The Epiphany of the Lord
At least on two different occasions last year I had the opportunity to visit newborn babies in the hospital. To enter the room to visit either the mother and the baby or the parents and the baby is a very special experience. There is a sense of mystery and awe during such times. After nine months of wondering, waiting, expecting, hoping and longing, out comes the miracle of life. Every baby born is a sign that God still loves the world.
olemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Before you begin reading this homily I would like you to watch this YouTube clip:
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Many of you probably have received via internet, the now popularized story of the father and the son who collected rare works of art. And then the son went to War and lost his life trying the save the life of another soldier. The father was crestfallen. Just before Christmas that year, the young soldier whose life the son saved, came to the door and presented to the grieving man a portrait of his son that he had painted. The man kept the portrait on his mantel and often admired its realism. When he died, an auction was held for all the rare works of art and among them was the portrait of the son by an unknown artist. At the auction, everybody’s eyes were on the rare paintings but there were no takers for the portrait of the son. The family gardener had fond memories of the son and he was the only one to bid ten dollars for the son’s portrait. That was all he could afford. At once the auctioneer announced that the auction was over. He told the puzzled gathering that there was a secret stipulation in the old man’s will. “The son, the son,” he auctioneer cried out, “whoever took the son will get everything.”
Fourth Sunday of Advent
I was talking to a dearly beloved parishioner yesterday. And she was talking about how her knees and her hips were beginning to give her problems. Obviously, she was very scared. She loves dancing, skiing, and being with her grandchildren, and she is afraid that she might have to stop doing the things that she loves to do. She talked to me about a healing mass she participated in. She genuinely wanted her ailment to be gone. When the priest anointed her with the laying on of hands, he prayed in words like, “Lord, please heal her of her pain but if it is your will that she should carry this pain, then give her the strength to endure it.” She said, to me yesterday, “But that is not I wanted to hear.” When I asked her permission to share this story, she said “I was being silly, but I meant what with all my heart!”
Third Sunday of Advent
Scripture Readings
We are mid-way through Advent. And my question to you is, “How is it going?” The first Sunday, I invited all of us to step-back, examine our lives and ask God for a renewal. Last Sunday, I suggested that the God was offering us comfort, a challenge and a responsibility. It is my hope that each of us is preparing, as John the Baptist would say, a highway for our God. And so I am asking you again. “How is it going?” The answer to the question can either take us deeply or superficially into the message of the God’s word in this third week of Advent.
Second Sunday of Advent
Last week I began with the story Corey Cooper and Christina Jackson who died in a car accident. Ever since the accident, not only have I offered my comfort to the families but I have also wanted to reach out to Robert Finkley, the man who caused the accident. On Thursday, I made a visit to the jail and spoke with him for about half an hour. He did not know that I was coming, who I was or what to expect. He came to the window holding a Bible in his hands. The man I met was unspeakably regretful and filled with inexpressible sorrow. He wanted me to convey to the families how incredibly sorry he was for his actions. As Robert said, “What I did was more than a mistake.” I have rarely seen such hopelessness or sense of despair. I asked him not to give up on God, on faith, and not to lose hope. May be, he could become the greatest campaigner against driving under the influence.
First Sunday of Advent
Just today, I buried two young people who were killed in a car accident. Corey Cooper was only 18 years old and Christina Jackson was 20. When they left home the night of November eighteenth, no one thought that this would the last time they saw their family; when they got into the car that night, no one thought this would be their last car ride; when they sent their text sitting at the red light early morning of November nineteenth, they did not think that would be their last text ever sent. Like a flash of lightning, their brief lives were over. “Watch therefore,” Jesus says in today’s gospel reading, “you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.”
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The King
I have heard this story many times, but it never ceases to touch me. So I would like to repeat it for you. On a cold day in December in New York, a little boy was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady who noticed him, approached him and asked him what he was looking at. “I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes.” The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. She took the little boy and removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said asked him to go along on his way. As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked “Are you God's wife?”
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Two of today’s readings contain passages that are my least favorite. The parable especially, I am not very fond of it. And I will tell you in a moment why. But, it is not my intention to make you dislike the parable. The first half of my homily, then, is about how I do not want to approach the parable and the second half of the homily is a more acceptable vantage point to understand the parable.
