May 18, 2022 · 10:01 am

20220501 Easter 3C

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times, once for each time Peter betrayed Jesus during his trial and passion.  Then Jesus said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 

Jesus said to Peter: “Someone else will lead you to where you do not want to go.”  Do you ever feel that someone is leading you where you do not want to go in life? 

It made me think about the events in my life that I would prefer never happened, the journeys that I did not want to experience.  I’m sure that you have some of those too.  Even when we are young, things happen to us that make us question Why. 

Why did I develop cancer at 35? 

Why did my child die at 16? 

Why was my brother killed in the line of duty at 22? 

Why was my job terminated and we lost everything? 

Why did my best friend have a stroke in her sixties and will never recover? 

Why?  Why God?  Why? 

We all experience pain and suffering in our lives.  Like Peter, each of us must walk a path where we do not want to go.  While your path is different from mine, both are similar; we walk the through the trials and suffering that living brings to us. 

When terrible things happen to people who are not Christians, it is devastating.  Their whole world collapses in around them and they sink into the depths of despair and hopelessness.  Some will turn to drugs or alcohol, others will be angry with everyone, some will dive into the depths of despair that they will commit suicide thinking it will solve all their pain and suffering. 

When these things happen to Christians, it is still devastating but we have the Hope of the Resurrection to get us through it.  Jesus suffered severe pain and agony through the trials of his Passion.  Jesus did not want to walk the journey of his Passion.  In the garden he prayed “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” 

When we think about the pain and agony that Jesus suffered on his journey to Calvary for our sake, the trials and suffering on our journey of life are insignificant by comparison.  That does not mean our lives are any less painful but gives us strength and hope to overcome them. 

During this past Lent at the Second Station in the Stations of the Cross, Jesus puts the trials in our journey in life into perspective:

“This cross, this chuck of wood is what my Father chose for me.  

The crosses you must bear are largely products of your daily life.  And yet my Father chose them, too, for you.  Receive them from his hands. 

Take heart my other self, I will not let your burdens grow one ounce too heavy for your strength.” 

Jesus said he would not let our burdens grow one ounce too heavy for the strength we have each day.  Sometimes it seems that the suffering in our lives is overwhelming.  Jesus will give us the strength to survive. 

Many of the Saints of the Church have shown great patience and endurance through the many trials of life.  Saint Joseph the Worker, whom we honor today, and for whom our parish is named, had more trials than most people. 

First, Joseph finds out that his betrothed is pregnant.  Then he flees to another country to protect his family from death.  Living in a country where one does not speak the language or know the customs had to be extremely difficult.  Joseph must begin a business as a carpenter to provide for his family.  They had to struggle in the beginning to make ends meet. 

Then Joseph moves his family back to their homeland to start a business all over again.  Patiently enduring each set back and trial that living brings to him, Joseph takes it all in stride because his faith is in God.  Joseph knows that God will protect his family and provide for their needs. 

St Joseph is a great example for us as to how to live our lives, patiently enduring each setback, patiently enduring each “Why?” in our life. 

After Peter professed his love for Jesus three times, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.”  Peter followed Jesus and it was the turning point for the Church.  He led the other disciples to teach multitudes of people to believe in Christ and the Church grew in great numbers. 

Jesus calls us to Follow Him too.  We follow the Jesus who rose from the dead.  We have Hope because of his Resurrection and triumph over death. 

We teach those around us about Jesus by how we live our lives as the daily trials and burdens of life bombard us.  Like St Joseph, our faith in God helps us overcome the suffering and struggles of daily life. 

Our life journey continues to present us with events we prefer not to experience.  These are products of our daily lives.  Some of these events are because of bad decisions we made in the past.  Other events are the same that everyone experiences at some point. 

Jesus knew that his passion and death were only the beginning.  His resurrection that we celebrate during this Easter Season is victory over death and all the suffering of the world.  Jesus followed his Father’s will he calls us to do the same. 

When overcome by daily events, it’s difficult to remember that we are living our lives for an eternal reward with our Lord.  Jesus said he will give us the strength to overcome these daily events in our lives, and by doing so to show others that Jesus gives us hope even in our daily suffering. 

