons of Light." After a couple of years of high-level situation-assessing, evaluating and planning, the 200 or so parishes were grouped into about 55 "families" of parishes; in a few cases, really large parishes remained on their own, but otherwise, the new families were made up of anywhere from two-to-seven parishes, headed by a pastor, and assisted by one or more vicars, or associates.

There are two basic elements to the plan: (1) organizing or reorganizing parishes well, as a prelude to the greater need, which is (2) evangelizing.

There is a fairly detailed road-map for every family of parish to follow, involving ongoing assessing of what the parishes, individually and as a family, are doing well or else need help doing; charting ways to bring things together, and at the end of five years, the "family" of parishes will be combined as a single legal entity.

This latter part of the plan has some folks, particularly up north in the more rural areas, upset. They are against combining parish legal structures; they want their individual parish to remain stand-alone as a legal entity, regardless of the fact that one priest will be pastor over this and several other individual parishes.

I will let them explain for themselves why this is important to them.

My job here it to explain why not combining the parishes legally is bad. It will be bad for the pastor; and that, in the end, will be bad for the people.

The short answer: 

Because if you don't take these steps, especially combining parishes as a single legal entity, the result will be either a neglectful pastor, or else a pastor who is miserable and will want to go elsewhere, very possibly out of the priesthood.

Now, some further explanation.

The two reasons for reorganizing:

1) Not enough pastor-capable priests for the whole archdiocese.

2) Not enough people in the pews in many parts of the archdiocese.

Note that I said, "pastor-capable" priests. People say, look, we ordained seven new priests, why don't we have enough pastors? Just being ordained does not make you ready to be a pastor; our new priests will need several years experience before they become pastor; and trust me, you want that, too. 

Even then, some of our priests who are good and holy, find that they aren't suited to be pastors. If I named names, you'd nod and agree: a good priest, but he'd make a terrible pastor.

Beyond the normal duties of a priest -- regarding Mass, confessions, sacraments, visiting the sick, teaching, assisting people preparing for sacraments, counseling people in difficulties, and the like -- are the special duties of a pastor, which involve planning, diplomacy, crisis-management, managing employees and financial responsibilities.

The pastor can and should have help in these matters, but it is fantasy to think he can delegate it all. 

The person who writes a budget sets priorities. People can say, we must make X or Y a "priority," but if those who write the budget allot $1,000 a year for it, then they decided it won't be a priority.

Two things I've learned better this past year: if you don't plan before you act, you (and everyone) will be sorry. And, planning is work that takes time and focus. As with budgeting, the one who does the planning is the one who runs the parish. I don't mean the pastor should be the sole decider; I mean, he can't leave the room.

The pastor himself is responsible for overseeing the managing of parish money. Again, lots of people help, but none of this self-regulates. Who oversees the overseers? Unless he takes time, time, time, his oversight is a transparent pretense. Lack of oversight is how errors and overspending creep in, and worse, actual fraud.

So, of course, a priest can breeze through all this by turning over all the key decision-making to staff or especially powerful volunteers. But that priest is pastor in name only. What's more, the odds are high that the system will eventually break down for lack of dedicated leadership, after some period of meandering auto-pilot. 

So why must parishes be combined into a single legal entity if they share a pastor?

Because a pastor has irreducible responsibilities to the legal entity he leads (which we call a "parish.") If he heads more than one parish, he must at times act as if he is two people. Four parishes? Four people, and so forth.

By the way, despite customary language, "parish" doesn't equate to "church building." In most people's experience in this country, "parish" means church; so when someone says, we're going to combine several parishes into one, it means, closing several beloved church buildings, to be turned into a B&B, or else demolished. 

In fact, "parish" in church law refers to what otherwise we might call a corporation: a defined legal entity. A single parish can have more than one actively-used churches.

Here's what it seems some people want: they want the single pastor to administer the individual parishes as if they stand alone. What they don't realize is that they are asking a single priest to act as if he is two, three, four, seven, or more people. Impossible!

Every set of books must be kept separate; and reviewed.

If the parish staffs are kept separate, that greatly multiplies the pastor's duty as a supervisor.

If the finance and pastoral councils, and other organizations, are kept separate, the pastor multiplies the meetings he attends. But then, what else do we want him for, but to attend meetings?

All this would be bad enough, as long as everyone gets along and doesn't get suspicious of the other parishes in the "family." But what does a pastor -- who has a fiduciary responsibility to each parish -- do when the following happens:

Father Earnest meets with Parish A pastoral council. They tell him: "make Parish B pay more!" The next night, Father meets with Parish B pastoral council. They say, "make Parish A pay more!" If they won't work together, tell me how Father acts as the advocate of both, fairly, in that situation?

The Archdiocese, in setting on this path, adopted the principle of, "one pastor means one parish." That is, if a single priest was going to be pastor of several parishes for the foreseeable future (rather than a short-term thing), then the parishes must become a united legal entity. It won't work (except badly or miserably) any other way.

If you can't understand why forcing your pastor to administer separate parishes will make him miserable, try asking. It will. Or it will make him decide to be a figurehead, waiting for his next assignment. Or he will find unhealthy ways to deal with stress. Or he will quit the priesthood.

Update @ 3:08 pm.

Two more points. First, to address the two grave concerns people always have about combining parishes: money and keeping the church open.

There are very easy and very secure ways to ensure your money goes where you want it to go. Ask and I'll explain.

And if you're worried about your church closing, ask: are people showing up? Are people willing to pay for its upkeep? If yes to both, what's the worry? Some of my fellow priests are indeed stupid, but you have to be amazingly stupid to shut down a church that is well used and maintained. 

Second, there's no denying we're in this soup because of a lot of bad decisions over recent decades. People always want to relitigate all that, understandably, but that doesn't deal with where we are. It's so tempting to blame it all on this or that thing (Vatican II! Abuse scandal! Not promoting marriage!), when it's a product of lots of things. In any case, I consider it a positive that the Archdiocese is turning, as a whole, toward evangelizing. Out of that will, I believe, come some important course corrections, but it takes time. Some of the course-correction may well be beyond what a pastor can do. And none of that discussion helps a pastor know how to manage things day to day in AD 2023.

Fear or Jesus (Sunday homily)

 Sometimes I wonder how many people gathered around our Lord Jesus 

were really listening to everything he said.

