Father Michael

November 27th, 2022 First Sunday of Advent A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “A Wake-up Call” Reflections on Today’s Scripture During the Advent Season, our Scripture Readings prepare us for Christmas—an ancient tradition in the history of Salvation. As Christians, we believe that plan was realized in Jesus Christ. First, we reflect on the promise of His First Coming, and then we look forward to His Second Coming, when that plan will reach fulfillment. (Isaiah 2:1-5) How will we explain war? How will we account for death by starvation of entire populations? What will the Prince of Peace say, when He finds portions of the world He redeemed made uninhabitable by nuclear mistakes? Peace will grow when military maneuvers are replaced by mutual respect and meaningful negotiations. Isaiah, (a Judean, who lived during a turbulent period of political and religious decay ca. 800 B.C.,) concerned himself with the Messiah and the Messianic times, by offering his people a vision of peace and unity, that encompassed all the nations of the earth. He saw peace coming only when Judah and all the nations had learned the ways of the Lord—along with which, would come judgment on the “Day of the Lord.” An historical assessment of classical literature indicates that Isaiah’s aspirations were shared by people of all creeds and cultures of his time. ~~~ (Romans 13:11-14) On the “day that will never end,” humanity will be called to render an accounting of its stewardship The most eloquent expression of faith is a life lived in accord with Jesus’ teaching and example. †Paul interprets the life of a redeemed Christian as one lived “in tension.” Struggling to keep sin’s darkness at bay, we nonetheless hope to bask in the glory of the Lord. In our daily challenges, we are not alone, but buoyed by the strength we obtain from the Holy Spirit, living within us. By our faith in Jesus, and by our moral response to His saving death and resurrection, we benefit from His redemption of all sinners. That requires us to live according to the light of Christ’s victory over death. ~~~ (Matthew 24:37-44) Only if we make our faith a daily routine, will we be prepared for our moment of redemption—our death. In so doing, we will have cast aside pride and ambition; and survive the test of Christ’s love in order to enjoy His presence forever. Today’s Gospel selection was intended to give contemporary Christians a more enlightened view of the “end times,” and of the final judgment that would accompany it. †Matthew chided his community to “stay alert and be ready,” and not to be consumed with the details of everyday life. Our task is to put on Christ, live Christ, and await His return. Our only protection is holding an attitude of preparedness at all times, and living each day as if it were our last! Facing the New Day For most of us, waking after a night’s sleep is a normal occurrence, about which we give little thought. It just “happens,” and we arise, to get on with the day’s demands and routines. Others, however, consumed in the depths of sorrow or depression, might actually “dread” waking, sadly expecting a continuation of their drudgery. For them, life is a series of monotonous tasks and obligations, from which they receive little inspiration or joy. Our attitude towards “awaking” is quite important. Greeting the day with enthusiasm means we will progress through the hours in a whole-hearted manner. We realize our life choices are ours to make, freely, even though circumstances beyond our control may occur. Few of us have “a perfect life,” and we all have to face challenges. But it’s our attitude toward these obstacles that makes all the difference. Each year, our Liturgy presents Advent, just before Christmas. The Church has placed this season in the calendar, like Lent, with thoughtful selections of Scripture, to allow us an opportunity to contemplate an upcoming Christ event. Spiritual awakening can occur at any time, and for many people, it isn’t necessary for them to wait for specific “seasons.” They can experience particular “God-moments,” often when they are confronted by seemingly insurmountable obstructions, for which they are extremely grateful, at any time. If we “give ourselves up” to God’s inspiration, oftentimes, we might feel great relief. Then, when least expected, in a manner we might not understand, we may find our difficulties mysteriously solved by someone, or something—an “aha” experience, if you will. Many such moments of conversion have become legendary, but for most people, they remain solemn, and wonderfully personal experiences. Often, these “wake-up calls” have been termed “being born again,” and their accounts fill Christian literature. Spirituality is, actually, about “waking up,” in whatever way it happens. When we find that we finally realize a particular understanding, or insight, many human problems seem to simply “melt away.” At such times we may even find ourselves profoundly “in tune” with our Creator. Such states as this could be seen as “living in love.” Then, the object of our love is Our Blessed Lord. (The human condition called “being in love” is very similar to this spiritual state.) Of course, it’s easier to “while away our lives” in an uncaring and unaware existence. But such a condition is a wasted life. It’s much more difficult to be watchful and alert—to be concerned, active and interested. A good word to describe such an attitude toward life is “responsible.” We read of Jesus telling His disciples to stay awake—to be “on guard.” We have nothing to fear, but everything to gain by answering Advent’s call. Rather than neglect the possibility of doing something of value for ourselves, our any human being, we should seize this chance, and remember that our days on earth are fleeting. People of Light When we look at the face of a person and see them as a sister or brother, that is when it can be said we are “filled with light.” Because of Jesus Christ, the Light has shone upon us, and still shines. Our mission in life to must be to “walk in His light”—a Light of justice, love and peace. In spite of our efforts, though, darkness still has power over us. Darkness may take many forms: any kind of hatred, animosity, lack of forgiveness, lack of reconciliation, some injustice done to another, immoral behavior, drunkenness, addiction et. al A little reflection will help each of us identify what form or forms darkness takes in our lives. Our first task is to recognize the darkness. This requires courage—but even more courage is needed to take responsibility for that darkness, and decide to do something about it! There is no joy in a life spent in darkness—quite the opposite. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can live and walk in a life filled with Light. Someone who holds an attitude of Light will bask in joy and freedom. If we are fortunate to pass through this Advent Season, and be able to say that we left some form of darkness behind us, we will be indeed blessed. If we allow the Christ’s Light to shine into some area of our life where formerly darkness held sway, then we can become be ever more ready to meet Our Blessed Lord—in Whose presence no form of darkness can exist. May God Richly Bless You! Be Ye Sure.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:

November 20th, 2022 Feast of Christ the King A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme “The Leadership of Our Blessed Lord” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (2 Samuel 5;1-3) Our King came from humble stock; His ancestors tended sheep in the hills of Bethlehem. Leadership is a process of moving forward together in mutual cooperation, respect and concern. David, the shepherd boy who became king, was not a perfect man, nor was he a perfect ruler. His career as Israel’s leader was marred by his shortcomings and by sins as serious as murder. Nonetheless, Israelite tradition describes him as an ideal king, whom they remembered and made a legend. Ideally, Israel’s kings represented the Lord, and mediating between Him and His people; and through anointing, was looked upon as a sacramental authority. Samuel stresses the humane aspects and the solidarity of God-with-Israel in the person of the shepherd king. ~~~ (Colossians 1:12-20) Through the power of the King the world was created. He is “the Word” by which humanity is redeemed. Jesus Christ is our Lord and King. For leadership to be truly effective, those who lead must have confidence in those who follow and vice-versa. In one of the most profound Christological pronouncements of the New Testament, today’s Second Reading comprises, in eloquent expression, the cosmic dimensions of Christ’s leadership. Written toward the end of †Paul’s life, while he was imprisoned in Rome, it underscores Christ’s unique role in creation—as the image of God-made-present—in an active manner. Therefore, Christ has power over the visible and invisible aspects of creation, comprising all earthly creatures and heavenly beings. †Paul understood the historical (earthly) Jesus as part of an event that transcended the beginning as well as the end of all life—both pre-existing, as God’s Son; and post-existing, as the resurrected glorious King.. ~~~ (Luke 23: 35-43) Christ did not rise to power in customary ways—He had no army, no royal jewels, no throne—but through the Cross; with no one to acclaim His Kingship except disbelieving passersby who mocked His authority. One of the most powerful uses of authority is the willingness to pardon others. Until the 13th Century A.D., the cross, as the symbol of our salvation, was fashioned with jewels, instead of a corpus. Precious gems spoke to the faithful of the victory Jesus had achieved over sin and death; and of His reign as King of heaven and earth—established on the unlikely throne of the gibbet. (Francis of Assisi is credited with introducing our familiar, realistically styled crucifix.) In our Gospel today, †Luke highlights the saving power of Jesus on the Cross, and has organized the narrative of the crucifixion so that the enemies of Jesus (the centurion, unrepentant thief) are his actual confessors and theological interpreters of salvation—the “saving event” of His death. Stumbling Blocks and Stepping-Stones Two travelers walking a narrow path in the woods were suddenly set upon by a powerful thunderstorm. One of them looked up, overwhelmed by the darkness everywhere, and lamented not being able to see the path any longer. As a result, he went astray and became lost. The other one, however, kept his head down, and used the intermittent flashes of lightening to show him a few steps forward, and persevered in his journey. When we consider Jesus’ encounter with the two thieves, on their crosses adjacent to His own on Calvary, we observe two distinct attitudes toward sin. One of them cursed his executioners and chided Jesus for not allowing them to be released from their plight by His supposed power of will—and remained arrogant in his own sins. The repentant thief, however, recognized his own guilt, and acknowledged his punishment as “just.” His only plea was for forgiveness from Christ, and a request to join Him in His Kingdom at his death. True authority, it is said, is that which pardons offenses. Christ graciously took upon Himself the guilt for all of humanity’s sins, for all time. By acknowledging our sinful natures and assuming the baneful punishment of a common criminal, the Son of God allowed us to find our way into heaven through repentance. In the final analysis, only God fully knows and understands what’s in our hearts. We may hide our guilt from others, by guile and cleverness, but it can never be hidden from God. He sees our wounds and our sorrows; our scars and handicaps; our hopes and longings. In looking at the repentant thief, Jesus saw the sad tatters of his life, and was moved with compassion for him. The “good thief” gives hope to us all, but especially those who come to the end of life with nothing to show but their works of darkness. Even at the “eleventh hour,” there exists a possibility of letting the sunlight into our broken lives. Through His sheer goodness, Jesus can turn our darkness into light. Salvation is always a free gift from God. He gives it most freely to those who (like the “good thief,”) know they are poor, and who ask for it with empty hands and expectant hearts. Goodness Sometimes, just to see goodness radiating from another can be all people need in order to rediscover it in themselves. The memory of those who have been of service or have been exemplary examples of good behavior can save us in crucial moments. Empathy is what calls a human being back from the darkness. While studying to become a portfolio manager for the investment firm of E. F Hutton, in the 1980s, I encountered a text entitled The Money Masters. In it, I learned about the techniques of several notable money managers in American history, and among them, I first encountered the techniques and style of Warren Buffet. I read about his method of discerning the true value of companies, through assessment of their stalwart business practices and astute asset management. Further, I learned about risk that companies asume by incurring debt, and how it can sap long-term development prospects, due to the “cost” of borrowed money. In short, Buffet’s “buy-and-hold” strategy of good companies’ stocks became my money management style, as well. Some years later, while working for Ben Bridge Jewelers, I learned that Buffet’s company, Berkshire Hathaway was to buy our firm. His habit of buying well-run enterprises, and then allowing them to continue to prosper without his direct influence, was borne out in his acquisition of Ben Bridge. Rather than acting as a pro-active director of operations, he allowed the existing structure of the businesses he acquired to remain intact, and continue flourishing—due to the valuable characteristics he had identified in their operations at the outset—that had prompted his bid to purchase the company in the first place. His role was that of a benign leader. Our Blessed Lord is that kind of sovereign as regards humanity. Rather than demanding fealty and obedience, as would a despotic ruler, He allows us to exist in complete control of our own free will, allowing us to pursue everyday thoughts, words and deeds, with full responsibility for our fate. If we have freely accepted His “Way” of living, and act justly and righteously, then our lives will be in keeping with the precepts He has given us for a holy life. This is of key importance to understanding God’s role in “managing” our lives. Rather than being a “hands-on manager,” He has set our world in motion—replete with its physical parameters—and human beings within it—as His creatures—to do with it as we will. In addition to the moral law native to all sentient creatures, Jesus gave us the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to Whom we can direct our pleas for help, along the way. Then, as we are able, in spite of the frailties of humanity, each of our lives unfolds in an unique manner, according to our conscious choices. If we humbly accept our weaknesses, confessing our sins and pledging to “sin no more,”—to the best of our ability—then, like the repentant thief, we have the opportunity to learn from our successes as well as our sins and offenses, as long as we live. If we truly have contrition for our missteps, we will be enabled to enjoy everlasting life through the benevolence of our Savior, Jesus Christ. May God Richly Bless You! Jesus the King.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:

November 13th, 2022 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Lord Comes to Rule The World with Justice” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (Malachi 3:19-20) For some, the Day of the Lord evokes eager and joyful anticipation; for others, dread and fear. Writers usually reflect the flavor and character of the times in which they live. Social developments, political upheavals, economic booms and disasters—all have a way of finding expression, regardless of their chosen genre. The prophet Amos prophesied a “reckoning” of the Lord for social inequity as early as the eighth century B.C. Popular opinion, anticipating such naïve “pipedreams” as a “conquering hero” for the Messiah, were cast aside by him and repeated in today’s Reading from Malachi. A day of judgment for Israel was promised—a day when people would attempt to hide themselves in the dust, in terror of the destroying whirlwind of the Lord’s fury! The righteous would be rewarded in this upheaval, but the evil ones would perish forever. This became a rudimentary vision of heaven and hell. ~~~ (2 Thessalonians 3: 7-12) Cultivating a difference in attitude takes a lifetime of faithfulness, spelled out in responsible service and attentive prayer. Those who love the Lord and remember His words are already prepared for His coming. †Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians in the middle of the first Christian century (ca.50-51 A.D.,) saw a city in the middle of a welfare problem. Some people, expecting the Lord’s imminent return, were unwilling to work, causing economic burdens for the society—thereby becoming a social nuisance. In an effort to refute their thinking, those who truly believed in the Gospel were instructed to conduct themselves in diligent service for the Kingdom. †Paul’s timeless words are indeed relevant and timely for us, today. Like the early Christians, we are called to work tirelessly toward that same goal. ~~~ (Luke 21: 5-19) As we share this period of preparation, it is better to turn from those, whose preaching about fiery revenge and brimstone transforms Jesus’ return in to a thing of fear, and turn toward the saving promise of the Lord: “I will give you words and wisdom;” and “By your patient endurance you will save your lives.” As our Liturgical Year comes to its end, we concentrate on Jesus’ Second Coming. Although full knowledge of the resurrection has yet to be ours, we face the reality of the Cross—still a powerful part of our experience. In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ prediction of war, earthquakes, pestilence and famine reflect the events of the 60s and 70s A.D., when the Roman armies of Emperor Titus reduced the Jerusalem temple to rubble. Modern readers of the Gospel should heed Jesus’ advice concerning our attitudes and behavior. Persecution should be seen as an opportunity for bearing witness for the Lord. Confidence, hope, joyful anticipation and patient endurance invoke not mere survival, but victory and salvation. Faith: Striving in Times of Adversity Jesus didn’t “hold back” when advising His disciples of the difficulties they would face. He was being realistic, and spoke of wars, earthquakes, revolutions, plagues, famines, persecution, imprisonment, betrayal, hatred and killing. He said such events would provide faithful followers with opportunities to bear witness to Him and to the Gospel. In times of darkness, light is needed; in times of falsehood, truth is needed; in times of hatred, love is needed; in times of war, peace is needed; in difficult times, Christian witness is needed…. By forewarning us, Jesus better enabled us to withstand hardships. He urged us to use wisdom, courage, fortitude and patience to withstand challenges to our beliefs. If we remain steadfast, He assured us we would triumph. Faith actually seems to thrive in times of adversity. Indeed, sometimes faith is even “born” of hardship. In this respect, it resembles certain wildflowers, which, when planted in a garden, go to seed. But when put on a mountain-side, they flourish. In a world where so much social and political turmoil is seemingly overwhelming, people of faith will often be regarded as naïve and ineffective—even irrelevant. But we must not be afraid of others’ skepticism and cynicism. Our trust in God gives us the strength to “hold our ground,” sustaining us with the belief that goodwill ultimately will triumph over evil. Such inward strength can be gained if we trust in the Holy Spirit, working within us, helping us live through tragedy. Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem actually happened in 70 A.D. As shattering as a blow such as that would have been to many Jews of the time, our own world has seen enormous changes, too. In our case, it’s not a “building,” but a “whole world” that has passed away. We see this in the many changes that have occurred within our own societal attitudes toward the family, as an example. We are bombarded by ever-more-frequent assaults on accepted morality, and even our traditional ways of self-expression and thought are questioned. “Political correctness” and the “Woke” movements of our day are rampant around us. The only thing that remains constant, throughout, is the love which we feel from Our Blessed Lord. Faith does not mean wishing things were different. No one is helped by denial. Faith gives us strength to cope with reality as it is. God does not spare us pain, but He can rescue us from despair, if we humbly implore Him. Endurance The Diary of Anne Frank gives insight into how a person’s faith can sustain them through the most difficult trials. One remarkable passage serves as a vivid example. She writes: “It’s difficult for [us] young people to hold our ground, in a time when all ideals are being shattered and destroyed; when people are showing their worst side; and do not know whether to believe in truth and right and God. It's really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are good at heart. I see the world being turned into a wilderness; I hear the ever-approaching thunder, which will destroy us too; I can feel the sufferings of millions; and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right; that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.” Such testimony to hope at a time of social upheaval, is an amazing expression of faith. Anne never saw peace and tranquility return. She and her family were taken to Belsen Concentration Camp, where they died in 1944. We might ask, “What gives someone the ability to endure such hardships as those?” The righteousness of one’s cause can provide great strength, and the encouragement and example of other like-minded people is also of great value. But the best support comes from our faith—giving us the conviction that eventually, goodness will be victorious over evil, if we “stay the course.” Gandhi said, “A person with a grain of faith in God never loses hope, because he ever believes in the ultimate triumph of the truth.” We must not be afraid of skeptics and cynics—but “hold our ground” with our beliefs that are founded in truth. Of course, we wouldn’t be “human” if we were never afraid when danger threatens. However, the question is not fear itself, but how we overcome it, that is at issue. Faith can only be “proven” in suffering and endurance. Jesus showed us the ultimate stoicism when He bore the suffering of the Cross. When we show endurance, we share in Christ’s suffering, and in so doing, we shall also share in His glory. May God Richly Bless You! Thee Will I Love.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:

November 6th, 2022 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Immortality” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (2 Maccabees 7: 1-14) Because Christ lives, death no longer wields the final low; death has become the passage to a fuller life—immortality! For those who believe, death wields no finality. The Maccabee for whom these books are written was Judas Maccabeus (one of the sons of the priest, Mattathias, who instigated the Jewish revolt—67 B.C.,) over their Seleucid (Greek) oppressors. His purpose in writing was to edify and encourage his Jewish contemporaries in their resistance to the process of Hellenization (adopting the belief system of the Greeks.) Today’s excerpt highlights the plight of seven brothers and their mother’s valiant witness to their faith through their martyrdom, and a developing doctrine of a personal resurrection—wherein the just shall live forever. ~~~ (2 Thessalonians 2:16-3-5) Christ’s strength has become our own strength; His ministry, our own ministry. The united prayer of the believing community is one of the most potent forces in the universe. †Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians contain considerable development of doctrine in the new Church. Today’s excerpt contains five of them: • Jesus is proclaimed as Lord and Son of God, who has been raised from the dead; • God gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe in the Good News of Jesus; • Christians will experience Christ’s “Second Coming,” as Savior and Judge; • Christian life should be characterized by faith, hope and charity; and • Persecution is an integral aspect of the life of the believer. ~~~ (Luke 20: 27-38) The disarming statement “Jesus is risen!” and all it implies, has radically altered the course of human events. His rising has become a pledge, promising our own resurrection. Concern over how things shall be in heaven should not detract from our present commitments. In today’s Gospel, Jesus implied that when God’s relationship with us will never be dissolved, not even in death. He taught that resurrected life is not merely a continuance of earthly life, but an entirely new mode of existence, wherein marriage will have no relevance, as that is a state of being for earthly life. In the reality of the resurrection, our faith finds meaning and fulfillment. Eternal Life As our life proceeds, we become increasingly aware of how fleeting it is, and how precarious is our hold over it. In spite of ourselves, we become familiar with the thought of death. But this doesn’t’ have to be negative or morbid. In fact, it can be very positive. Thoughts of death can lead to a very positive view of life, which transcends the life we know now. It may sound beautiful, but it doesn’t mean it is easy. When we die, our death is preceded by many other smaller passages. At our birth, we made the passage from life in the womb to that outside, into the cold, real world. When we began school, we passed from life in the family to that in the community. Those who marry pass from a life with many options to one committed to one person. At our retirement, we transit from life clearly defined by work, to one without a definitive purpose. Each of those passages result in a kind of death, but also leads to a new life! Our religious faith helps us to confront the reality of death in the most propitious manner. Faith enables us to fac death with courage and hope, because we can overcome it, as did our Blessed Lord, Jesus. But the courage of faith of people like the woman and her seven sons, about which we heard in our First Reading today, also serve as a powerful example to us who follow them in faith. Martyrs, by their witness to the Spirit, show us that life is stronger than the forces of death. ‘Proofs” base on the immortality of the soul are not very helpful, however, in everyday life. For the Christian, the real ground of immortality is fellowship with the risen Lord, and with the living God. This can be best achieved in the company of like believers in a Church community. As †Paul reminds us, in our Second Reading today, “God has given us His love, and through His grace, inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope.” We have learned of God’s promises through our Savior, Jesus Christ, which cannot fail—promises which death cannot annul. Our hope of resurrection lies in the power and love of God. Death is not the enemy who puts an end to everything, but, rather, the friend who takes us by the hand and lads us into the Kingdom of eternal love. The Meaning of Courage The first kind of courage, and the one with which most of us can relate, is associated with places like the battlefield (both literal and figurative.) The second is quiet, serene and unassertive—nevertheless, unflinching. It is impervious to the most alluring blandishments as well as to direct threats. A vivid example of the second kind of courage can be seen in the activities and the life of Blessed Mother Teresa, among the indigent and suffering people of Calcutta. We might tend to think that fear and courage are mutually exclusive. However, courage does not mean “never being afraid.” Rather, it means being fearful, but overcoming it, or carrying on in spite of it. Nelson Mandela once said: “I learned the meaning of courage from my comrades in the struggle. Time and time again, I have seen men and women show a strength and a resilience that defies the imagination. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave person is not one who doesn't feel afraid, but one who conquers that fear.” The conviction that one is doing “the right thing” gives enormous strength. At such times we act out of the deepest goodness that is in us—in the image of God, within us. Courage is such an important virtue because, without it, we can’t reliably practice any other virtue. Our world needs ordinary courage today, not so much heroism. We see a great deal of this in the daily lives of many people, when we think of the suffering they bear and the hardships they suffer. Courage is not so much about climbing mountains as accepting defeat without losing heart. When we profess our faith, each time we participate in the Holy Mass—as we recite the Nicene Creed—we say: “…we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.” Our belief in an afterlife is one that gives our mortal lives their most meaning. With this belief, the paths of our lives on earth become a journey to the promised land of eternal life. Hope is vital, as we deal with waiting and longing for one thing or another. We become conscious that this life can never fulfill our deepest desires. The prospect of life hearafter should enable us to live joyfully with the mystery of our fragile human condition—which sees us suspended between heaven and earth, between time and eternity, between nothingness and infinity…. Without hope, however, life on earth becomes a journey to nowhere! May God Richly Bless You! Find Us Faithful.docx No recording of Holy Mass, today.