Then Jesus said to Peter “Follow Me.”  Jesus calls us too, “Follow Me.” 

Will we? 

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· 9:57 am

20220424 Easter 2C Divine Mercy Sunday

John said that the doors were locked where the disciples were because they were afraid of the Jews.  Rightly so, the Jews had Jesus, their leader, unjustly condemned and crucified.  It would just be a matter of time until the Jews came looking for his followers to give them a similar death.  The disciples feared for their lives. 

What are you afraid of? 

Death?

Loss of Family?  

Terminal Sickness?  

Addiction? 

Loss of employment?  

Bugs, Snakes, Spiders?  

Bills you can’t pay? 

War? 

High inflation on a fixed income? 

What is the biggest fear for you?  

The most repeated command in the Bible is “Do not be afraid.”  But how can we not be afraid?  With all the evil and hatred in the world and in social media, it’s impossible to live without fear. 

However, the most repeated command in the Bible is “Do not be afraid.”  The angels at the tomb said “Do not be afraid.  When Jesus appeared after his Resurrection, Jesus would frequently start with “Do not be afraid.” and continue with “Peace be with you.” 

All of Jesus’ comments after his Resurrection were words of comfort.  When Jesus talked with Mary Magdala in the garden after his Resurrection, he said to go tell the disciples that I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”  Words of comfort and Hope. 

The whole conversation on the Road to Emmaus was to comfort the two men who were so distraught about what had happened in Jerusalem, about Jesus’ crucifixion and death. 

In today’s Gospel, we hear words of comfort from Jesus.  Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 

Peace. 

Peace is very elusive.  We hold Peace Negotiations to bring two nations together to talk and reach an agreement on terms for a cease fire and peace.  We pray for peace in our world today as Russia invades Ukraine.  We pray for peace in our families where fighting and bickering seems to be the norm.  We pray for peace within our hearts to calm the constant tension we feel. 

But “What is peace?”  How do you define peace? 

A walk in a park or woods? 

A walk along a beach? 

Playing with the grandchildren? 

Singing in the shower? 

Time spent in prayer and in Adoration of our Lord? 

John tells us that after Jesus said, “Peace be with you.”, he showed them his hands and his side.  The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.”  Jesus repeated it!  Our “Peace” was so important to Jesus that he repeated it! 

During the Eucharist prayers, the priest says, “Peace be with you.”  All the people reply with “And with your Spirit.”  The deacon then encourages the people to share a sign of Christ’s peace with each other. 

Everyone wants to be happy.  We try to find that happiness in many different ways.  Some try to find it in drugs, alcohol, pornography, and even in abusive behavior to make one feel stronger and superior to others.  Others try to find it by climbing the ladder of success where others at work or even at church will admire and praise them for their success. 

When we are unable to find happiness, some people take it out on everyone around them.  Some are abusive to their spouse or family, others are critical of everyone, others resent the happiness of those who have become successful.  Unfortunately, regardless of how we try to find happiness, we still fail to find peace without Christ in our lives.  How will the world learn how to obtain this peace? 

In today’s Gospel, after Jesus said ”Peace be with you.” the second time, he continued, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.”  We too receive the Holy Spirit in Baptism.  This is the peace, the happiness that the world seeks but is unable to find. 

The world is so hungry for happiness and peace but how will they find it?  Who will tell them? 

The answer is at the end of Matthew’s Gospel where we read “The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.  When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.  Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” 

Jesus commanded the eleven to share that peace with others.  That command has been handed down over the millennia to us today.  We find the peace that Jesus promised in the Sacraments of the Church.  A week ago, we as the community of Christ here at St Joseph Church, shared the Sacraments with 31 new members.  Peace be with you. 

The central theme during the Easter Season is “Do not be afraid”, “Peace be with you”.  We have Hope because of Christ’s Resurrection from the dead.  We only find happiness, real peace when we follow Jesus and share him with others. 