I’m not naïve; I realize not everyone is always listening to what I say!

That’s not a criticism; parents have children to watch over. 

People come to Mass after not much sleep, or after a long day’s work.

It would have been the same way when Jesus stood up to speak.

So, now, let me try to focus your attention 

on three words in the Gospel – they came and went in an instant.

Jesus said: “Fear no one.” Fear no one.

Notice, this is not a promise that nothing bad will ever happen.

That no one will ever bully or even injure us, as befell Jeremiah.

What Jesus is saying is that, 

when you and I are clear about who he is, and who we are to him, 

and what he has prepared for us, then…

There truly is nothing and no one to fear.

Someone might say, aren’t we supposed to “fear” God?

Yes, but not in the sense Jesus means here.

“Fear of God” means recognizing the awe and reverence God deserves. 

Growing up, I “feared” my dad; not in the sense that I cringed or hid.

Rather, in the sense that I understood his authority and power, 

and I did not want to offend him or disrespect him.

So in the case of Jesus himself. 

He makes himself familiar to us; yet at the same time, 

it is entirely right to remember that, in becoming our brother, 

he remains our Lord and God.

Alternately, someone might say, shouldn’t we fear the devil?

No, not “fear.” Take him seriously as our enemy? Absolutely. 

There are spiritual powers seeking my destruction and yours,

and it is foolish to dismiss that. Jesus takes the devil seriously.

People mess around with these spiritual forces to their great sorrow.

Our baptism is our perfect safeguard, 

because it brings the Holy Trinity to dwell in us, 

and we to dwell in the Trinity. When we stay where Jesus put us:

Nothing to fear.

And if we do stray, a good confession brings us back to perfect safety.

After that, what else would we fear? 

We all experience fear: of sickness, or death, or financial peril, 

or someone we love getting into a bad spot. The list is endless.

Yet Jesus says, scratch it all off your list.

When you and I have prayed, and offered what help we can, 

and made what decisions or changes we can make, what else is there?

What good does fear or anxiety do at that point?

I’ve been in an airplane when it went thumpy-thumpy. Not pleasant!

What did I do? I prayed a good of contrition. Believe me, I meant it!

I looked around to check out the situation. 

One time a lady nearby was freaking out, scaring her kids.

I said to her, “Ma’am, that’s not helping.” She settled down.

Obviously we landed safely. But if not?

Then, for those who were friends of God, we’d still have landed safely!

If not on the runway, then into the hand of our Creator.

No one wants to think of war or cancer or any other crisis as a gift.

I knew a priest who lived seven years with terminal cancer.

He had the gift – and he gave us around him the gift – of no illusions. 

That enabled him to be ready for eternity, 

and he was more ready for each day in this life as well.

The poor people in Ukraine aren’t under any illusions 

about what truly is permanent, what they can control, 

what really matters.

You and I can think of what we have – or could have – as an entitlement. 

Then we can be worked up with envy for others, 

and bitter when things slip through our fingers, as they inevitably will. 

Or: realize everything is a gift. You and I have this moment. 

We have Jesus Christ and everything that is his.

Nothing else is promised. 

Nancy Pelosi's ideas about the priesthood

 

This story is from March, but I didn't have time to do anything with it at the time.

Pelosi: Women Should Be Priests: 'That Is Real Power'

...Speaking at an event at Georgetown University last week, Pelosi said that she had been "attracted" to the notion of being a priest because of the power of the clerical office. But she added it was disappointing Pope Francis had not permitted the ordination of women to the Catholic priesthood.

"Every day [priests] have the power … of turning bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, that is real power, now we're talking power, and that's why I was more attracted to that than being a nun," Pelosi said during a conversation with Rev. Jim Wallis, the director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice, according to the Washington Examiner.

A story like this most likely needs no commentary. Just count the number of times Ms. Pelosi used one particular word:

"Every day [priests] have the power … of turning bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, that is real power, now we're talking POWER, and that's why I was more attracted to that than being a nun..."

That made me think of...

Now, there's truth here. 

God's Power is real, and it is an astounding truth of our faith that he entrusts some of that power to human beings, in a very obvious way, to priests. As former Speaker Palpa-, er, Pelosi said, "that's real power"! (I'd loved to have been at her talk, just to see the force lightning erupt from her fingertips.) 

I might add, bishops have the same power, and even more: they ordain priests and other bishops. The entire existence of the Church on earth depends, in a sense, on them. If every bishop on earth disappeared, there would never be any more priests, and no more bishops to ordain them. We would no longer have the Eucharist. We would have but the sacraments of baptism and matrimony, and our own acts of contrition in place of the power --

POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!!!!

Please, Ms. Pelosi, settle down! (Hands her a gold ring to hold on to)

Now, what was I saying? Oh yes, acts of contrition in place of the p-, er, sacrament of confession. And in place of the sacrament of anointing, we'd have...Our own prayers for healing. It would be terribly sad to lose so much of our treasure as Catholics, but...

Do you realize that many times in the life of the Church, that's exactly what many Christians, even many Catholics, experienced? In Mexico and England and France, among other places, bishops were driven out and priests were hunted. The Catholic Faith first came to Korea by way of laypeople, who baptized and shared the teachings of Christ, and they prayed for priests to bring them the rest of the sacraments; that took awhile. Meanwhile, with but the grace of baptism, with nothing other then faith, they found (looks around to see where Rep. Pelosi went, drops to a whisper)...

>>power<< 

to evangelize, and even to die for the faith. They are martyrs under the Lord's throne! 

Nor forget our Protestant brothers and sisters, who with only baptism and matrimony, have so often put us Catholics to shame with their witness, even to death.

That all sounds like, well (looks around furtively), I don't want to say it out loud, because, well, you know. That (mouthing the word silently) belongs to every believer.

Every believer.

I won't deny that some priests and bishops and higher-ups in the church have the same lust for you-know-what. My point is, that's not what any of this is about. It is hard to think of a worse way to approach the priesthood, or to decide why this or that person should be ordained. I provided the image at the head of this to remind you that, yes, Smeagol did crave that power, and tremendous evil came as a result. But what became of that lust of his? And if you haven't read the book or seen the film...look, squirrel!

'That thread is grace' (Sunday homily)

 If you are wondering what thread binds all these readings together, 

I will tell you what I see. That thread is grace.