October 30th, 2022 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time “Zacchaeus, come down from the tree.” A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Lord is Gracious And Merciful” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (Wisdom 11:22-12:2) The Wise and loving concern with which God created the universe is the same wise and loving concern that waits patiently for sinners to repent. True wisdom does not judge and condemn—but understands and forgives. Our First Reading, was attributed to Solomon, (Israel’s 10th Century B.C. king, and most noted sage.) In a lengthy treatment of God’s power and mercy, it stresses that He is omnipotent; and because He is all-powerful, He is merciful. It makes the point that God spares humankind because He loves us—God’s relationship with everything that He has created can only be one of love and mercy. Only love can explain His continued preservation of us. God does not desire our destruction or death, but is always ready to pardon our sins, desiring only that we repent and return to Him. ~~~ (2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2) One day, all who persevere in faith will be welcomed to join God for all eternity. Concurrently, if we righteously live each day as if it were our last, then we shall prepare a worthy welcome for the Lord, when He comes again. †Paul, preaching in Thessalonica ca. 49 A.D., intended that the “Word of the Lord” would echo forth, resoundingly, throughout all the earth. Our Second Reading, today, was written in response to the teaching that the “Day of the Lord,” had already occurred, purported by false teachers and “Gnostics” (Those who believed all revelation could be “known” through human reason.) He urged his followers to be diligent to their call to the faith, in order for them to be properly prepared for “The Day” yet to come; and in their attentive efforts, they would become ever-more worthy of God’s gift of salvation. ~~~ (Luke 19:1-10) God’s loving concern for his creation, mankind, seeks out the lost and makes them welcome in His Kingdom. If one day “Salvation” knocked at our door, would we recognize and welcome him? Our Gospel today presents yet another lesson, unique to, †Luke, about the tax-collector Zacchaeus, and his resultant salvation through the agency of Jesus. Jesus’ declaration, “Today salvation has come to this house” confirmed the integrity of Zacchaeus’ conversion, and the quality of his faith. In Jesus, Zacchaeus had met and experienced the saving power of God. He humbly showed himself to be a true son of Abraham, and an heir to all the promises God had made to the patriarch. Jesus has become tangible evidence for which God searches and saves the lost. Likewise, we are challenged to do whatever is necessary to welcome “Salvation” into our hearts. Conversion of Heart The world, and all it contains, is like a grain of sand compared with the greatness of God. Yet God loves everything and everyone that He has created, and offers all sinners ample opportunities to repent. Zacchaeus not only discovered what Jesus “looked like”—from his vantage point in the Sycamore tree—but gleaned a face-to-face encounter with our Blessed Lord when he welcomed Him to dinner in his home. He discovered what was in Jesus’ heart, and in turn, experienced a “melting” of his own heart. He turned his life away from his usurious ways, and became refreshed, like a desert landscape after a rainfall. Such a conversion was not intellectual, but rather, it was “heartfelt”—perhaps the most important conversion of all. Fear can’t produce such an overwhelming turnabout; only an encounter with love can do that. The central issue for us is how we can have a change of heart and learn to love one another. There has to be a “touching,” a “softening,” a “moving” of the heart, which leads to an “opening,” and finally a “sharing” of our heart’s riches. A harsh approach to life 2causes just the opposite effect—hardening and closure. We must adopt Jesus’ kind and loving approach, in our interactions with others. Goethe once penned, “Treat a man as he is and he will become worse; treat him as he ought to be, or he aspires to be, and he will become better, because our aspirations are the most ‘real’ part of us.” We can help others (and ourselves, too,) see the possibility for goodness within them, just as Jesus did, because we each have the capacity to do so, aided by the working of the Holy Spirit in our souls. From Spectator to Participant Today’s omni-present media threatens to turn us into spectators, onlookers and bystanders. If you are a “nature lover,” you don’t have to get your shoes dirty, or allow the rain to dampen you nor even leave the comfort of your living room. Abundant “streaming” videos await your sampling, with a feast of sights and sounds (but no “smells,” so far…all without risk, pain or trouble.) Yet what a poor substitute they are for the “real thing.” Nonetheless, some people, claiming to love nature, seldom, if ever, have walked in the woods, crossed open fields or strolled along the shore. They are merely spectators. They are not really involved. When we become involved, we “give ourselves” to the enterprise, and, in return, receive much more than we give. There is one thing to be said for the spectator, however: he or she is, at least, interested. And where there is interest, there is the possibility for real involvement. So it was, for people like Zacchaeus, who might have remained on the sidelines, but chose to rise above the crowd, for a better “look.” While living in Panama, several years ago, I become interested in the pocket pool game of “snooker.” However, I soon learned that due, in part, to the relatively small demand (if any,) by the public for the game, there were no snooker tables to be found, anywhere near our small town of Boquete. Returning to the USA, in 2020, I looked for a house that could accommodate a snooker table in the “great room,” of our new home, and now one adorns the eastern half of our living room. There, I can practice and play, at my leisure. The point of my story is that like other “sports” events that are televised, I might have been content to spend my time simply “watching” matches on television, like I did in Panama. But having my own table allows me to not only watch, when I please, but also actively enjoy the game—first hand—and enjoy the company of others to join me. Further, I’ve found a rather active “snooker club” in Tucson, whose members share my enthusiasm for the game. Fellowship with them and my house guests affords many hours of pleasurable interaction. We are all aware of countless people who spend hours watching spectator sports at home. They can simply “watch,” their favorite sporting event (think golf, tennis, etc.,) as spectators, and most people choose this passive appreciation rather than to actively playing in the company of others. (An obsession with “the media” has become a concern for many parents, who seldom see their children leave their computers and go “outside” to play.) Similarly, during the past 22-years of my priesthood, it would have been possible for me to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for those who may have wished to join me, and be satisfied with that effort. But I felt it my “calling” to go out and interact with people; offering the Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments to those who could not “come to me.” This included spiritually interacting with residents of retirement and nursing home communities, funeral homes and countless opportunities afforded me, during the eight years I served as chaplain with the Albuquerque Police Department. From those involvements, I ministered to people who also wanted Masses for their loved ones, or at their homes, in parks and hotel ballrooms, where I performed Baptisms, weddings, Confirmations and Final Blessings for the Sick (and even several opportunities to provide family counseling—which added another rich dimension to my priesthood.) All of us have opportunities to “live our faith,” and, when we do so, experience wholesome, spiritual interaction with others, rather than remain on the “outside,” looking in. When we answer Jesus; invitation and welcome Him into our hearts, we are filled with joy, because only He can fill that deep part of our being. May God Richly Bless You! What Does the Lord Require?.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:

October 23rd, 2022 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme:“The Prayer of the Lowly Pierces the Clouds” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (Sirach 35:12-18) Our First Reading (taken from the book formerly called Ecclesiasticus,) we hear from Jesus ben Sirach, (writing ca. 180 B.C.) Basic to his thought, and, in contrast to later, New Testament theology, was the idea that each person receives what he/she deserves from God, according to a rigid merit system. This comes from the thought, (found in Torah,) that an inflexible and impartial method of justice, pertinent to human merit, was to be seen as divine law. Thus, dutiful performance of the law was seen as a requirement for all Jews seeking justification. This is in contrast to New Testament theology, which teaches that all persons can be justified, regardless of station, and their prayers will be heard by God.” ~~~ (2 Timothy 4:6-18) †Paul, imprisoned in Rome by Nero, was martyred there (ca 64 A.D.) In today’s Epistle, He referred to his life as a sacrificial “libation,” being poured out like wine, as was the custom during many Jewish ceremonies (also common for the Greeks and Romans.) Offered as an inspiration to all believers, he committed his life to keeping the faith, in spite of all odds, and in defiance of all indifference and persecution. For that reason, he looked forward to his death, with the hope that the “crown of salvation” would be given to him by the Just Judge, the Lord, Himself. In like manner, our faith teaches that all the faithful can share forever in Jesus’ conquest of sin and evil. ~~~ (Luke 18: 9-14) †Luke gives us another lesson in which Jesus questions the status quo of His time. By His teaching and lifestyle, Christ challenged the value system of His contemporaries, causing them to rethink centuries-old traditions and cherished opinions. Today’s parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector shows the Pharisee to be an exemplar of “the righteous life,” in accordance to the Old Law—the norm by which others of his day gauged their own lives. Unfortunately, he didn’t truly know or understand God, nor humanity, and thus held an incorrect concept of himself! Flaunting his own merits before God, he didn’t even ask the Source of all Life for His blessing! He believed his good works afforded him salvation as his “due.” On the other hand, Zacchaeus, a tax-collector, was devoid of much wealth, and had few friends. (Tax-collectors’ usurious methods put them outside the pale of acceptable society.) However, Zacchaeus was drawn to Jesus, especially as the incarnation of God’s love and mercy for sinners, and shows his faith in his simple prayer for forgiveness. As such, Zacchaeus is given to us as a prime example of the repentant sinner, deserving of our admiration for his humility before God. Forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption are gifts of God, that only the humble will recognize and only the needy will receive. “Us” versus “Them” In our “inter-connected” world, full of myriad opportunities to observe the behavior of others, laid bare for us to see, it’s virtually impossible not to make value judgments and comparisons. In fact, many of the “revelations” that we see, hear and read are presented for just that purpose! Some, (particularly political ones,) are written in a sarcastic tone, presented specifically to lead us away from the behavior (and electoral choice,) they highlight. As such, we are enticed to accept the opinion of the author and join with their approach. They play on human emotions, and our task becomes not to blindly accept their authority, without careful discernment. The prideful Pharisee in today’s Gospel was not an unholy man. In fact, he was a good, family man; an upright citizen. But his entreaty was “boastful,” rather than prayerful. His attitude was that of a person who believed his behavior “entitled” him to eternal salvation, not simply his earthly position and its benefits. Continuing our theme of “prayer” this week, we should consider not only “how” we should pray, but also “why” we should do it at all. We must keep in mind that God doesn’t “need” our prayers, nor our praise. As the consummate “perfect” Entity, He is complete unto Himself, and has no “requirements” from His creation. For us to believe that our lifestyles or our petitions engender a sense of satisfaction in Him, and thereby entitle us to be rewarded, is fallacious. Nothing we think, do or say can “earn” any meritorious grace. We should always keep in mind that salvation, grace, mercy and forgiveness are “gifts” to us from the Almighty! They are not “owed” to us, in any sense, as would be “wages” for work performed. If there were a “merit system” for them, that would suggest that God is “partial” to some people, and not to others. Rather, in thanks for these benefits, we should be properly grateful, and live our lives as one who appreciates what has been given to us. One of the dangers we encounter should we consider ourselves “chosen” for eternal life, is that would mean God has made the decision for us—in advance. This is by no means an easy-to-understand concept. It is a valid perspective, however, to understand that culture and history indeed suggest that we do live in a “pay-for-play” world—and as far as human, interactive societies are concerned. Except in cases of socially-designed charitable situations, we would not expect to be “paid” unless we do a proper “job,” performed within acceptable parameters for its completion. And, then, we routinely, absolutely demand payment…. But we cannot do “cost accounting” with God’s gifts. He has given each of us free will, with which we may choose act in accordance with moral, righteous and acceptable norms—or not…. In order to codify them, ancient and modern philosophers have wrangled with the concepts of “acceptable behavior,” and the “will of the gods” for time immemorial. But any cursory study of their conclusions will give one a myriad of “choices” to consider for many situations. In such analyses, the positions of the idealists, realists, pragmatists, existentialists or any number of others, still leaves us with the question of how best to serve our Creator. As Christians, we have the teachings of Jesus Christ, our divine Savior, upon which to base our lives—or not. The choices are ours to make, and we do so during each conscious moment of our lives. Our very act of meditative prayer indicates we are seeking spiritual guidance in order to make our lives more perfect; more Christlike; more “saintly.” We treasure the examples of the lives of the saints, who have shown us, by their selfless thoughts, words and deeds, how to do just that. Like †Paul, they have shown us that lives lived in service to God is not an easy one. It demands sacrifice, privations and giving-of-self, beyond expectations, with a humble and gracious sense of acceptance of our life on earth. This means that our prayers should be offered with thanks and praise to God for the many blessings we receive. To expect more, when considered in this vein, becomes prideful! From our first to our dying breath, we are blessed by our Almighty Father with our very existence! When faced with challenges in life, for the most part, we discover they are the result of dealing with one or another sociological or psychological expectation, or “norm.” Family problems; work problems; community problems; international problems; all stem from challenges we encounter in our interpersonal dealings. We must always keep in mind that not one of them come from our relationships with God! It may be difficult to avoid comparisons with others, but we should always keep in mind that our relationship with our Creator is thoroughly personal—one-on-one. May God Richly Bless You! Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people; a heart that forgives the worst; A mind that forgets the bad; and a soul that never loses faith in God. With a Voice of Joy.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:

October 16th, 2022 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Efficacy of Prayer” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (Exodus 17: 8-13) In our First Reading, we hear of a most unusual battle plan: while Joshua and his handpicked army set out to engage the Amalekites, Moses positioned himself on a hill with his arms outstretched in prayer to God. As long as he remained strong, the Hebrews enjoyed victory, but when his arms grew weary, so the story goes, they lost ground. This shows us never to underestimate the influence of prayer, nor lose faith in God’s power to save. Prayer “happens” in that moment when the believer stands in truth before God, aware that all he or she is, has or will ever hope to accomplish, depends on the Lord. Like most human activity, prayer becomes easier in a supportive community. ~~~ (2 Timothy 3:14-4:2) Most scholars today believe the pastoral letters to †Timothy were composed in the first part of the second century a.d. At that time, the expanding body of Christians looked for “norms,” by which to guide and define its growth. Called “early Catholicism,” by some, it was a time when the Church became less charismatic and more institutionalized. The body of the faithful sought to navigate their survival among an alien and often hostile environment. These epistles were written, mindful of the advice of the dying †Paul, as the answer to the question of survival, and within them are clearly enunciated terms of structure for the early Church. Then and now, guidance and inspiration in prayer are to be found in the living Word of God, that speaks to every aspect and possibility of human existence. In the early 2nd century a.d., new Church leaders first emerged—presbyters (priests,) bishops and deacons—who were charged with caring for and ministering to the community. Scripture can be a great teacher if we learn how to listen without manipulation or selectivity. ~~~ (Luke 18: 1-8) In his narratives, †Luke often featured the least likely characters as heroes and heroines: the Samaritan, who helped the man who was mugged; the dishonest steward, whose business acumen was praised by Jesus; and in today’s Gospel Reading, the relentless widow. Generally, widows were usually poor, uninfluential people, in the ancient world, marginalized, and often oppressed, as a group, along with orphans, aliens, those economically deprived, and the sick—all of whom were referenced as “the poor,” in the Scriptures. Because of their plight, they were thought to enjoy God’s special protection. Later, they became the symbols of all who hunger and thirst for justice; and exemplary for all believers. Today’s episode highlights the value of persistence in prayer. When prayer is relentlessly persevering and full of faith, there are no limits to what can be accomplished. Steadfast prayer, born of confident faith, is willing to wait for God’s justice. [Note: the following is excerpted from The Efficacy of Prayer, a doctoral dissertation, 2000.] The Role of Prayer So often, and for so many people, “praying” becomes a “last resort,” usually offered as a petition for the resolution of some human dilemma. People often “react to life,” in a variety of ways. When confronted by a problem, some, who lack faith, might simply “curse the darkness;” and resign themselves to accept their dismal fate. Others, who possess a “religious” disposition, might fervently begin to pray; and then “sit back,” and wait for a miracle. Another might be religious “in their own way,” and take a practical path to solving their problems, like a craftsman might, utilizing their skills to “work out a solution.” For each of these attitudes come patterns of behavior from differing perspectives. A person without faith, logically has no one from whom to seek help. Another resorts to prayer, only to wait, patiently and hopefully. (Much of our prayer is like that, especially prayers offered for others—and many times, are simply words, hoping that a collective attitude of “good will” may garner a salutary effect. In earlier times, it might have been called, “sending good vibes.”) But if our prayer takes the form of our calling on inner assets, followed in turn by some “action,” then our prayers serve the purpose of keeping up our courage and hope. They can reinforce a sense of God’s “nearness,” and supply strength to the task. Prayer can sustain our entire being—in that it supports our resolve. Our faith teaches that “the Spirit of the Lord is within us,” and can be drawn upon in times of need. †Augustine said, “Faith pours out prayer, and the pouring out of prayer sustains and strengthens faith.” In that sense, prayer is the “oil” that keeps our “lamps” burning. Continual Prayer We have learned that prayer is important, as it clarifies our hopes and intentions. Through prayer we can discover our true aspirations—those pangs we might otherwise ignore or the longings we could possibly forget. It can become an act of self-purification. Prayer teaches us to find worthy objectives and implants the ideals we ought to cherish. Purity of tongue may float about as an idea in our mind, but the idea becomes a concern or a goal to be reached. Prayer is not, however, a substitute for action. It is, rather, like a beam thrown from a flashlight before us into the darkness, that helps us to advance toward our destination. It’s not an escape from life, but a journey into the heart of life! Through prayer, we actually learn self-reliance before our Creator and the world, and accept responsibility for our lives. Mainly, prayer becomes the foundation for living holy lives—the life of the true self—toward which we all are called. It’s never a matter of simply saying prayers. Nor is prayer a strategy reserved for occasional use—a refuge to which we resort in bad times—but the established “residence” of our innermost being. Finally, prayer is its own reward. Through prayer we are enriched and enabled to live more spiritually; more deeply; more fully; and more authentically. For those who believe prayer only consists of “words,” then perhaps they should consider prayerful meditation. Our busy world is so distracting for most of us, and we rarely are really “alone.” It may require concerted effort to find a time and place where we are able to focus our thoughts inward. But it is an exercise that promises ample benefit—both from a peaceful perspective and having an “island of solitude.” When we find such a place, and take the time to reap its benefits, our reward will be an opportunity to experience inner peace. To contemplate one’s essence is to call upon all our powers of concentration, and focus them the task of finding our center of being. Finding a direction—like that proposed by Eastern Mysticism—and learning to meditate, can be intimidating for the Western mind. Our world is full of cacophony and jarring intrusions to a serene mood. (Often, I find solace in a comfortable lounge chair, surrounded by sounds of serious classical music—good headphones aid tremendously. My favorites include the tranquil works of Ravel, Debussy and others. At other times the new-age music, like that of Liquid Mind, can promote a similar attitude of contemplation. In this way, it can happen without ever taking an ascetic “journey” to a secluded place!) Exercising the mind, with the goal of engaging its inner serenity, may require some practice. However, just as with learning any new skill, with persistence, the undertaking will become easier. You can rely on the promise of our Blessed Lord that the Holy Spirit will be there to guide you. May God Richly Bless You! I Choose You.docx To View a recording of today's Holy mass, click here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FTVCrlPoUAs&feature=share&si=EMSIkaIECMiOmarE6JChQQ