What can we do to find this peace?  We study the scriptures to learn how to live better lives and grow closer to God.  We spent a few more minutes in prayer each day seeking God’s help and mercy to serve him with all our strength, with all our heart and all our soul.  We spend a few minutes in quiet time listening for God’ guidance to heal our broken spirits and guide us to his peace. 

It requires effort to grow closer to God.  Are we willing to put forth the effort required to open our hearts to his peace? 

It must be important because Jesus said it twice in today’s Gospel.  Jesus is here at the altar in our midst today saying

“Peace be with you.” 

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· 9:54 am

20220410 Palm Sunday C

In today’s Gospel, Jesus instituted the Eucharist at his last supper with his disciples.  Jesus showed by example that the Eucharist should be shared in community and that the Eucharist makes us equal in Christ.  There are no differences, whether we are fat, skinny, young, old, strong, feeble, outspoken like Peter, or quiet like some of the other disciples.  Our differences, our disabilities and our suffering are gone.  We are only souls who come to the Table of the Eucharist with out-stretched hand to receive Christ into our lives. 

Jesus teaches this lesson of equality when the disciples argue about who of them is the greatest.  The new Church should not be like the Gentile governments who have positions of power who rule with that power.  Jesus, the Teacher, said, “I am among you as the one who serves.”  In the new Church, everyone will serve others as Jesus did by example. 

“Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.”  Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray many times in the past and tonight was no different.  We have talked many times how often Jesus would slip away from the crowds to pray.  He does that again in preparation for trial that lies ahead of him. 

Jesus, knowing what he was to endure, asked his Father to prevent this suffering.  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.”  Notice how Jesus wanted to avoid the suffering but still prayed that the Father’s will be done. 

How often we ask God to remove the trials and suffering from our lives, to make our lives easier.  It is harder to ask for God’s will to be done because that might mean more suffering.  But Jesus said that he would never permit any trial greater than we can bear.  That means we can follow the example he gave us to pray for God’s will in our lives too. 

We are all equal when we pray, just like when coming to receive the Eucharist.  We pray to the Father, individually, and collectively as the Church, seeking God’s help and will in our lives.  God even hears the silent prayers of desperation that are in our hearts. 

Holy Week is a time of many emotions.  It goes from ecstasy of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to the suffering of the scourging and the crown of thorns, to the agony of death on the cross, to the hope of new life in the Resurrection. 

As we spend time in prayer this Holy Week let us reflect on similar events in our lives, both the suffering and the rejoicing.  As we work our way through these many emotions, remember that the Hope of the Resurrection gives us confidence that we will see our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven.  

With that Hope in mind, we too can pray “Not my will, but yours be done”. 

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· 9:49 am

20220403 Lent 5C

Today’s Gospel opens with a line that seems disconnected.  It really goes at the end of the previous chapter but is good for us to note. 

7:53  “Then each went to his own house,
8:1    while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus knew that his power came from the Father.  That’s why he was constantly slipping away from the crowds, and even with his Disciples, to pray.  In a few short days, Jesus will repeat this sequence.  After the Institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom, with his Disciples to pray. 

After spending the night in prayer, Jesus goes about his mission on earth, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God.  Jesus was teaching a crowd of people when the Pharisees barge in and place this woman in front of Jesus and the crowd. 

Think about the woman caught in the act of adultery.  The Pharisees dragged her out of the hiding place where the two were seeing each other.  The woman had to be filled with fear because everyone in that time knew the punishment for adultery – DEATH. 

Sister Joyce Zimmerman writes: “The scribes and Pharisees brought an adulterous woman to Jesus and “made her stand in the middle.”  In their self-righteousness they wished to make an example of her as a grave sinner deserving of death.” 

The scribes and Pharisees really don’t care about the woman or compliance with Mosaic Law.  They just want to trap Jesus.  

John Pilch writes: “There is a tradition that about the year thirty the Romans took away from the Sanhedrin the right of capital punishment.  This is why they could not put Jesus to death.”  (That gives a lot of insight into Good Friday.  The Romans had to crucify Jesus because Capital Punishment was taken away from the Sanhedrin.  JLS) 

“The trap is a dilemma. If Jesus urges that the woman be released, he clearly violates the Mosaic Law and proves himself to be an irreligious person. He is certainly no prophet. If he orders that she be stoned, he is in trouble with the Romans, who have taken this right away from the Judeans.” 