What is grace? Here’s a short answer:

Grace is God’s love and life, acting in our lives, to make us like God.

First God nudges and prompts us, and sometimes blocks our way, 

all to point us away from spiritual danger and toward spiritual life.

Those helps, nudges, prompts – which can come in our conscience, 

or from our guardian angel, or from other people – 

is what we call “actual grace.” 

But we also call grace that infusion of God’s own life into our lives.

That is called “sanctifying grace,” because it makes us holy. 

That grace forgives us and changes us to become heavenly.

To become like God.

Jesus gave us the sacraments as certain sources of sanctifying grace.

Here’s an analogy.

A friend looks at you says, you don’t look well. You need to go to doctor.

When you go to the doctor, he says yes, you are very sick – 

but he gives you medicine, and you get better.

The friend’s nudge was “actual grace”;

what the doctor gives – to save you – is an image of sanctifying grace.

Although it helps us understand when we sort and categorize,

ultimately grace boils down to one reality: God.

God is life, God is mercy, God is holy, God is love.

As you and I encounter God, either we are drawn by God, 

and transformed, into God – what we call purgatory and heaven –

Or else we resist and reject his life – and that is hell.

What is absolutely impossible is to remain untouched.

Notice what God told the people in the first reading:

I carried you. And what Paul said: that we were “helpless.”

And what Jesus said: what you receive, you received “without cost.”

So here are two key points I urge you to reflect on deeply. 

First: Grace – God’s love, God’s mercy – it is all a GIFT.

No one earns heaven; no one pays for his or her sins.

It is not necessary; it is not possible.

The only response possible for us is either accepting God’s love – 

surrendering to it – or refusing it.

The idea that you or I could offer any “payment”

is equal parts offensive and laughable.

Second point: God’s grace always is ahead of you.

You may think it was your idea to turn back to God, to put things right; 

but in fact, it was God’s idea first. 

His grace nudges you; supports you, draws you, 

assists you all the way to the destination, which is God himself.

Again: the only thing you and I can contribute is “yes.”

And this is the mystery of it all: 

Even the breath to speak that yes is itself God’s grace!

If it sounds like I’m saying that it is all God, and none of ourselves, 

I am not quite saying that. This is the mystery:

It is as much God, and as little of us as is possible, 

while still some infinitesimal part of us responds.

The wrong conclusion is to say, I can be passive.

Also wrong is to say, as you and I did as kids: “I want to do it myself!”

It is entirely right – and necessary – 

for us to respond with openness, and, ultimately, gratitude. 

This is the rationale to prayer, penance, acts of self-denial,

Mass each Sunday, and regular confession.

None of this is, “I owe God” or, “I have to make God happy.”

No! These are time-tested tools to help us cooperate with God.

When I was a boy, my parents provided everything for me.

But like all the rest of us, at times my father and mother said,

Get off the couch, come help.

My “help” wasn’t that much help; sometimes it was a distraction.

But my folks knew that my response and participation

was going to help me become less selfish, more generous – more human.

Has it occurred to you yet what’s happening right now?

It was God’s grace that brought you and me to this Mass,

to receive his word and assist in his sacrifice at the altar.

Today God gives you GRACE and LIFE.

“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Madness on full display at NCR

Michael Sean Winters...oh, the poor man!

Sometimes I try to imagine what it must be like for him as part of the team at the "National" "Catholic" "Reporter" (quotation marks meant to indicate that none of these terms is accurate). At one time, I suppose, the editorial team might occasionally get together, but no doubt since Covid, all contact is remote, with additional masking encouraged in case we find out later Covid can travel via Zoom.

Mr. Winters, from what I can gather, has been exposed to serious ideas in the course of getting what was probably a fine education, and every once in a while there is evidence some of that obtained purchase in his mind. I imagine he fancies himself a moderate sort of person; in the midst of the progressive hive-mind that is the "N""C""R," I bet he is suspected of being a crypto-trad (indeed, I know it for a fact, from readers' comments, that got so embarrassing the editors eliminated them); all because every once in a while, he meekly demurs ever so slightly from the Progressive Project. So, for example, he will occasionally say abortion is actually a bad thing, and maybe a law here or there placing some limits on it might not be so awful...but then he seems to fall back in line for awhile. I dread the thought of the struggle sessions that must ensue when he questions the Revolution ever so slightly. 

This is a man who, whenever anyone behaves badly, is quick to roar, "to the guillotine!" (And, yes, he really did bring up that image in reference to people with whom he disagrees.) He has several times in his column urged the bishops to silence this or that person, or remove this or that person; usually for that worst of sins, according to the Progressive Project: being mean. And yet, here is a fellow who -- when attempting to "report" [stifled guffaw] on things he doesn't like -- averts almost instantly to ad hominem. That is, according to my ossified pre-post-modern way of thinking, being mean.

So let us look at the latest bit of eloquence Mr. Winters shared -- on the "transgender" phenomenon:

Bishops, listen to Catholic health workers, not culture warriors, on transgender directives

First of all, I think it's precious that he imagines "the bishops" pay much attention to the "N""C""R," whom very often, the writers in said publication openly complain about. When MSW isn't appealing to the bishops, as here, he is bashing them (notice the sly suggestion in the column that most bishops aren't "smart," apart from one or two that might actually converse with Mr. Winters: "I remember one of the smarter bishops I know telling me..."

I am tempted to delve into the whole "culture warrior" smear, but I think at this point, the gig is up. Almost no one outside the Progressive zone of mutual affirmation can deny there really is a war of ideas and values underway, and those who are resisting are not the aggressors. Mr. Winters advocates unilateral and total disarmament and surrender, which is not only incoherent, but profoundly immoral. It wasn't that long ago when the "N""C""R" made it's reputation on thundering against the sexual abuse of children by a few perverted priests, which too many negligent bishops allowed to flourish. But now that the abuse of children is called "gender affirmation," where is the "N""C""R"? Applauding from a front-row seat.

But let's get to the meat of this. 

What is at issue is whether Catholics, including those in health care, can ever cooperate with lying about human identity, and with mutilation of bodies as a consequence of that lying. This is what so-called "gender therapy" is.