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
You may or may not know this but I am also a communication major. And I can both appreciate and be critical of mass media. Radio at least spurs creative thinking. Internet is at least interactive. But, television with its one way communication can very often be the most unproductive use of time. Have there been evenings in your life where you watched hours of television and yet watched nothing – hours and hours of channel surfing? Between sports, sitcoms, soaps, reality and game shows we are left sitting numb in front of a screen. If you spend hours in front of the television, there is one thing I guarantee you will not do – confront the deeper questions of life. And I think this is happening to entire generations of peoples. Sometimes when I want to have a deep conversation with people, I get the impression that someone just stole their brains away. Whether television and video gaming is responsible I do not know but shallowness is not uncommon among us.
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s first reading is taken from the book of the prophet Malachi. In the entire three year liturgical cycle, only twice do we read from this minor prophet. The name Malachi means “My Messenger,” and is written by an anonymous author. The author does not reveal his or her identity because the prophecies of the book contain trenchant criticism of the priest and rulers of the people. And so it is very intriguing that the church has chosen this reading that is downright critical of the priests of the time as one of the two times we hear from Malachi.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
These days there is a new buzz phrase at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is called the ‘Circle of Protection.’ The Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and representatives of sixty other Christian denominations met with President Obama to urge him and congressional leaders to protect programs for hungry and poor people in decisions surrounding the deficit and debt. The Catholic representative, Bishop Ramirez said, “We come here not to advance a particular plan, but a fundamental moral principle: put the needs of the poor first in allocating scarce resources. As religious leaders, our concern is not which party wins the current political battles, but we know, if we don’t speak up, who is likely to lose: the families trying to feed their kids, the jobless looking for work, the children who need health care, the hungry and sick and hopeless around the world.” It is in this context that Christian leaders in unison are asking the political leaders of the country to place of “Circle of Protection” over those most dependent on government aid for survival.
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Every time this gospel of the multiplication of loaves and fish is read at the Eucharist, I struggle to preach a homily. Let me tell you the reason. By now, most of you are aware of the drought and the resulting famine in East Somalia. This part of Africa is also affected by sectarian violence. I want to read for you an excerpt from BBC online news. "It's a matter of life and death," says Weheleey Osman Haji, a day after giving birth near the Kenyan border town of Liboi. She and her five other children arrived in Kenya after trekking for several weeks from their homeland in Somalia, whose ongoing conflict has left the country least able to cope with the worst drought in 60 years. The 33 year old has named her new baby Iisha, which loosely translates as "life". Deep asleep in his mother's arms during the BBC interview, he was unaware of the circumstances under which he came into this world. The one day old was born under an acacia tree 50 miles north of Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp. "There was drought; We have been walking for 22 days drinking only water," Mrs Haji says. "Since I delivered, I haven't eaten a thing. I now need food, life, water and shelter - everything that a human being needs."
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rachel Mahle, a young pharmacy student shared this personal testimony with me last year. She writes, “At every mass I try to focus on one thing that God is really trying to speak to me during the scripture readings and the homily. I call it my “one thing” and I try to allow God to remind me of my “one thing” during the week. At mass last Sunday, I felt like God’s “one thing” for me to learn is that opening my heart to receive “the Kingdom of God” is a choice. As Fr. Satish said in his homily, I can choose to let justice, love and mercy reign in my heart or not. I decided that my task would be to be open to the Kingdom at the pharmacy. And then it happened. I came across a serious problem that a customer was having. The man needed a medication that cost $3,000. He needed it soon so that his transplanted kidney would not reject his body. The problem was that his insurance plan wouldn’t let a retail pharmacy fill his prescription. My other colleagues had given up because it was a situation beyond their control. As I became aware of the situation, I didn’t know if I could help him at all but I felt so strongly that God was posing the question, “Will you show mercy? Will you receive the Kingdom today?” I resolved that I would try my best to help this man. After many, many phone calls I was able to set the man up with a mail-order-pharmacy that could help him, help his nurses realize the situation, and finally was able to transfer his prescription to a pharmacy that would emergency-deliver it to his home in time. What was so special about this experience for me was that I felt God was giving me a direct invitation to follow or not to follow the things that had been placed in my heart at mass. And I didn’t feel alone in doing what God was asking of me. Not only did God call me to be open to the Kingdom but God was also with me every step of the way. The feeling that I can have an impact on God’s kingdom was exhilarating. Even better, I felt like I was on God’s team. As more people needed help, I just felt “hungry” to serve someone, because I experienced such a reward in surprising people with kindness.”