But Jesus outsmarts them.  John Pilch tells us “He buys time for himself by doodling on the ground, a common custom among Mediterranean peasants when distraught.” 

When Jesus is slow to respond, the scribes and Pharisees relentlessly continue to demand a response from him. 

At this point, Jesus straightens up and said, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

Again, Jesus continues to write on the ground.  All the Gospel tells us is that Jesus wrote on the ground, but wouldn’t it be interesting to know what Jesus wrote?  Did he write:

Liar

Thief

Self-Righteous

Hypocrite

Critical

Pride

Love

Peace

Joy

Happiness

Family

Or was Jesus just drawing circles and designs on the ground?  We don’t know.  But whether it was what he was writing on the ground or what he said to them, they all left one by one. 

Lent is a time of reflection, self-examination, and action.  It is a time to examine the sin within our hearts and seek God’s forgiveness. 

Sister Joyce makes an important observation: “The woman, however, remained with Jesus.  Our own work during Lent is like that of the adulterous woman: truthfully face our sinfulness and faithfully remain with Jesus.  Though we sin, Jesus only wishes new life for us.” 

HOPE!  Jesus gives us HOPE!  New Life despite our sins.  During this time of Lent, we fast and pray.  We sometimes forget that the fasting is not just to comply with Church teaching but to spend additional time in prayer, reflecting on our sinfulness and seeking God’s forgiveness. 

Jesus calls each of us today, just like he did the scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel, to inspect our hearts for sin and motives. 

Back when I was young, way back in my early twenties, I had a mentor who had various sayings.  The one that stood out to me he most was “We criticize in others the things we subconsciously dislike about ourselves.”  Over the years I’ve found the truth in the saying.  It doesn’t seem possible, but it is accurate. 

Every time I have critical thoughts toward someone, I remember the saying and examine my own thoughts and actions for the times I do the same or similar thing.  

The public controversy surrounding our government leaders who proclaim to be Devout Catholic and yet push for abortion seems to give the wrong message to the world about our Church.  But it is not mine to judge, that is up to God alone.  In the teaching of the Scriptures and my mentor’s saying, I do my best to remember my own sinfulness, the times that I have miserably failed, and to pray for all Americans, our leaders and myself included, that we will return to God. 

It is so much easier to be critical than to pray for myself and others.  It is easy to be zealous like the scribes and Pharisees that the law was broken.  But this is the wrong approach.  Jesus was always kind and forgiving.  We must be that way too. 

After Jesus finished writing on the ground, he stood up and looked at the woman and said “Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?”  She replied, “No one, sir.”  Then Jesus said.  “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.” 

The forgiving Jesus does not condemn us either.  Now the hard part begins.  After we examine ourselves, and find need of Jesus’ forgiveness, Jesus says to us: ”Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore.” 

So, we start back at the beginning of the Gospel, time to slip away from our busy lives and pray.  Time to spend alone with God, seeking forgiveness and healing.  Time asking God to help us in our daily struggles to resist sin and follow Jesus. 

Our lives are so busy, even for retired people, that finding time to pray becomes difficult.  Are we willing to spend time in prayer?  Or does soccer practice take precedence?  Is the TV show more important?  Am I too tired at bedtime to pray?  Lord Jesus, forgive us for the times we fail. 

Which is more important to us: seeking God’s forgiveness and help to resist temptation or the need to get things done? 

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· 9:17 am

20220306 Lent 1C

We sometimes forget that we live in a world where evil exists, we forget that we are in a spiritual war with Satan and all the evil spirits in the world. 

Just prior to today’s Gospel, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.  “After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 

In Jesus’ time, the wilderness was a place where evil lived.  John Pilch wrote:

“Now when the voice from heaven identified Jesus at his baptism as “You are my Beloved Son, with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22), all the spirits heard this compliment. 