Yes, some people do experience a disassociation or "dysphoria" regarding their sense of sexual or "gender" identity. This is not made up. Why it happens and how to deal with it are serious questions. But the wrong answer is to say that subjective feelings trump objective facts. It really is amazing to hear those who croak "follow the science!" at every opportunity, in this case demand the physical sciences be cast aside and expurgated as if they never existed.

Let me spell out for you what the so-called "therapy" -- which Mr. Winters says the bishops should allow for, if not endorse -- consists of:

- "Affirm only": this is the stance advocated by many in the "transgender community," and which is being endorsed at the highest levels, including our federal government. It means that if anyone -- even a toddler -- says, in effect, "my body isn't me, I may look like a girl, but I'm really a boy" -- or something else, e.g., "non binary," then the only acceptable response is to "affirm." Anything else is deemed "transphobia," "hate" and all other evil things.

- "Affirm only" means addressing Claudia as "Claude" from thenceforward and dressing him, er, "her" accordingly. Only, changing gender does not require any change of clothing, because that would reinforce oppressive "gender norms." But if Claudia wants to dress differently, "affirm"!

- Next comes the administration of drugs; hormones that will, in sufficiently high dosages, cause a female body to become more masculine, and vice-versa. And so-called "puberty blockers" which do exactly what they say: a young person's body that is about to enter puberty is prevented from doing so.

Do you realize no one really knows what affects these drugs will have, long-term? There are reports that they can cause infertility; and if you go looking, you will find numerous reports of individuals who went through this, only to discover that they couldn't function sexually afterward. And then you have the trauma of someone regretting it all and "de-transitioning." I cannot imagine the pain and regret involved in having your body be distorted and mutilated, only to conclude it was all a colossal mistake.

Now, you may say, oh but Mr. Winters didn't endorse any of that; and technically, that's true. But what, precisely, does he expect to change about the bishops' guidance as a result of "listen[ing] to health workers"? Who thinks this is about which brand of pain-killer to prescribe after the procedures? This is transparently about whether there can be any circumstances allowing for so-called "gender therapy," and the obvious answer to anyone who knows anything about the Catholic faith, is no. Mr. Winters is so ready to call other people, including bishops, not-very-smart; but to offer this pretense about flexibility is either a sign that he isn't very smart, or else he thinks you aren't.

Why can't the bishops allow this?

You know, this is not even primarily a function of doctrine. First and foremost, it is a scientific question. What makes someone male and female? What does this reality of biology -- if it is real, if biology is real -- consist of? These are questions on which science has very well settled answers; only in the very rarest circumstances is there true ambiguity about someones sexual identity. Even where the body parts may be malformed or there can be both male and female parts, the proof of sexual identity is found in the cells. 

We used to have a term to describe the state of misperceiving reality around one; the kinder term today is mental illness. Again, this is a real thing and deeply painful to all involved. But there is no love in going along with it, when that means causing actual harm, even if I don't know how to relieve you of the conflict you experience with reality. I have known people who experienced particular forms of mental illness; this is not a hypothetical.

The other day, I had a conversation with one of our teachers at Bishop Leibold School, which is part of the "family" of parishes which I pastor. Our school has earned several awards for it's "STEM" program (standing for science, technology, engineering and math). It occurs to me that right now, our society is asking everyone to practice a kind of cognitive dissonance. When it comes to engineering, there is no such thing as personal laws of physics or subjective mathematics. If you try to build a bridge according to any other but the one set of physical laws, that bridge will fail. Such is the respect we supposedly have for all sciences, this far into the modern era. Oh but not biology! Then we are told we must suspend all natural laws upon request. Men can have wombs; women can have penises. It is all madness, and the same wilful defiance of reality will end as badly as a collapsed bridge, if not far worse.

What my last 18 months has been like and why I've been so absent

Those three or four people who still read my blog surely have noticed almost complete radio silence for nearly a year, which ends now. Herewith the story.

Catholics in this area know that the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has been in throes of a massive reorganization for the past two-to-three years, called "Beacons of Light." About three-to-four years ago, Archbishop Dennis Schnurr set in motion a close examination of the present situation, and the likely near-future situation, for both priest availability and for enrollment in parishes and schools. To his credit, the Archbishop determined he would not take a band-aid approach; and also, that he would learn from the mistakes of the prior "pastoral region" clustering approach.

That resulted plans unveiled in the second half of 2021 to create out of about 200 parishes, approximately 55 or so "families" of parishes. In a few cases, very large parishes remained on their own; otherwise, parishes were grouped together. Most priests were reassigned, effective July 1, 2023, and it was a real shock to the system. 

So, the parish where I was pastor for eight years, Saint Remy, went from being on its own, to becoming one of seven rural parishes in a new family. Most families didn't embrace so many parishes, but a fair number were that large. 

I was reassigned; I was named pastor of a new family made up of Our Lady of Good Hope, Saint Mary, and Saint Henry parishes on the south side of Dayton. I had no desire to go anywhere, but I had no choice about leaving Russia; the only choice I had was to accept the proposed assignment, or else take a pass and see what came in the second round. I will not hide that it made me extremely sad to leave Saint Remy.

Worst of all was that when I was informed in November that I would be leaving the parish I loved, and whose people had shown me such great love, I was ordered not to discuss this with anyone. That was extremely difficult, as there were rumors swirling, and parishioners asked me about what was coming, and I had to answer with extreme care so as (a) not to reveal anything and (b) not lie. I did not lie, but I was exceedingly careful in my answers, and I fear some people -- when later heard my announcement of my departure, remembered answers I gave, and may have wondered if I'd deceived them. That thought hurt the most.

(Before moving on, let me here add that I understand the need for this whole project, and also for why pastors were moved. I don't take it personally. And, truth to tell, had I remained where I was, my life was still going to change drastically, and it is very possible that it would have all gone badly in that family of parishes.)

When February rolled around, I was allowed to make my move public, and so a great number of gears all started turning. The parishes where I was headed were losing familiar faces, too, and we had several new priests arriving for the family of parishes to which St. Remy would belong. The sorting, packing and moving weren't the big task; the great task was to begin -- as early as three months before I would become pastor -- laying the foundations for what was going to happen:

- Reach out to the three finance committees, to gain cooperation on financial decisions and cost-sharing. Very likely whatever plans we started with would not be sufficient, and would need revising before long; but I wanted to make sure our finance folks were fully informed and included.