October 9th, 2022 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus cleanses the lepers A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Giving Thanks to God” Reflections on Today’s Scripture (2 Kings 5:14-17) Elisha, whose name, in Hebrew, means “God is salvation,” was active in the northern kingdom of Israel for about 50 years (ca. 850-800 B.C.) Having become such a legendary figure in subsequent tradition, as Elijah’s successor, it has become almost impossible to separate fiction from fact, vis-à-vis his accomplishments. Nonetheless, today’s selection surrounds an encounter with the Gentile, Naaman, who was a Syrian commander of the king’s army. Naaman was miraculously cured of his leprosy by washing himself in the Jordan, at Elisha’s direction. In doing so, he came to believe in the superior power of the God of Israel. ~~~ (2 Timothy 2:8-13) Imprisoned in Rome, near the end of his life, †Paul was concerned that those he had brought to Christ would continue in faithful service to the Gospel he had preached to them. He urged †Timothy and all Christians to accept their suffering as in inevitable factor in the Church’s development. Moreover, no amount of repression could ever successfully eradicate the force of God’s saving Word. Having been made incarnate in the person of Jesus—by His divine intervention into human history— the Word will be heard for all time. ~~~ (Luke 17;11-19) In ancient times, leprosy was used as an “umbrella term” to describe a vast variety of anomalies of the skin and/or objects (Leviticus 13: i.e. mildew on fabrics or walls; rashes, skin eruptions, etc.,) making affected people “unclean,” requiring ritual purification. (In modern times, the bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae, has been found to be the cause of the most blatant form, now termed “Hansen’s disease”—after Norwegian physician, G. Hansen, in 1873—and was the first microorganism determined to cause human disease.) Even until the 20th century, those who obviously suffered from the disease were ostracized from society, and in Jesus’ time, if they approached others, were required to call out, “Unclean! Unclean!” as they passed. The episode of the “ten lepers” a story peculiar to Luke’s Gospel, has been regarded as a moralizing example, illustrating gratitude as the proper attitude toward God’s blessings. The sole, grateful, cured Samaritan was seen as an indication that God’s saving grace was available to all people; and an example that sometimes the least likely person is capable of recognizing God’s hand at work. Gratitude Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist, during WWII. Made famous in the book, Schindler’s Ark, and the film, Schindler’s List, he saved more than 1,000 Polish Jews from the concentration camps. As the war ended, they awaited the arrival of the Russians. Schindler, too, decided to flee to the west. When his Jewish workers, now free, heard he was leaving, they wanted to express their gratitude for his heroic efforts. They came together, and volunteered the gold bridgework from their teeth to make a ring for him. In it, they inscribed “The one who saves a single life, saves the entire world,” from the Talmud. It was an astonishing and deeply moving act! One of the marvelous things about gratitude, is that it makes us want to give something “back.” An old French proverb states: “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.” Some might say their gesture was the least they could do, considering they owed their lives to Schindler. But their sentiment was driven by their knowing without his help, their gold teeth would have been piled in heaps by the Nazis! We are better at demanding gratitude than giving it. It’s an indicator of how selfish much our giving can be! If anyone finds his brother ungrateful, It’s not the other person’s happiness they seek, but their own…. Jesus demanded gratitude, but not for Himself. When He said, “Has no one come back to give praise to God except this foreigner,” He was thinking of the lepers. It is a good and necessary thing for the recipient of a favor to be able to show gratitude. It's important for us to show gratitude, because, first of all, it forces us to acknowledge the debt we owe to others. Of course, it’s good for the other person, too, as it makes them feel our appreciation. A person who does not give thanks for small courtesies, often does not do so for substantial ones. As for expressing gratitude to God…we must realize that God doesn’t need our thanks. But we need to thank God, to remind us that everything we have we owe to Him. We must be thankful for both the bad things as well as the good ones in our lives—the sorrows as well as the joys; our failures as well as our successes. This is no easy task. We can truly call ourselves grateful people only when we can say thanks for everything that has brought us in our lives. This kind of gratitude enables us to reclaim our whole past, and to see it as the concrete way in which God has led us to the present moment. Looking back over our lives, we recall those things that caused us to be hurt as well as those which helped us. Often they cannot be separated from one another. In all of them, however, we must try to see the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. Looking Deeper Our Gospel story today has another lesson, namely, finding God through pain. Pain can drive people away from God, or it can bring them closer to Him. Many convert could be called “Good Friday converts”—they enter the Kingdom through the gates of suffering, like Naaman, in today’s First Reading. In good times, we forget God, even though we may continue to pay lip-service to Him. But then, an illness or some-such thing “brings us to our knees,” and suddenly, we are face-to-face with our poverty, weakness and mortality. Then, we realize how flimsy are the foundations on which we have built our hopes. If we don’t despair, such occurrences may bring us closer to God, and make us more spiritual—proving to have been a “blessing in disguise.” We don’t have control over what happens to us, but we do control how we react to events. Working as a chaplain for the Albuquerque Police Department for eight years, I encountered many people who had suddenly lost a loved one. Some reacted with sorrow, as one would expect, and through spiritual counseling and help from immediate family, were able to begin the normal, healthy grieving process. Some, however, were inconsolable, even reacting with rage and fury (lucky for me, only once was it directed at me, as the bearer of the unfortunate news.) Despairing, they sought to blame God, and were unable to move through the tragedy, and retreated in shock. Other times, people may recover after being severely wounded in an accident. They might choose to live with their experience in bitterness, and become destroyed by it. Alternately, they might trust that their pain holds the possibility that some good may come from the incident. It’s not a question of forgetting it, but remembering it and integrating it into one’s life. In summary, the willingness to give something back is a great sign of gratitude. A person full of gratitude had no room for bitterness or resentment. All happy people are grateful, whereas, ungrateful people cannot find happiness. (Here is a short presentation from Dennis Prager, I’ve found very insightful: https://www.prageru.com/video/the-key-to-unhappiness) May God Richly Bless You! When in our Music God is Glorified.docx You can view a recording of today's Holy Mass, here:

October 2nd, 2022 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Authentic Faith” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Virtually nothing is known of Habakkuk’s personal life, and what little is known has been deduced from indirect sources. But there is no doubt of the prophet’s attitude toward God. He boldly presents his entire work—58-verses long—with the premise that evil prospers and justice, seemingly, does not. Our First Reading, today (Habakkuk 1:2-2:4,) outlines his complaint, and God’s response. In answer to his people’s impatience, God assures that “vision still has its time,” and “will not disappoint,” if we remain faithful to His precepts. ~~~ Our Second Reading (2 Timothy 1:6-14,) shows how †Paul’s disciple understood what it means to “live by faith.” Living in the early second century A.D., many had already succumbed to the rampant persecution of the early Church. Those who survived experienced daily the “hardships the Gospel entailed.” The author exhorts the Church in Ephesus to remember the powerful graces of their baptism, and to “stir into a flame the gift of God.” †Timothy, and all who succeeded the first apostles in leading the community were not merely to preserve tradition—the rich deposit of faith—intact and unchanged. Rather, by lives of faithful service, there were to bear living witness to the teaching they had received. By way of encouragement, the author recalled †Paul’s example of faith, in with spite of a life of hardships. Those who safeguarded and defended the Church were imbued with the same Spirit “who dwells within us,” to this very day. ~~~ “No rest for the weary,” might be an alternate title for the parable that comprises the heart of today’s Gospel (Luke 17:5-10.) The evangelist gathered a mosaic of four sets of sayings and a parable, all loosely linked by their relationship to the various aspects of discipleship. †Luke presents the apostles’ plea for increased faith in the context of the moral demands of discipleship—avoidance of scandal and the obligation of continual forgiveness. Jesus’ parables show that the quantity of one’s faith was not important as the quality of that faith. In other words, a truly genuine faith can render the impossible…possible. Therefore, faith becomes a willing cooperation and the ordinary duty of every faithful disciple. For us, and the Pharisees in his audience, †Luke’s messages should deflate the pride we feel for our accomplishments. Since we know God does not need our service, we cannot deserve salvation, even with the most perfect human labors do not deserve salvation—which remains a gift from God. Growth in Faith When evil flourishes and seems to overwhelm the just, the faithful are filled with questions (Habakkuk.) When suffering threatens to undo the work of the Gospel, and when its disciples are made to endure persecutions and hardships, the faithful are filled with questions (2 Timothy.) When there seems to be no reward for work well done and when total dedication is met with a challenge to even greater service, the faithful are led to question (Luke.) To all these questions, there are no “pat answers,” or solutions—only an earnest request: “Lord, increase our faith.” Those people are indeed fortunate, who are born into a religious faith, and who, with the passage of years, find this faith increasingly strong and sustaining. To possess a confident faith is a tremendous blessing. Only faith can answer the most propound questions of life. Without faith, there is no reason for anything, and nothing is in its proper place. Life becomes unintelligible and unbearable without God. Faith gives life meaning and vision. Without it, life is like a night without stars…. Faith adds the buoyancy of hope to life. We need hope as much as we need food. But without faith, we cannot have hope. Faith also results in joy. Happy those who discover the joy of believing, the rapture of faith in God, the ecstasy of heeding the divine invitation and “clasping God’s outstretched hand.” But we must not expect faith to “clear everything up” for us. We live in a world where many desperately seek to “know all the answers.” Just because we believe doesn’t mean we know everything. But, we don’t need to know all the answers. People don’t have to understand a work of art to take inspiration from it. Faith is trust, not certainty. Rationalists approach God and religion as something that can be understood and explained; mystics approach God as something mysterious, which can neither be understood nor explained, but only experienced. Logic cannot tell us everything. However, faith doesn’t contradict reason; it goes beyond it; it transcends it. Faith is a gift from God, but God does not force himself on anyone. Faith is not a thing, in fact, but a relationship with God. The expression to lose your faith, as one might lose a key, or a wallet, is really rather silly. Faith is not a thing that one loses; we merely cease to shape our lives by it. All of us should make our own the prayer of the apostles made when they began to understand the scope of the requirements our Blessed Lord was placing upon them: “Lord, increase our faith.” When we were children, we tended to believe everything we were taught. With that came certainty and comfort with those concepts that comprised our innocent world. However, as we grew older, we began to question…everything. The disbelief of adolescence is a glaring example. Such uncertainty, especially in the almost instantly-changing and demanding world of today can lead to despondency and feelings of worthlessness. The outcome of such despair can sometimes lead youngsters, and even adults, to contemplation of suicide. That is why, we must come to understand, at its core, it’s not enough to simply “keep” our faith, we must also “grow” in it. Faith is not something we acquire fully developed at the start…it has to grow, and as it does so, it changes. Faith does not remain stationary; any more than our other relationships remain static. Like muscles, faith also grows when it is exercised, properly nourished. Those beliefs that we don’t sustain become less solid. The regimen required to feed and build our faith involves meditative prayer and regular supportive contact with a believing community. Faith is the greatest power in the world. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to the mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” This is a striking way of saying that with faith, a task or undertaking that appears beyond our ken, becomes achievable. One recalls Gandhi’s words, when he said, “Those with a grain of faith never lose hope, because they believe in the ultimate triumph of truth.” May God Richly Bless You! Festive Praise.docx Click below to view today's Holy Mass:

September 25th, 2022 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: "Listen to Moses and the Prophets” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Because they enjoyed the “lion’s share” of the earth’s riches, the wealthy upper class of Israelite society assumed they were especially favored by God Our First Reading (Amos 6:1-7,) gives us an entirely different perspective. While not denying the special vocation of “God’s people,” or that there would be a “Day of the Lord,” the prophet of social justice, Amos, calls the people to take personal responsibility and accountability for their blessings. He warned them that their “special position” would be the cause of their downfall, and viewed their extravagances as divinely intolerable. What the people understood as political stability was seen, instead, as religious complacency and imbalance. ~~~ Our Second Reading presents an appeal for us to live in accord with the faith that we profess (1 Timothy 6:11-16.) The second century author offers Jesus as a model of such faith, Who confessed before Pilate that He “came into the world to bear witness to the truth.” All Christians are charged with “fighting the good fight of faith,” and remaining loyal to their initial commitments taken on in Baptism. As we also do today, third and fourth generations of Christians had to come to grips with a delay in their own lives until the time for Christ’s Second Coming. ~~~ Stories like we read in today’s Gospel parable (Luke 16:19-31,) have been found among ancient Egyptian folkloric tales and in legends of the rabbis. Unique in †Luke’s Gospel, however, the “parable of the rich man and Lazarus” was addressed primarily to the Pharisees. The point of it was later reinterpreted by the early Church, applied to Christ’s resurrection; and carries a message for all would-be disciples. As we heard in our First Reading, “worldly status” is no indication of divine favor; and it does not guarantee salvation. Rather, the parable underscores the universality of the Kingdom’s composition: all were called to enter, even unclean beggars, like Lazarus (he whom God helps.”) It’s the only parable where a character is named, and shows that even a “resurrected soul” would not be sufficient to dissuade humankind from their evil ways (as even Jesus’ own resurrection has not been universally effective.) Our faith teaches that awareness of God and conversion are possible only on this side of the grave…. Living in Opposite Worlds Watching through the window of a comfortable, air-conditioned home, we often see workers laboring outside on a sunny day. Sometimes, they may seem to be acting quite sluggishly, even though some of them might be quite youthful. Although separated only by the width of a wall from the outside, our worlds could hardly be more different! Venturing outside, only to find the temperature in the high 90s—with similarly lofty humidity, we may reconsider our opinion, even to the point of wondering how they are able to work at all, in such conditions! Sometimes, we can be within arm’s reach of someone, yet be living in a different world from them. But we’ll never know the difference, unless we leave our world, and enter theirs. The “rich man” and “Lazarus,” in today’s Gospel story, lived in opposite worlds, yet they existed side-by-side. The rich man never once entered that of the poor man; moreover, he didn’t even see Lazarus as a “human being,” much less a brother, with whom he shared a common humanity. He was “indifferent”—and indifference is a great evil. Riches can make people self-preoccupied, blinding them to the needs of others, and hardening their heart. The real tragedy is when an individual (or a country) loses its “soul,” as it accumulates ever greater wealth. One might say that the wealthy aren’t responsible for doing harm, exactly, in such cases, yet in our parable, the rich man was condemned to “the torment of Hades”—not because he was rich, but because he didn’t show compassion for the poor beggar. He lived only for himself! “Sin” is not only about “doing wrong….” It’s also about not doing good—the sin of inaction, doing nothing, and still worse: displaying apathy. The story doesn’t have a fairy-tale ending for the rich man—and he’s the central character. Our Blessed Lord fully entered our world to help us appreciate the world of those who are in pain, or in need. Then, having experienced what life was like for them, He was surely moved to do what He could to help them, as is evidenced many times in the Gospels. As people who stand in daily need of God’s mercy and goodness—people who pray with hands held out to Him like a beggar’s bowl—we should, in turn, be kind, generous and merciful with others…because the measure we give will be the measure we receive…. The rich are wounded by their riches, just as the poor are wounded by their poverty. In Mother Teresa’s words: “The greatest evil in the world today is lack of love—the terrible indifference towards one’s neighbor, which is so widespread.” Where Should We Begin I’m reminded of the story of a boy who was walking along the shore, when he came upon a starfish that had been washed up by the tide. Picking it up, he looked it over, and saw that several of its tentacles, near its mouth, were moving. Wading out a short distance into the water, he dropped the starfish and returned to shore. A man standing close by, observed him, and asked, “Why did you bother taking that starfish out into the sea? Surely you can’t believe that you could save every creature that washed ashore….” The boy thought a bit and then replied, “That’s true, but I knew I could save that one!” Many times, we confronted by the destitution in the world and lament that we are powerless to be of any help to allay it. On a global level, that’s probably true; hardly any of us has the where-with-all to make a grand impact on the world’s problems. Nonetheless, if we simply exercise simple human compassion—if we make a conscious effort to “care”—then we might be able to help “just one” of those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Barring our ability to offer physical labor, we might make a donation of time, offered to someone who needs counsel; or we may be able to contribute to the efforts of others in a monetary manner; or donate supplies to some group who is providing services for the downtrodden. I’ve heard many other stories that illustrate the value of “giving.” This one talks about an itinerant monk who was approached by a random villager: “Give me the precious stone,” a stranger demanded of the monk. “What do you mean,” asked the monk. The villager said, excitedly: “I had a dream last night that if I went to the outskirts of the village, I’d find a monk who would give me a precious stone.” Rummaging in his sack, the monk found a stone there, and took it out, saying, “I found this in the forest a few days ago. Is this what you want?” The man took the stone and gazed at it, in wonder. He identified it as a rough diamond—the largest he had ever seen. He took it home with him, but that night, he tossed in his sleep, restlessly. Early the next day he went back to find the monk, and said, “During the night I did a great deal of thinking. You can have the stone back—it’s a diamond!” Then he said, sheepishly, “Instead, would you give me the kind of wealth of character that made it possible for you to have given me this diamond, so easily?” The richer a person’s inner life is, the simpler his outer life becomes; and the less he needs or wants. Come, Let us Sing.docx May God Richly Bless You! To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:

September 18th, 2022 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “To Each His Own” Reflections on Today’s Scripture When justice and charity are relinquished to profits and progress, then the business of making money has become a god, and true religion is lost. Our First Reading is taken from the book of Amos (8:4-7,) a prophet, and champion of justice, from Tekoa (about six miles north of Bethlehem.) He savagely criticized the oppression of the poor, as well as the judicial system, which denied them any hope of obtaining justice. He depicts the greed of the wealthy, who can’t wait for holy days to be over, so they can get back to making money by dishonest practices. He condemns the separation of worship from the proper treatment of other people, especially the poor. Writing in the eighth century B.C., he contrasted the dichotomy between the rich and the poor, and cited merchants for dishonest practices perpetrated on the poor farmers, vis-à-vis weights of produce—particularly wheat—and who even regarded the Sabbath rest as an “impedance to their profits.” ~~~ Christians are not called to an isolated existence, untouched by secular affairs, but to an involvement with the world; by their very presence, the lives of others are improved. In our Second Reading, †Timothy, the faithful steward of God’s people in Ephesus, was reminded that one aspect of responsible discipleship was that of prayer for all in authority, even and especially those, who were the stewards of civil and secular power (1 Timothy 2:1-8.) Written at a time (ca. 47 A.D.,) when Christians suffered from Roman scrutiny (because they not worshiping Caesar as a god,) contains advice to pray for all people, and was probably aimed at easing the tension between the believers and the empire. Rome was not merely to be “tolerated as a hostile environment;” rather, even Rome was to enjoy the benefits of Jesus’ mediation and ransom. ~~~ When prudence and ingenuity of the entrepreneur are incorporated by the disciple, then religion, and all of society benefits. Often described as a controversial and difficult parable, †Luke’s story (Luke 16:1-13,) of the rich man and his clever manager is more easily understood against the background of ancient Palestinian economics and usury laws. We learn that the manager’s action of exacting “interest” on the wheat and oil (his own commission,) was permitted, and then reducing that interest, on his own authority, was an accepted legal procedure that did not disadvantage the rich man that he served. The “God and mammon” reference meant that in which one puts one’s trust, and therefore, true disciples are to faithfully serve and trust in God alone, while making “good use of money” for the sake of others—which is why capitalism, in its fundamental form, is considered honorable—thereby providing opportunities for honest employment. The purest ideal of the wise management of wealth was reflected in the communal lifestyle of the early Christian community. The Making of Character The servant in today’s Gospel story was unreliable, and dishonest. It’s obvious he had been so for quite some time. In so doing, he evaded public judgment and even self-examination. When eventually confronted by his master for his misconduct, it was surely a very humbling and painful moment. Not only his job, but his reputation was in jeopardy. This opportunity was also a moment of truth and revelation, and a turning point in his life. Dishonesty can become a way of life, but so can honesty...it too can become habitual, spontaneous and second nature. However, it has to be “learned” by long practice—not achieved by a few “great deeds,” but by many “little ones.” The true reward for good deeds is that it makes the next one easier. Every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character. Dostoevsky said: “The second half of a person’s life is usually made up of the habits acquired during the first half.” That can be a rather frightening thought! There comes a moment in our lives when the precious clay from which we are made hardens and sets, so that, from that point on, we can assume no new “shape.” A dishonest person will typically remain dishonest…to the end! A greedy person will remain greedy…. We should take this lesson, then, from our Gospel story: Passions and habits, in the beginning, before they have taken root, are relatively easy to eradicate. But if we allow then to become established, it becomes virtually impossible to be rid of them. Greed In the film, “Wall Street,” the protagonist, Gordon Gecko, tells an assembly of shareholders: “Greed is good!” His point was focused upon perpetrating activities solely aimed on making profits, with little regard for anything else. It has been shown that greed for money has been the downfall of many persons, however, throughout history. Hardly a day goes by without a news story about some public official, or top executive, who has been accused of corruption. When exposed, people often pay for their wrong-doing in currencies far more precious than money—loss of self-respect, dignity and hope. Of course, there is always the chance of “cashing in” by selling one’s story to the tabloids! But even so, there is a price to be paid—whatever dignity a person has before, it will be less afterwards. Given the importance money has in the world, it can easily become our “god.” We may put it before honesty, justice and even family life. People can become “brainwashed” into believing that “greed is good….” People can become so deluded that they have no perspective on anything else of importance. Among many “progressives,” capitalism has become anathema (even when they live in a free society, and have prospered in a capitalistic system, and have enjoyed liberty for expression of their negativity.) We hear numerous complaints that such a system can be only seen as a gateway to social ruin. Often cited by detractors are the many abuses claimed against the “common people,” similar to those of Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels. In the “Communist Manifesto,” they postulated that only through worker revolution could they obtain the true worth of their labors. They contended exploitation and oppression by “overlords,” who own the means of production, cause the vast majority of the population who produce goods and services to become enslaved, without hope of individual success. Without dismissing the many deficiencies that have arisen over the years, the “great experiment” of the United States of America has demonstrated, compared to any time in world history, that no other form of socio-economic system has ever afforded people as many opportunities for prosperity. By-and-large, the countless prospects for personal achievement enjoyed in our nation, and the many social benefits they provide, far outweigh the disadvantages faced by people throughout the world. The prudent use of profit, which enables development of countless prospects for individual attainment of comfort and hope for the future, is at the heart of the message in our Scripture Readings today. Simple assessment of the continual striving of expectant immigrants to become part of our culture attests to the positive global opinion of our society. As Christians, we must constantly strive to ensure the personal dignity and freedom of everyone with whom we interact. This is the message of “salvation for all” that Jesus preached, and whose tenets we profess. May God Richly Bless You! To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: Blessed Be The Lord.docx