Every Mediterranean native knows what must and will happen next in Jesus’ life. Spirits will test him to determine whether the compliment is indeed true, and just in case it might be true, the spirits will try to make Jesus do something displeasing to God.

It is no surprise, then, that the very next scene in Jesus’ life that Luke presents is “the temptation.”

How real was Jesus’ temptation? 

We sometimes believe that it was easy for Jesus to resist the temptation of Satan because he was God.  If that were true, then Jesus died in vain.  Jesus came to earth like each of us.  Jesus knew his Father’s will and sought to follow it.  Jesus’ love for God his Father was greater than the things of this world.  This gives us hope that we too can overcome the temptations that haunt us. 

In Food for the Soul, Peter Kreeft wrote:

“The three temptations of Christ correspond to the three sources of all our temptations too: the world (social approval from our pagan culture), the flesh (our fallen human nature’s weakness), and the devil himself (his desire to get us to worship him as our lord and to obey his will rather than God’s).  We are at war, like it or not.  Life is a spiritual warfare.” 

Our culture trains and prepares us to control everything.  We are successful if we climb the corporate ladder.  That takes skill and finesse.  It is the temptation for social approval which I, like many others, sought to get ahead. 

In the spiritual battle, we are weak because of our fallen human nature.  It is easy to be tricked by Satan into worshiping the enticements of this world because it is fun and brings instant gratification.  But it is not a permanent happiness, and it does not bring the peace that only Jesus can give us. 

The Gospel ends with “When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.”  It was clearly not over for Jesus.  The devil would come back to tempt Jesus again and again just like the devil and the evil spirits tempt us again and again. 

Three times the devil tempts Jesus with the enticements of this world.  Three times Jesus rebukes the devil with scripture.  Notice how the devil also uses scripture “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written ….”  Jesus uses scripture to rebuke Satan again. 

As John Pilch told us, whenever we are on a high place, the devil will attack us just like he did with Jesus.  This is true whether it is a high moment in our physical life or our spiritual life.  The devil wants to bring us down so that we will succumb to his temptations and serve him instead of God. 

We all get temptations.  How do we resist them?  The steps that Jesus took to resist the devil are prayer, fasting, and scripture. 

Prayer is a part of our daily lives just like it was for Jesus.  A priest I know encouraged parishioners to pray at least an hour a day.  But you say, “That’s a lot of time that I don’t have.”  You’re right.  Our lives are so busy and filled with work, family, church, and activities that it’s hard to find ten minutes let alone an hour.  I pray Morning and Evening prayer each day.  I’m retired and I still find that I need to pray Morning prayer before I leave the bedroom or before I know it, it’s noon and I didn’t pray Morning prayer.  During this Lent, let us sacrifice five minutes a day to spend in prayer. 

We usually don’t think of fasting except during Lent, when we place an extra emphasis on fasting.  That doesn’t mean that we can’t fast throughout the year.  This is especially true when we have a special need such as peace in the Ukraine, healing for a family member or guidance on a major life decision. 

Reading the Bible needs to be part of our daily routine just like prayer.  Even when the devil quoted scripture to Jesus, he knew the scriptures well enough that he was able to reply with scripture.  If Satan used scripture with Jesus, do we think that he will not use scriptures on us to justify what we are thinking of doing?  We must know the scriptures well enough to keep us secure in our faith.  This Lent is a good time to start reading at least one chapter or five minutes of our Bible each day. 

Jesus overcomes the devil by refusing to accept the temptations the devil presents to him.  Prayer, fasting and scripture will help us resist the devil too.  Are we willing to turn the TV off a few minutes early in the evening to pray before we go to bed?  Or is the show we like to watch more important? 

Are we willing to sit at our desk for lunch and read a chapter or two of the Bible?  Or will we go out with coworkers to have more fun and be part of the group? 

Are we willing to sacrifice a few minutes each day to improve our spiritual life with prayer, fasting and scripture knowledge? 

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April 7, 2022 · 7:44 am

20220302 Ash Wednesday C

The Book of Joel is a very short book in the Bible, only 73 verses long, but it has a very important message for the people. 