- Reach out to all the employees of the three parish offices, as well as the school employees, to get acquainted and head off too many rumors.

- Reach out to all parishioners as well. This we did with a letter from me, to every household. I knew from experience how much misinformation and negativity can get going in a void of information.

- Meet with the other priests and the deacons, to get to know each other and start on a good foot.

Amidst all that came packing and unpacking, and lots of ordinary duties of a pastor and a priest, both on the way out of one parish, and the way into a new assignment.

The things I decided had to take priority were:

1) Communication to all concerned;

2) A successful reorganization of the parish staff, so that I manage them well, have help to manage parish needs, and also lay the foundation for our family of parishes to come together as one, and become an evangelizing community.

Very quickly, I realized that completing these tasks successfully meant I had to focus on a few things, and decline to get involved in other things. I turned down requests for meetings and events, and I put off various projects that came to me. It distressed me to make virtually no plans for the Eucharistic Revival that is underway, but I didn't control the timing of all this.

We organized a series of "Meet the Pastor" evenings at the three parishes; lots attended and it went well. Someone wrote down all the questions, and later, I posted these questions, and my answers, online; some of this also made it into the bulletin.

While I declined to meet with each pastoral advisory council separately (because I didn't want group A to get valuable information ahead of group B or C), I did meet regularly with all three, together. Thank God, they were very willing to do that; same with the finance committees.

I formed a "Transition Committee," with three leaders from each parish. The purpose of this group was to be a sounding board for several decisions that might later prove to be contentious; I wanted to have their backing when the decisions were announced -- such as, where the priests would live, what changes would happen with the staff, and how the parish offices might be reorganized.

It took until after Christmas to create job descriptions (with the help of the Transition Committee) for the five leadership positions I would be creating, to help me supervise the combined employees of the parishes and Bishop Leibold School. Then I had to think about how the rest of the staff would be arranged -- what new positions might be created, and which ones would go away; all this had to be mindful of the budgets involved. There was a very real chance that when it was all said and done, some valuable employees would no longer have a job! I had never had to do this sort of reorganization and I was only going to get one chance to do it right.

By mid-February, I had an organizational chart for all anticipated parish staff (the school staff was unaffected); that's when I realized that the time to announce the details of the reorganization would be better in late March, so that the whole business of interviewing and hiring wouldn't hit in the weeks before Holy Week and Easter, but after. The plan was to announce this whole thing to all our staff, and thus, to the parishioners. I would be interviewing applicants (employees and others) for the five leadership positions, and then once they were hired, the rest of the staffing would be sorted. While I was going to do all I could to keep a position for our existing staff, I had to be candid that there might be positions eliminated; in which case, I planned to be very generous with severance.

By the way -- all this I shared, ahead of time, with the aforementioned Transition Committee, and the other priests, and the finance chairmen. Thank God, the input improved the plan, and everyone was supportive.

On March 22, the whole thing went public at an all-staff meeting. It was a shock to many, although to be fair, I'd told people at a restructuring of the staff was coming. Everyone was welcome to ask questions, and I offered to meet with each employee one-on-one.

Very quickly, with help from the priests, our principal and several Transition Committee members, we advertised and interviewed for these positions: Director of Operations, Director of Faith Formation, Director of Involvement and Engagement, Director of Care, and Director of Worship. Many employees applied -- we were careful to keep things confidential for their benefit -- and of the five directors ultimately hired, four were existing employees. 

All this had to move fairly fast to resolve uncertainties and to get the team in place. So from mid-April to mid-May, we had five sets of interview teams and interviews, and five rapid-fire announcements of new hires.

For the last month, the pace has only slightly let up: other staff positions were sorted, and a lot of payroll paperwork and office arrangements and transitions had to be arranged. As I write these words, there is one position still to fill. It was not necessary to lay anyone off or downgrade anyone's position. We did have one outstanding employee accept a new position outside the family of parishes. 

Right now, several staff members are still "transitioning" from old duties to new. Part of the timing of all this was to have this phase of it fall in the summer, when things calm down for most parish staff.

But all my new hires are on the job and they are setting to their tasks with vigor. We got all the school and parish employees together for a happy hour two weeks ago, to celebrate the conclusion (near enough) of the re-org, and to say thanks to our valuable staff who'd been through some anxious weeks. I regret that people had some sleepless nights, but I honestly don't know how else it might have been pulled off. At any rate, things have settled down.

We're close to our budget for all this -- finance chairman have been kept informed. 

One of the things I told people all along, as a major reason why this staff reorganization had to happen, and soon, was that I was missing things. Now my staff is finding lots of things that indeed were being missed; thankfully, no crises, but putting new budgeting procedures in place, and making plans for significantly improved communication to our parishioners, and more besides, will help prevent future problems.

Before I close this out, I want to emphasize several things. 

Coming into this, I didn't know how it would all go, but I had to be prepared for it all going badly. With profuse thanks to Almighty God, and everyone in this family of parishes, it has all gone very well. I was prepared for so many ways the wheels could have gone off: people being protective of their turf, not wanting to cooperate, worrying about expenses and so forth. Not to mention any number of other crisis -- external or internal -- that might have come along to blow it all up.

Everyone has had a good will and tried to be flexible. It's very hard to overstate how much this has helped me, and helped us all, in this whole process!

Looking forward, our "leadership team" members all have marching orders for the next few weeks and next few months, and we're all getting to know each other. Our Director of Care, for example, has the mission of coordinating and maximizing all that our family of parishes does to carry out the corporal works of mercy. A lot is already happening, but won't it be wonderful if, in years to come, we look back and see an explosion of apostolic works of mercy in this community?

This post doesn't necessarily mean that I'm not awfully busy, but it does mean things have steadied out.

Yes, babies can participate in Mass (Corpus Christi homily)

Pope Francis will often create a homily 

around three words from the readings; 

that’s what I am going to do today.

The three words are “Remember,” “Participation” and “True.”

Let’s start with Moses telling God’s People to “remember.” 

“Remember how God directed your journey,” he said.

That was the point of the Passover, with the sacrificed lamb: 

to remember God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

But for Moses and the people, 

that remembering didn’t just involve a thought process. 

By sharing the sacrificial meal together, 

they went back in time in a sense, truly reliving the saving events.

And that is what happens in Holy Mass. 

You and I are, in a real sense, present at Calvary.