September 11th, 2022 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “This Man Welcomes Sinners” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Linking all three of today’s Readings is the theme of repentance. Our First (Exodus 32:11-14,) is addressed to the people of Israel, after they abandoned their faith. The Second (1 Timothy 1:12-17,) presents †Paul’s rejoicing over the fact of his conversion, and offering his experience as an example for other sinners. Today’s Gospel (Luke 15:1-31,) is a veritable celebration for sinners, as it dramatizes in triple parables the merciful love of God that seeks out the sinner who repents and rejoices at their homecoming. ~~~ In spite of having been rescued from slavery in Egypt, the Hebrews abandoned their faith, even before Moses returned from the mountain with the Ten Commandments. The story of the “golden calf” occupies three chapters of Exodus, placed in the middle of the “divine instructions” from Sinai. It illustrates how fickle is the human character, and God’s fidelity, forever reaching out to redeem and forgive human infidelity. God always offers mankind an opportunity to renew their relationship with their Creator. ~~~ †Paul experienced a similar experience to that of the Chosen People (above,) in his conversion event on the way to Damascus—dramatically demonstrating the gratuitous quality of God’s forgiving love. His letters to †Timothy formulate directives and guidelines for the late first or early send century Church. Instructions included: How to maintain the deposit of the faith, intact; to beware of heresies; to appoint qualified leaders; and heed the principles governing public worship/liturgy. The Good News of Christianity is given as sound teaching, and the only sure defense against every kind of sin for the sinner. ~~~ The Lucan parable of the Prodigal Son is accompanied today by two others—the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin—to make the evangelist’s message even more poignant. Jesus confronted the religious leaders of His day with His words and works, and the shocking and “unseemly” reality that God not only loves sinners; indeed, He seeks after them and welcomes them with joy! In so doing, this trio of parables was Jesus’ answer to their criticism that those seemingly lost and retrievable things—wayward son; lost sheep; lost coin—refer to people who are most sought after for the Kingdom…. The Value of the Individual We are sometimes shocked by the seeming indifference displayed by multinational companies who cut their workforces during economic downturns, or when outsourcing jobs to foreign shores, without any obvious concern for the individuals affected. Like the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus’ stories of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin also show the value of the individual. To a shepherd, each sheep is important and precious, both from an economic point of view, and because they have become his “companions” during the long hours spent with them. A single coin to any of us, today, might seem a frivolous pursuit, but in the first century, a drachma was equivalent to a day’s wages, and assumes sometimes amplified value when lost. Of course, Jesus wasn’t really talking about sheep or drachmas. He was talking about people—sinners, to be precise. His frequent association with them scandalized* the Pharisees of His day, even more so, in that He accepted them before they repented of their sins! He wasn’t condoning their sinful lives by this, but rather, trying to show them a better way to live. But He couldn’t do that without being among them, and having sympathy for them. People are never “improved” by being “shunned,” and Jesus acted as He did to reveal the mercy of God towards them. * In the Old Law, it was thought that God loved the righteous and hated the sinner. The Lost are more Precious Anything we lose assumes an exaggerated value—for the moment. If we lose a key, for example, it suddenly becomes more important—until it is found—than the sum-total of everything we possess. That’s because we never know the real value of something, until it’s gone. There’s a story told about a young photographer who regularly submitted his work to a well-known expert for his consideration. The pictures were then sorted into two groups, according to his criteria, along with his commentary. Those thought to have merit, and those he would discard as having little worth. Every year the young photographer would repeat his submissions, and the expert saw that among them was always one particular picture of a landscape, that was usually rejected. When he asked about the photo, the young artist said, “It’s important to me, because I had to climb a mountain to shoot it!” Something becomes more precious to us in direct proportion to what value we perceive from it…but it can also have worth because of what had to be “sacrificed” to obtain it. Similarly, the shepherd saw value in the lost sheep, because of all the effort he had to expend to protect it, and the rest of the herd, as they grazed, for weeks at a time. Most people are skeptical of associating with someone who has treated them unfairly, or badly, in some way. Even our closest relatives can be considered “outcast,” should they “cross the line” with us often enough. Our patience with people who wrong us is usually rather fleeting, especially if it is continuously tried. Conversely, we hear stories about loving parents who continually allow a recalcitrant child to “come back” into their good graces, even after multiple indiscretions. From a detached perspective, we might think them “naïve,” or “gullible” for being so forgiving. But if we truly have “perfect love” someone, then we should “forgive all things,” as †Paul wrote (1 Corinthians 13,) regardless of their transgressions, shouldn’t we? In our efforts to conceive of the character of God, we have bestowed upon Him true perfection. If we truly believe that, then it will be understood how Jesus could have promised continual forgiveness for sin to those who repent. This does not mitigate our belief that He is a “just God,” however. It does demand that we have true repentance for our sins, in order to receive His forgiveness! Thus, the responsibility for atonement for sins is put squarely upon the sinner. Without it, we can be confident that true repentance has not occurred—and forgiveness not granted. The seemingly, undying hope that may be exhibited by our example of the loving parents, above, might not be the same as God’s, but it comes close, in human terms, at least. We hear of people offering “tough love” to their miscreant charges. In my view, this is akin to what God will present to a repentant sinner. Should someone profess their guilt, and turn around and repeat the offense, repeatedly, we can assume there was no true repentance in the first place. In our youth, when first learning about the sacrament of Penance (now,called Reconciliation,) we were taught we must not only confess our sins, but pledge to “sin no more,” as a condition for receipt of absolution. Without that, our confession becomes merely “lip service,” and we should not expect to receive forgiveness from our merely admitting guilt (no matter how much “penance” may have been assigned by the priest.) When people become lost, morally and spiritually, they are like boats, adrift without an anchor. They may be addicted to alcohol or drugs; unable to “settle down,” or hold a job or finish a course of study; incapable of maintaining stable personal relationships—all such people could be said to be “lost.” What is most frustrating, is they may not be very far away from us. They have become lost in our midst, perhaps even within the bosom of a loving family. But if someone takes the time to show active concern for those who are lost, it may be possible for them to become “found,” and once again, be reunited with the fold. Like the other demands of discipleship, we are also called to act in such a manner, in keeping with Jesus’ own. This is the message our Blessed Lord has for us…we must be willing to reach out, sometimes even when it may be against our better judgment. To repent is to come back to God, and to come back to God is to come home…. May God Richly Bless You! With My Song.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xph5mVQ0xmI&feature=share&si=ELPmzJkDCLju2KnD5oyZMQ