The prophet is Joel telling the people to repent from their sins and return to God:

Even now, says the LORD,

            return to me with your whole heart,

            with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;

Rend your hearts, not your garments,

            and return to the LORD, your God.

In ancient times, the act of tearing one’s clothing or wearing sackcloth, sometimes with ashes, was an act of great mourning, sorrow, or anguish.  It indicated an act of seeking forgiveness for one’s sins, seeking mercy from God’s impeding punishment or God’s saving power in times of war and oppression that was brought on by sin.  One of the more memorable acts would be the people of Nineveh when Jonah preached of God’s coming punishment on them.  Even the king took off his royal robes and put on sackcloth, a poor-quality material made of goat hair, seeking God’s mercy.  Prophets in the Old Testament would wear sackcloth, and sometimes sprinkle ashes over their head, as a sign to the people to turn from their sinfulness. 

But the prophet Joel is telling the people NOT to make an outward show like normal.  Joel was calling the people to a deep repentance from their hearts when he said: “Rend your hearts not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.” 

Even the response to the Psalm today is: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.”  Psalm 51 is a call from our hearts for God to hear us and have mercy on us. 

Psalm 51 is one of my favorite Psalms.  I pray it a lot.  I encourage you to read the whole Psalm today to help us begin Lent seeking God’s forgiveness, mercy and love. 

Like the prophet Joel, Pope Francis has called on us to fast and pray, this time for peace in Ukraine.  The people of Ukraine are suffering and fearful of the future.  They have lived under Russian rule before and do not want it again.  All Christians in the Ukraine know that they will be persecuted and possibly martyred if Russia succeeds.  We join our Holy Father today fasting and praying for the people of Ukraine and for peace in that land. 

As we begin Lent today, we will receive the cross of ashes on our forehead to remind us that we have sinned and need God’s mercy.  Let this sign of the cross in ashes remind us to repent from our sins and return to God with our whole heart. 

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February 19, 2022 · 9:01 am

20220220 Ordinary 7C

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, L-love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Think about that for a moment. 

Let me repeat it. 

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” 

Let it sink in. 

Following Jesus in the time that Jesus lived was difficult and hard.  Think about the radical ideas that Jesus taught during his ministry on earth.  Those ideas are still difficult to follow two thousand years later. 

The concepts that Jesus taught were as unique in his time as they are today.  Jesus always criticized the leaders who forced everyone to follow letter of the law yet found ways to circumvent the law and do what they wanted.  Jesus was always looking at the intent of a person’s heart, the reason the person was acting. 

This is radical thinking and the Disciples, the Church Fathers and Mothers tried to live this concept.  It was not easy for them, and it is not easy for us.  The Pharisees and church leaders in Jesus’ time hated Jesus and his ideas so much that they plotted to kill Jesus for his teachings.  Is it any wonder that the Church has had martyrs through the centuries? 

But let’s think about today, right now in our times.  We are often confronted with what Jesus was talking about.  Practically everyone has someone who hates them, someone who curses them or someone who mistreats them, for whatever reason.  And Jesus commanded us to love them, to do good to them, to bless them and to pray for them. 

All of us have had enemies during our lives.  Usually, the enemy is someone we have been close to through work, social groups, or families. 

Families are small close-knit groups of people all related to each other in some way; either by birth or marriage.  It is easy for family members to squabble and have disagreements.  It is sad, but often these squabbles turn into fights and family members become enemies. 

There were two sisters who didn’t talk to each other for nine years.  If the two sisters were not talking, none of their children could talk to each other either. 

The sisters made up and the families socialized again.  Before long, the sisters had another disagreement and didn’t talk to each other again.  Sadly, one of the sisters died, and they had not talked for eleven years this time.  Twenty years of their lives they had not talked to each other, and their children had not talked or visited.  This may seem extreme but most of our families have some disagreements that divide us. 

It is especially sad when families become enemies.  It happens so quickly and so easy.  The harsh words are taken to heart even when the person saying them didn’t mean to be hateful.  The hurt lasts and eats at us until we hate the person. 

Jesus concluded today’s Gospel with “Stop judging and you will not be judged.  Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven.” 