Present at the empty tomb. 

Present at the eternal supper of the Lamb.

Even though those are events either in the past, or ahead of us,

Nevertheless, God makes all these things present:

That’s what “remembering” means to God;

Because, remember, there is no past or future for God;

He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Now let’s add in St. Paul’s word: “participation.”

A lot of people misunderstand what it means to “participate” in Mass.

While it’s good to give the responses, or to sing, 

or perhaps to help as a reader or usher 

or someone else helping at Mass,

these are not the primary way you or I “participate” in Mass.

So, someone might say, the Mass is in Spanish, so I can’t participate.

I can’t see, or I can’t hear, so I can’t participate.

Yes, these are legitimate concerns, but stop and think:

Do we really mean to say that folks with bad eyesight, 

or bad hearing, can’t “participate”? 

That can’t be the right answer.

No, even if you don’t understand the language, you still participate.

The fundamental way we participate is by our intention:

We join our prayers and faith with the prayers of God’s People, 

and above all, with Jesus himself, who is the true priest,

who really is the one offering the Mass.

Sometimes people won’t bring their children to Mass, and they’ll say, 

“oh they are too young to get anything out of Mass.”

My answer is, what about grace?

Isn’t that the key? We don’t come to Mass to get a bulletin or a homily or – 

sorry to shock you – even to get Holy Communion.

We come to be united with Jesus in his suffering, death and resurrection. 

That’s what we come to “do” and what we “get.”

If we reduce participation to, “I gotta do this or that,” 

or, “I have to get communion” that is a mistake.

It wrongly suggests that if you aren’t able-bodied 

or maybe not that mentally alert, 

or if you aren’t receiving the Eucharist, 

You have no reason to be at Mass.

The true reason to be here is because Jesus chooses – 

in the Mass – to offer himself in the fullest possible way.

It’s true most of the Apostles weren’t at the Cross – 

but shouldn’t they have been? Mary was there! 

What kind of disciple would say, “I don’t need to be there.”

And let me explain that the reason some people 

shouldn’t receive the Eucharist is not about “worthiness” – 

because no one is ever worthy – but about “readiness.”

Not everyone is ready for that most intimate form of participation.

Some are too young – First Communion comes usually in second grade.

Some are wrestling with mortal sins and need confession.

Still others haven’t decided what they believe;

Or whether they really want to commit themselves.

If Holy Communion is important – and of course it is! –

Then we do say, if you are entering into this most solemn act,

Then yes, examine your faith, examine your conscience, first.

Now let’s look at the third word, from the Gospel: “True.”

Jesus – who is the Truth – tells us, 

“My Body is true food. My blood is true drink.”

Through history there has come division among Christians, 

And sadly, we don’t all share this same understanding.

We Catholics must bear witness to what Jesus himself says:

Holy Communion isn’t bread and wine, it isn’t merely a symbol.

The Mass truly is a sacrifice, of Jesus’ true Body and Blood.

You and I cannot be smug or superior.

Yet: this Gift of the True Sacrifice and True Presence is here!

Ask the Holy Spirit for words of grace and love, to tell others!

Invite people to come and pray in our church.

Explain: that’s the altar; that’s the tabernacle. 

Welcome people to discover Jesus in our midst. 

The Trinity is the destination (Sunday homily)

 

So, if I could, I would be showing you a picture right now.

Instead, use your imagination:

You see an adult, with children walking behind; 

and they are all holding onto a rope, 

the end of which mom or dad is holding.

The reason, of course, is that it’s not easy for a parent – 

or a teacher or scout leader – to keep all the children close, 

and there are times that is really important. 

And the point I’m making is that in a similar way,

You and I need to keep clear the links between Easter and Pentecost 

and this feast of the Holy Trinity.

Today’s feast emphasizes the “point” of Jesus giving the Holy Spirit:

To bring us into the life of the Holy Trinity.

To put it another way: Jesus’ mission 

is to bring us into relationship with God. 

Today is when we talk about who that God is.

Some people will say, who cares if God is a Trinity?

I just believe in God, that’s all that is needed.

OK. But you know, the Romans said Julius Caesar was a god.

Is that your god? Not my god.

And if God himself says, let me tell you who I am, 

wouldn’t it rude to respond: “Oh I don’t care!”

The reason we say God is a Trinity is because Jesus told us this.

Let me add another reason why clarity matters.

I have a friend who I hadn’t seen for many years; 

and we got talking and he caught me up. 

He’d gotten married, and it turned out, his wife was Muslim. 

Then he told me, he became a Muslim; he renounced Jesus!

And he tried to say, oh, it’s all the same.

No disrespect to our Muslim neighbors, but it’s not.

Muslims would be the first to tell you that.  

Islam does not accept that Jesus is God, the Son of the Father, 

and that the Father, through the Son, gives us the Holy Spirit. 

For other religions, the idea of a relationship with God makes no sense, 

because they don’t believe God is relatable; because he’s not personal.

That’s essential to what the word “person” means: 

capable of relating in a full way.

So I mention that friend, because I was left wondering, 

how had he not understood the significance 

of going from Christian to Muslim?

You see, this is not a peripheral thing; 

this goes to the heart of Christianity:

God is a relationship of Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit –

The whole point is to bring us into that relationship. That Life.

Of course, we might respond, how can I “relate” to God?

The answer is, without God’s help, without grace, it is impossible;

any more than a gnat or a bacteria germ can relate to you or me.

So, again, this is the point:

God descends, down, down, down, way, way down, to our level.

But not to say hi and leave; but to take us with him, back …

Up, up, up, in, deeper, deeper, all the way in to the heart of God!

Saint Paul said, “eye has not seen, ear has not heard,” 

what God has planned for us. So of course, yes, it boggles us.

I say again, this is what Jesus told us.

He came to show us the Father. He and the Father are one.

The Father gives us – through Jesus – the Holy Spirit.

He came, as he said, to give us life; 

not the life of an amoeba or bird, but the Life of God. 

He says: I am the Vine, you are the branches.

The vine and branches don’t have two radically different forms of life; 

they share the very same life, which passes between them.

So, short answer: why do we believe God is a Trinity?

Because Jesus, who proved himself to be truthful, told us so.

And also: that Trinitarian life is the destination Jesus is leading us to. 