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
One of the most decisive events in the history of the world was the gradual emergence of the nation-state. What I mean by that is that the political system existing in the world today based on geographical territories is a rather modern phenomenon. Before nation states existed there were multi-ethnic empires ruled by an emperor or a king. On the other hand, what defines a nation-sate is not ethnic majority or religious affiliation but rather a definite geographical boundary. In a nation-state like the United States, the State becomes an instrument of national unity, in economic, social and cultural life. It is based on a Constitution that determines rights and obligations, discipline and punishment. Peace is often enforced by armed civil authorities. There are seldom second chances offered to those who fail. One of the main characteristic of the nation-state is nationalistic patriotism which almost assumes the level of religion. Thus, heroism is associated with the ultimate sacrifice – death – to defend the boundaries of the nation. Armies are fashioned to defend each nation. The world spends close to three trillion dollar all together to defend itself from each other. Take for example the war in Iraq. It only makes sense when one sees the war as a defense of the nation. More than four thousand people have died in the defense of this nation. But the price is considered necessary for the continuous defense of a nation. Those who give up their lives are honored as heroes. That is the nation-state.
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
All of last week, the entire nation has been glued to the Casey Antony case. Not that there are other things to worry about like the debt ceiling of the nation, but the public likes mystery and intrigue. When Casey was acquitted, there was public outrage at the verdict. Somehow, there are so many questions left unanswered. And then there is the child who never got to live. But, look also at the effect that one person and her life can have on not just the family, but rather, all of society. The Casey Antony case made me think of my own life and actions and the impact they can have on other people. I could not help but think of this as I read today’s readings.
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
As I was returning after Good Friday services at St. Helen, a middle aged woman pulled right beside me at the red light on Woodman, and flipped me off. Then, to avoid any reaction from me she avoided any eye contact. If she looked in my direction I would have blessed her with the sign of the cross, but she would not. The best part of it is that I do not even know why she was mad. Another time, my friend was driving me to a funeral visitation and a young guy in a bright yellow car passed us by with his finger in the air. Once again, neither of us knew why! This time, I was very, very angry and wanted to confront him. My friend convinced me to let it go. Or, let me just talk about life in the parish. Keeping a parish this size well managed and focused is a very complex task. In the process, the possibility of being totally misunderstood, of being disliked, maligned, opposed and even hated is real. What is true for me, I know, is equally true for you at home or at your work place.
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Normally, I read through all the three readings once early Monday morning to prepare for the upcoming Sunday. Only last week, I picked up the readings and got stuck on the very first word – “Remember.” May be because the mother of one of my friend has dementia, or because I have been in touch with another parishioner whose father has Alzheimer, I have just been a little more conscious how important memory is. Those who take care of people with decreasing memory say that it is like dying a little every day.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. If I had to name this feast based on today’s readings, I would name it the feast of the Most loving Trinity. None of the readings we have today speak about the holiness of the Trinity or about the Trinity itself. Rather they speak about the nature of God who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” Paul refers God as the God of love and peace. Jesus, in today’s gospel reading says, “God so loved the world….”
Pentecost Sunday
On the feast of the Pentecost, it is generally customary to focus on the spectacular. The awesomeness of tongues of fire, the speaking in multiple tongues, the mighty wind and the fiery speech of Peter are indeed representative of this event that transformed the history of the world. But that is in the Acts of the Apostles. Our gospel reading is from the gospel of John and in this gospel the Pentecost is associated more closely with the death of Jesus and the resurrection appearances. So, for example, John has Jesus give the spirit to the people present at the foot of the cross. Jn 19:30 says, “When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Scripture scholars tell us that John was referring not just to Jesus’ death but that he also meant that Jesus handed over the Holy Spirit. Similarly, in today’s gospel reading, Jesus said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This is John’s Pentecost. John does this because for him the church is born at the foot of the cross with the blood and water flowing from his side.