We usually think we have good reasons to for our positions, for the reason the other person is an enemy, for the reason the other person is wrong, and I am right.  In many cases our reason may be justified by the world’s standards.  But Jesus didn’t care about the reasons.  He commanded that we love, do good, bless, and pray for those who hate and mistreat us.  He commanded that we do not judge, do not condemn and that we forgive those who have wronged us. 

That’s HARD! 

Jesus said that I must love the person who lied about me and ruined my reputation, maybe even cost me my job.  He also said that I must not condemn or judge that person; but must forgive and pray for the person who hurt me so deeply. 

The hurt is still there.  The pain won’t go away. 

We usually know who we consider to be our enemies.  Sometimes a person considers us an enemy and we don’t even know it.  But when find out that someone considers us an enemy, we must take the steps to make it right. 

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus said “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”  In line with today’s Gospel, Jesus is putting the action on us to do good even when the other person is at fault.  Jesus told us to “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 

How do I have mercy for someone who has hurt me so much?  Why should I even be kind that person let alone bless them, pray for them, and love them? 

We start by spending time in prayer asking God to guide us, to help us to stop judging and condemning and then to help us to forgive.  Only then can we begin to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us.  It may help to talk with a priest or a spiritual director if you have one.  Spending time in prayer asking God to help us overcome our resentment and the hurt in our hearts for evil that person did to us is the first step toward healing. 

It takes a lot of prayer and introspection on our part to reach the point that we can tolerate that person let alone love them.  But that is a first step. 

How will we respond to Jesus’ command to love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you, to stop judging and stop condemning others?  Will we forgive so we will be forgiven? 

Will we turn the TV off and pray that God will help us tolerate our enemies?  Or is our TV show more important?  Will we stop checking social media to read our Bible searching for scriptures that will teach us to love God and our enemy as ourselves?  Or is it more important to know the latest gossip on Facebook? 

Lord Jesus, help me to learn to forgive and then teach me to love. 

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January 30, 2022 · 9:02 am

20220130 Ordinary 4 C

Today’s readings have very opposing concepts.  One reading talks about love – the greatest attribute a person could have, and two of the readings talk about violence – trying to kill the prophets who tell the people about God’s absolute love.  Paul wrote so eloquently about God’s love in the second reading. 

Prophets are sent to challenge us to evaluate what we believe and how we live our lives in accordance with the Scriptures.  The message of the prophets is that God loves all people unconditionally.  We, on the other hand, only seem to love when it’s convenient or when we get something in return.  We especially don’t want to love someone who is outside our group or circle of friends. 

The verses at the start of today’s Gospel tells us that after reading from the scroll of Isaiah, Jesus said “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  And Jesus began teaching in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth.  “And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.”

John Kavanaugh, SJ wrote “It would not be easy. Jesus himself, after he announced the good news to the poor, first amazed, then angered his audience. He was too ordinary and too close to give such prophetic utterance. It cannot be real. He cannot be real. Eventually they were filled with rage and wanted to cast him out.”  They asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” 

The people began to doubt because Jesus was too close to them.  Jesus was expected to follow in his father’s trade just as all young men did in ancient times.  Here was Jesus, teaching in the synagogue.  But his father was not a Rabbi or a Pharisee or a Sadducee, his father was an artesian who worked with wood and stone. 

What raised the anger of the people to the point that they wanted to kill Jesus?  The hard truth was that God loves all people.  Jesus reminded them that God provided help and healing to Gentiles in the past when there was suffering in Israel.  These were foreigners, Gentiles, who were considered unclean and enemies.  Foreigners do not deserve our love or God’s love. 

Peter Kreeft, a contemporary theologian, wrote “In today’s Gospel, God’s warning to Jeremiah comes true in the life of the greatest of all prophets when the congregation that had heard Jesus’ messianic sermon in the Nazareth synagogue and had admired his speaking then turned against him viciously and even tried to kill him when he dared to challenge them for their self-righteousness, as all the prophets did.  There’s not much profit (or not much to gain) in being a prophet.  Most of them get martyred.” 