Pentecost = everything we need (Sunday homily)

 Many – maybe most – of us are usually too busy this time of year

to realize what a big deal Pentecost is.

We have Christmas: God becoming one of us, among us;

Good Friday and Easter: Jesus dies for us, and rises from the dead;

And then we have Pentecost:

Jesus gives you and me the Holy Spirit; God living in us.

The only thing remaining is the journey back to God,

which is our daily life as Christians.

And in case it’s not crystal-clear:

Jesus has given you and me everything we need

to make that journey safely.

Tonight, you and I are welcoming ____ to join us on that journey.

She was drawn by the Holy Spirit –

and by the example of Catholics around her –

to want the gift of faith she saw in us!

Think about that: your example of faith matters.

Either you and I are giving a good example, or a bad one.

The people around us aren’t likely to read the Catechism;

instead, they learn and decide about Catholicism

from what they see in you and me.

This is a good time to talk a little about the journey we –

in our group of three parishes –

are making together as a “family of parishes.”

We are at 11 months, and my perspective is that

with God’s grace,

and a lot of cooperation and openness by our parishioners,

This has been less perilous than it might have been.

As you and I press forward, and become a family together,

That spirit of generosity you’ve shown will serve us well.

A lot of us are praying! Thank you! Keep doing it!

Let me highlight something you and I can do this year;

something I’m announcing today in the bulletin:

It’s time to start praying for the Holy Spirit’s help

to choose a name for our family of parishes!

Please read what I wrote in the bulletin, and watch for more details.

But the basic idea is that from now till August, we will pray:

Pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire us in this decision.

At the feast of the Assumption in August,

everyone will be invited to suggest a name for our family,

and then, from All Saints to Christmas,

we will narrow it down and finally choose a name together.

The future is always unknown and some worry – some worry too much.

I’ve learned that nothing I can say can stop worriers from worrying.

I will simply say again:  

Pentecost reminds us that Jesus has given us

everything you and I need to make the journey safely.

Longing for heaven (Ascension homily)

 Today’s feast of the Ascension is often misunderstood.

To put it bluntly: this feast is NOT about Jesus leaving us. 

Rather, it’s about where Jesus wants to TAKE us: 

he goes ahead of us, to heaven. And that’s the point:

The Ascension is about heaven; Jesus wants to take us to heaven.

There are two ways you and I can go wrong here.

First, a lot of folks take going to heaven for granted, 

pretty much no matter what. 

And that makes a lot of Christianity incomprehensible.

If everyone’s headed to heaven, there’s no real urgency.

No need to change; no need for conversion or confession.

In fact, no need for the Mass or prayer.

I might point out that while lots of people say, 

“don’t worry, we’ll all meet in heaven,” 

The Lord Jesus is notably not someone who says that.

Jesus doesn’t say, “go to sleep,” he says, “Wake up!”

He never says, “set the cruise control,” he says, “Watch and pray!”

That’s what he said in today’s readings to the Apostles.

In a few days he would give them the Holy Spirit.

Till then, they were to watch and pray;

After that, everything changes.

The other way we can miss the point is not taking heaven seriously.

This world demands our constant attention.

The electric bill doesn’t pay itself.

The boss will notice if you don’t come back from the weekend.

Still, Jesus wants us to lift our gaze regularly.

the reason he gave us the Holy Spirit and the Mass,

the reason he tells us to watch and pray,

and the reason he ascended to heaven,

was all to turn our longing for eternal life.

Lots of things in this life are pretty awesome:

That’s a foretaste of heaven.

But many other things in this world aren’t so good.

Now, if those rough parts are purgatory, that’s hopeful.

But: if this world is as good as it gets, isn’t that kind of sad?

If I’m as good as I can get;

If the best years for my knees and my eyes are behind me?

That is very sad.

The challenge is this: how can you and I long for heaven 

if we have no inkling of what it might be like?

Now, there are many things Jesus tells us about heaven. 

The Book of Revelation describes heaven.

Many saints have written about heaven.

The great poet Dante wrote about hell, purgatory, and Paradise.

So, there’s a lot we could draw from.

I’d like to suggest some spiritual homework:

Take some time to think about this: What IS heaven like?

Maybe look for some reading material.

What if – as the military slogan goes –

You and I really could be “all we can be”?

Really to be full of the Holy Spirit; really generous; really peaceful.

Really balanced and disciplined and virtuous?

What would that be like?

Here’s an image I have of heaven.

You and I all have those moments that seem so perfect:

A perfect time at the beach, or a perfect game with our friends;

a perfect cup of coffee or bowl of cereal on a beautiful morning, 

the sun, the sky, the breeze, everything is just right.

It only lasts for some bit; then the coffee is all gone, 

or if you have more, you won’t enjoy it.

The sun rises higher and gets too hot;

Or it gets too late, and your friends have to go home.

Those are foretastes.

And what St. Augustine somewhere described 

was a moment that will last, not just a moment, but forever. 

And he said, that’s heaven!

There’s my image of heaven.

What’s yours?

The package of gifts that is the 'Paschal Mystery' (Sunday homily)

 There is a big picture to what is going on in the readings. 

Let me try to sketch it out for you.

You will often hear in the prayers at Mass a term, “Paschal Mystery.”

And you may not want to admit, you’re not sure what that means.

Here’s what it means. There is a whole package – a series – 

of good things God has done for us.

God planned to come among us – as one of us – to bring hope and life. 

Not just limited to this world, but eternal life.

Part of that plan always was for Jesus to take the path of suffering, all the way to the Cross.

His death on the Cross takes away our sins. 

Of course he could have done it another way, 

but that is the way God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – decided would be best.

Jesus rose from the dead in his human body. That’s the Resurrection. 

That’s essential because that proves his word is true, 

and it shows us the eternal life you and I will have.

After his resurrection, Jesus sets in motion more of the plan: 

the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

And with the gift of the Holy Spirit comes 

the empowering of the Apostles; the Body of Christ, 

the community of believers on earth, which we call the Church. 

Through the Apostles and the Church, 

we have the seven sacraments – each giving us divine life. 

And the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers the Apostles – 

and their successors, the bishops – 

to be the messengers of Christ’s teaching. 

That doesn’t mean the bishops are better than you and I are, 

or less sinful, or smarter, or anything else. 

It means that for the benefit of the faithful – you and me – as needed, 

God keeps them on track. 

We’d like it if God prevented bishops from making any bad decisions! 

Parish priests as well! But that’s a lot to ask. 

So instead, what God does is keep the bishops – the pope in particular – 

from teaching error in matters of faith and morals.

This is where we often use the term, “magisterium,” 

which means the bishops’ role of teaching; 

and the term “infallibility,” which means God’s guardrails 

to keep the Church from going into the ditch.

So – think of all this as a lot of gifts, all in nice wrapping paper.

All these gifts are part of the “Paschal Mystery.”

And, really, there’s still more: that which lies ahead, 

which is when all the faithful have been gathered into the Kingdom, 

and we have a new heavens and a new earth. 

All that, together, makes up the Paschal Mystery.

This whole package is what the Holy Mass – on the Lord’s Day, Sunday – 

exists to make real for each of us, 

so that you and I don’t get lost and disconnected.

Occasionally I see an ad on TV or the Internet that says,

you need more fruit, more vegetables, 

and since that’s hard, here’s a capsule! 

Take this every day, and you get it all!

And, in a sense, that’s what the sacraments are for you and me.

They are the “capsule” that “contains” all these gifts God has for us.

Baptism: you take that “capsule” just one time; now God lives in you!

Confirmation, which we see in the first reading, 

“seals” all God’s gifts in us with the Holy Spirit. 

We only need that once.

Confession: take that frequently, as needed, 

to revive the life of God in us, 

when you and I wound or even kill it with venial or mortal sin.

And then we come to the Eucharist – 

which many of our children are receiving today for the first time.

Like a vitamin pill, the Sacred Host is small; 

sometimes people who can’t swallow 

will take even smaller portion of the Host.

And when you and I receive the Precious Blood, we only need a sip.

The full reality of what – and Who – the Eucharist is,

far exceeds anything our minds can grasp.

Sometimes people will say, maybe second grade is too early, 

because you are too young to understand it.

But let me tell you: NO ONE can truthfully claim 

to understand the gift of the Eucharist! 

Here’s better news: you don’t have to pass a test!

That’s why I emphasize that God’s gift is really a bundle of gifts, 

and ultimately, it’s all the Gift of God himself.

God doesn’t need or expect you and me to “understand” fully.

It’s good to try, and God helps us go deeper and higher.

Even in heaven, you and I will still gaze at Jesus and realize,

there is still more of the gift to unwrap and discover.

Today is when our second graders unwrap one of the gifts.

As they do – as each of us is privileged to be with them,

this is a moment for us adults to learn from our second graders.

Boys and girls, pray for the rest of us, 

that each of us will follow your good example of hungering for Jesus, 

your reverence, and your capacity for wonder.

Sometimes we get where we think, “I’ve seen it all.”

What a mistake! There’s always more to the Gift.

What communion *really* means (Sunday homily)

 Notice what’s going on in the readings…

Saint Peter told us that God is building a very special house: 

you and I are “living stones.”

Then, notice Jesus also mentions a house: 

the Father’s House, and it has lots and lots of rooms.

And Jesus also told us that the way to get there is he, himself. 

He’s the heavenly GPS.

But then notice, with all that hopeful talk, there is a problem.

We heard it in the first reading.

Prejudice and division among the first Christians: 

“We! They! They’re different; we don’t like them! It’s unfair!”

Ha! Some things never change! 

This makes a point: if the business of turning people into saints, 

and making this world the Paradise God wants it to be, were easy, 

then the job would have been finished a long, long time ago!

So, for example, maybe Jesus wouldn’t have created the sacraments; 

he could have just sent us a membership card.

But he didn’t do that. 

And notice, while we only get baptized once, 

we don’t only go to confession once;

we don’t take part in Mass only once, and receive the Eucharist once;

at least, that’s not how it is meant to work.

He knew we’d need a lot more than that.

Today some of our children will have their First Holy Communion.

But I want to explain something you may not realize.

In reality, you have already had communion.

I say that because in the full, real sense,

Our communion begins with baptism.

“Communion” isn’t just an event on a calendar; 

It isn’t just a special occasion.

“Communion” is actually a simple word that means “union with.”

What we really mean is that “communion” 

is that state of fundamentally being together; being one.

The perfect, fullest communion is God himself: 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are totally, completely one.

The reason Jesus does all he’s doing is to share that total, 

complete oneness of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, with us.

And again, if that were a simple thing, it would be like, 

“I’m taking a shower, presto-chango, yay, now I’m a saint!”

But instead, it’s a journey. The seed of faith is planted and grows.

Baptism, confirmation, frequent confession, Sunday Mass,

Our family, our friends, we pray together, we help each other…

And little by little, you and I go from being chunky blocks 

with sharp edges that can’t fit together – “ouch!”…

To well-shaped stones that fit; that cooperate.

And the mortar that holds it all together is love.

I don’t just mean the emotion, the feeling; that’s not the whole story.

Love is a choice, a series of choices, that don’t always feel good.

Boys and girls, your parents get up every day, 

usually earlier than they want to.

They work hard to make a home and provide what you need.

There are a lot things our parents would love to have; 

but what the family needs comes first.

When my mom did the laundry, or my dad paid the bills,

They didn’t feel exactly…”good.” 

But those – and a million other choices my parents, 

and your parents make – equals love.

It’s hard to become truly loving and truly generous.

And notice, Peter didn’t call us marshmallows – which are soft!

He called us “stones.” They’re hard!

It takes a lot of hammer blows and patience to reshape that stone.

And if a stone has feelings, that would hurt!

So maybe now we can understand better why Jesus did what he did.

He didn’t just send you and me a card; 

he didn’t just say, “here are the instructions.” 

No. God himself came to us, as one of us.

He said, I’m going to lay down my life for you – and he died!

That’s not love-talk, that’s love-action. The fullest possible.

And now, in the Mass, and the Eucharist, 

he continues to lay down his life for you and me.

That’s why this isn’t just bread or wine. What’s the value of that?

No: this truly is Jesus giving us EVERYTHING. His own self!

And the Eucharist is the heavenly food that – if received in faith – 

will change us, making us heavenly. 

So, dear children, realize that today isn’t about just this day.

This isn’t “one-and-done.” Communion, by it’s very nature, 

can’t leave us off on our own, but draws us in, closer and closer…

To heaven!