Paul, like the prophets before him, was called to become God’s prophet, this time to the Gentiles.  Paul was able to write this beautiful chapter on Love because Paul experienced God’s love on the road to Damascus. 

He said “Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.  But I shall show you a still more excellent way.” 

Think about that; a way that is more excellent than the greatest spiritual gifts.  Paul continues:

If I speak in human and angelic tongues,

but do not have love,

I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy,

and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;

if I have all faith so as to move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing,

If I give away everything I own,

and if I hand my body over so that I may boast,

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Paul goes on to list the many attributes of love.  I encourage you to take a few moments to read these again when you get home as a family.  Then talk about how we can express our love for our neighbor as Jesus taught us.  Paul, like the prophets of old, is challenging us to love as God loves. 

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus taught that we must love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves.  There were no exceptions.  Paul reinforces Jesus’ teaching writing that Love exceeds everything else. 

Gerald Darring wrote “The message of Jesus and the prophets before him was to love all people as God loves them. The reason why they ran into problems is that so many people do not want to hear about “love for one another even as God has loved us.”  The love that Jesus preached “is not snobbish,” so it includes the filthy poor and the stinking homeless. 

God’s love is not exclusionary.  God’s love is for everyone, the filthy poor and the stinking homeless person, the politician that has an agenda in opposition to everything we believe and the extremely wealthy person who looks down on us.  God’s love is for you and for me.  And God commands us to love others with the same love that he has for us! 

This coming week when we see a homeless person on the street corner holding a sign asking for money, will we turn our head the other way, so we don’t have to look at them?  Or will we look them in the eye and smile, showing them the dignity that everyone deserves, even if we do not give them money? 

When the envelope comes in the mail asking for a donation to help someone in another part of the world, will we throw it away because they are in another country, and we don’t want to be bothered?  Or will we thank God for the many blessings we have received and send a donation to provide food to a person we don’t even know? 

When the relative we can’t stand calls and wants to talk about the problems in their life again, will we brush them off with a quick excuse?  Or will we ask God for his help to listen patiently to share God’s love with them? 

St Paul said “Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.  But I shall show you a still more excellent way.”  He continued:

if I do marvelous deeds:

but do not have love, I am nothing.

And again if I give everything away:

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

Let us spend some time this coming week asking God to fill us so full of his love that that we can love even the person we despise.  “Am I willing to spend the time in God’s presence necessary to let God’s love fill me so much that I can share it with everyone I meet?”  Especially the beggar, the homeless person, and the person I despise? 

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August 1, 2021 · 7:05 pm

YOU SEE THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE? WE BELIEVE IT.

This has been on my mind a lot lately. 

“I remember an African preacher who visited a church I used to attend in Northern Virginia.  He insisted that through God’s grace he had performed innumerable healings.  When one of the assistant pastors looked at him a bit doubtfully, he pointed to the Bible and said, “Young man, there is a big difference between you and me.  You see this book right here?  We believe it.”  (What’s so great about Christianity by Dinesh D’Souza p9) 

I’m afraid that I am like the assistant pastor.  Throughout my life I have wondered what the world would be like if I lived like St Paul or St Peter or any of the early Christians.  The dedication and zeal to living the Gospel like them requires more than I have given in my life.  Totally believing – to the point that we could perform miracles like the Apostles!  Totally believing with the faith of a mustard seed. 

Lord, help me to believe with that same zeal of St Paul, St Peter and the early Christians. 

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January 11, 2021 · 4:45 pm

20210108 Friday After Epiphany

In Luke 5:15 – 16 we read:

The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, 16 but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray. [1]

All through the Gospels we read about Jesus withdrawing to a deserted place to pray. 

We too need to slip away from the world with all the chaos, turmoil, television, music, and social media along with whatever else distracts us.  We need to read the scriptures, spend some quiet time reflecting on those verses and praying for God’s help, for his mercy and guidance to live lives of humility and service for others. 

We must follow Jesus’ example to survive in this world. 

[1] New American Bible. (2011). (Revised Edition, Lk 5:15–16). Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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