September 4th, 2022 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Wisdom and the Demands of Discipleship” Reflections on Today’s Scripture The book of Wisdom, written from a Greek-speaking Jew, in Alexandria, about two generations before Christ, (ca. 60 B.C.) was written in answer to the Greek philosophical system—which threatened to overwhelm and dilute traditional Jewish religion and culture. It served as an inspiration and encouragement to Jews, seeking to preserve their monotheistic concepts and traditional values. Today’s First Reading (Wisdom 8:13-18,) recounts Yahweh’s promise to Solomon, granting him anything for which he wished, in prayer. As also recorded in Kings and Chronicles, he prayed for wisdom and understanding, necessary to govern his people well. ~~~ Our Second Reading (Philemon 9-17,) is the only “personal letter” in the New Testament. †Paul writes on behalf of Philemon, a slave of the prominent member of the Church at Colossae. Onesimus had apparently run away from his master and may also have stolen something of value from him. †Paul refers to Onesimus as “my child,” and even though he desired for him to remain with him in service to the Gospel, he recognized Philemon’s property rights, and sent him back. He asked that Onesimus be welcomed by his master as “a beloved brother in the Lord”—something quite significant for a slave. In so doing, †Paul attempts to transform the relationship—from one of legality to one of love—at a time when slavery was rife in first century society. ~~~ Statistically, it is known that fewer than 20% of Christians perform 100% of the services rendered to their community. Volunteering, however, is not the same as discipleship, in that one can “opt to forego” one or another particular project. In contrast, discipleship is not periodic—on one’s own terms or at one’s convenience! Total, unconditional and limitless commitment to Christ is integral to the challenge for the disciple, who daily agrees to be converted to Him, in thought, word and deed. Our Gospel selection (Luke 14: 25-33,) occurs during Christ’s journey to Jerusalem, and is directed to the poor, crippled, blind and lame, from the highways and hedgerows, who had been invited to the Messianic banquet. As they would learn, the invitation to the feast was just their “first step.” They would also be required to “drink deeply of the cup” of Jesus’ suffering and death. In the truest sense, this is the vocation of all who believe in our Blessed Lord, Jesus. His parable illustrates that the cost of discipleship is to forego the comforts and joys of security found in the family, so as to be tied completely to Christ, as one’s first priority. In our efforts, we must prudently assess the possibilities of success of our mission, as Jesus illustrates by the parable of the king sending emissaries to sue for peace with a superior force, rather than squandering his inferior army. The same foresight and wisdom is required of Jesus’ disciples, in our task of disseminating the Gospel. Wearing Chains Dostoyevsky was only in his early twenties when he wrote his first book, which was entitled Poor Folk. Proving a great success, he became famous, overnight. The adulation might have gone to his head, except that, soon afterwards, he found himself being arrested. He was sentenced to die, along with some others, wrongly accused of anarchy! “Lucky” for him, he and his comrades avoided death, and instead, were sent to a prison camp in Siberia. Released after four bleak years, it would be ten years before he returned to writing. Instead of becoming bitter and destroyed, his experience greatly “enriched” him! His years of suffering became something from which he drew inspiration, and gave him great strength and authority. When some critics asked, “What right have you to speak for the people? he would say, “Here is my right!” and pointed to the scars left by the chains on his legs. After that, the questions were silenced. When his friends expressed dismay at all his suffering, he would say: “Prison saved me! Siberia and prison made me an entirely new person! Only there was I able to lead a pure and happy life…to see myself clearly…and learn to understand Christ. That ‘school’ strengthened my faith and awakened my love for those who bear their suffering with patience. It also rekindled my love of Russia and the Russian people!” We know that Jesus did not shy away from the difficulties, hardships and sacrifices required of those who followed Him. Similarly, in his epistles, and from the Acts of the Apostles, we are given other great examples, such as those we read concerning the suffering and imprisonment of †Paul. In our own time, we read how Mother Teresa often told those who wanted to join her in her mission to the homeless and the poor of Calcutta, that they should have “no doubt the suffering that their work would entail.” Following the Master There is such a thing as “courage of the blind.” But Jesus discouraged that, saying there is a place for common sense, for prudence, and for counting up the cost. We must not take on more than that of which we are capable. We may underestimate or overestimate ourselves. We may need a challenge to bring out the best of us. The most important thing, before taking on such a task, is “self-knowledge.” We know from Scripture that the apostles struggled at every point in their attempt to follow Jesus. Yet, Jesus didn’t “write them off,” when they fell short. It’s clear they learned from their failures, but only after Jesus’ death and resurrection, did they become his “true followers.” By looking at such examples, we discover our own inadequacies. Let’s face it—it’s not easy to be a disciple of Christ! Discipleship has some practical demands that one cannot escape under pain of betraying the Gospel! Yet, we have many comfortable church-goers who gave little heed to the misery of the needy and the groaning of the poor. Still, today, the Christian is called to renounce many things that are taken for granted by others. It is one of the supreme handicaps of the Church that in it there are many people who would follow Christ “at a safe distance,” but very few real disciples, that is, people who actually do what He said. Some “followers” melt away as soon as a demand is made of them, like snow before the sun. Others are destroyed by opposition and criticism, like a fickle flame that is blown out by the first gust of wind. Nevertheless, the Gospel offers hope to Christians who fail. Repentance and a second chance are always possible, because Jesus is generous with His grace to those who strive to answer His call. May God Richly Bless You! To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: Great is the Lord.docx

August 28th, 2022 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Humility” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Our First Reading (Sirach 3:17-29,) tells of Joshua Ben Eleazar, Ben Sira, a faithful Jew of the second century B.C. Steeped in the traditional values of his people, possibly a scribal lawyer, Sirach, as he has become known, was born in to prosperity. Able to gain practical wisdom and travel, he was often a guest at foreign courts, as emissary of Israel. He writes keen insights on Torah, Wisdom and successful living. In today’s selection, he addresses “humility and pride.” He praises the value of a modest, gentle life, free of pretension and ambition. Like faith, humility is to be pursued as an active virtue of positive trust, and was assigned to the Messiah—the “ideal” person. Contrarily, the “proud” would come to suffer for their “airs.” ~~~ In our Second Reading (Hebrews 12:18-24,) †Paul speaks to those Jews, who had come to accept Jesus as their Messiah, in an effort to allay their crisis of identity. Subject to sometimes hostile elements from Judaism, they were forced to redefine their faith continually, although it was rooted in, but also distinct, from its Jewish matrix. Ca. 80 A.D., they were ousted from synagogues, and also became subject to Roman persecution, as Christians. Those enrolled in the Gospel covenant in Jesus’ name, shared in the glory of Zion, rather than as it was with the Old Covenant, which was lived out on earth. To turn away from Christ would have been seen as a “step back” from the promise of the “heavenly city’s festal gathering” of the redeemed. ~~~ In Biblical times, food and drink was not only used as nourishment, but as a way of fostering significant social communication. Reserved seating in places of greatest honor, at the right and left of the host, bore evidence of the station of those invited to dine. In our Gospel, today (Luke 14:1-14,) speaking to the gathered guests at a banquet, Jesus’ parable called to mind the etiquette of not seeking the “highest” places, lest one be slighted when asked to make room for someone of more exalted station. Like Sirach, He recommended “humility” to His companions. Those clinging to fleeting and dubious dignity of self-assertion must recognize the greatness of God, in contrast to their own lowliness and need. Christ further shocked the Pharisees in suggesting that guests not only include those who could reciprocate their invitations, but also people with little or no social standing. His challenge to them recognized the reversal of human values integral to the Good News, the Kingdom, and His mission; and the elevation of the homeless, the downtrodden and the outcast. Acting on His advice, they would be living the truth of the Gospel as evidenced by their humility. Being Watched We can look at other people with “friendly eyes,” “hostile eyes,” or, “indifferent eyes.” When we look with “friendly eyes,” it means, from the outset, that we are well-disposed towards them. What a difference that makes! We are looking out for the good in them, and are ready to excuse anything less. We are open and ready to learn from them. To feel the weight of friendly eyes is a beautiful feeling—one that puts us at ease, and makes us feel welcome. Conversely, looking at people with “hostile eyes,” we have an ill opinion of them from the outset. Looking for faults, oftentimes, we are disappointed if we don’t find them! Not finding fault with what they say or do, we often cast doubt on their motives. We don’t offer them an opportunity to prove themselves, as our minds and our hearts are closed to them. To feel the weight of hostile eyes on us is quite uncomfortable. If we look at others with “indifferent eyes,” suggests we have no particular opinion about them—one way or another. We might observe their efforts; their sadness; even, their tears…but they mean nothing. We have no interest, and thereby, no concern for such people. Actually, we hardly “see them” at all! It’s almost as if they didn’t exist…. Many people are inquisitive about others’ faults, but negligent about their own. Nothing so blinds us to our own faults as a preoccupation with the faults of others. Jesus felt the weight of others’ eyes upon Him throughout His public ministry on earth. Jesus observed the Pharisees, out of different motives, of course, and He saw things He didn’t like. He saw people scrambling for places of honor in the Synagogues, in public gatherings, and as we heard in today’s Gospel, at dinners. Such behavior is evidence that they were not present to honor their host, but themselves. Jesus also had a “word” for hosts: giving a meal might seem like a very generous thing, until we consider who the guestlist included. The Pharisees invited their “cronies,” who would also invite them into their homes. Is this really a generous act? Such “giving” is, in fact, an “investment!” If they would truly wanted to be generous, they would’ve invited people who would never be able to reciprocate. True giving occurs when nothing is expected in return…. There are obvious lessons for us in all of this: With what kind of “eyes” do we observe others? And, what is the quality of our “good deeds?” Religious people can sometimes be woefully “selfish.” Just as weeds can ruin a garden, so selfishness ruins a person’s Christian witness. Giving is at the heart of the Gospel, but it must have a certain quality—it must be “disinterested” giving. Places of Honor Entering a great cathedral, a grand structure or an impressive monument—man-made or natural—we might feel an immediate humbling by the grandeur that surrounds us. Such an experience can make us reflect on our own inadequacies, vis-à-vis our own abilities and talents, in the face of such masterpieces of construction and art. We may feel small, and insignificant in such situations, realizing how flimsy and false are the things on which we depend. But in a strange way, we are also exalted, because when we humble ourselves, and let go of those things that give us a false sense of importance and superiority, separating us from others, it can actually raise us up. We can begin to realize our true greatness, which lies, not in ourselves, but in the fact that we are children of God. Before God, all of us are equal—privilege, status or rank have no meaning before our Creator. It’s not as if we are all reduced to some “common denominator,” but rather, we are like people on a mountaintop, where, to speak of first and last places, or higher and lower places, would be silly. When we enter the house of God, we discover that every place is one of honor. Entering in, everyone is made “equal,” and external privilege blows away like smoke. We become humbled—yet also exalted. This is the spirit that should accompany us out into life, afterwards. The moral becomes: It’s not the place that honors the guest, but the guest that honors the place! The banquet parable is a symbol of God’s Kingdom, into which we have all been invited—wherein every place is one of honor…. May God Richly Bless You! I Love You, Lord.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/m2nsCZSdOxg

August 21st, 2022 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Narrow Gate” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Our First Reading (Isaiah 66:18-21,) how the Holy City, the restored Jerusalem, was to become the focal point of God’s glory. She would be “beacon,” guiding all the nations of the earth to herself, or, more precisely, to an experience of God, within and through His people. From among the survivors of the Babylonian captivity, the Lord would send forth missionaries to the far reaches of the earth. Further, even those who had never known the Lord would be taught to receive the “Good News” of salvation. Centuries later, this vision came to life in the person of Jesus, the Son of Man, coming in power and glory, serving as a “sign” of what Israel (and all the peoples of the earth) have been called to be—disciples of the Word. ~~~ In our Second Reading (Hebrews 12:5-13,) we read that “discipline” is the whole process of education and training by which young people are helped to shape themselves in those qualities of mind and body, which characterize the “real” adult—strong, sober and able to cope with the problems of life. The overall message for us is that suffering is a necessary ingredient in the building of a mature person. Although it may “exasperate” us, it is part of the human condition, with constructive, as well as destructive dimensions. Those who are called to disseminate “the Word,” must do so by catechizing (faith-sharing,) and evangelizing (proclaiming the Gospel.) ~~~ The question of v. 23 in today’s Gospel selection (Luke 13:22-30,) “Lord, will only a few be saved?” was a current one in Jesus’ time (The regular answer was that all Israel would have a place in the future Kingdom; and even the “ordinary people,” though “ignorant of the law,” would not be excluded.) Jesus warned His questioners that specific “effort” is demanded of them—it is no easy mater to lay hold on eternal life. †Luke reminds us that men and women from all over the world will share in the Messianic Kingdom, and that Jews will have no advantage over Gentiles. Salvation is not offered at a “bargain” price, however, and only those who follow the path pointed out by Jesus—those “who enter the narrow gate*”—will gain access. *Entrance through the “narrow gate” is a metaphor for embracing the precepts for a righteous life, as laid down in the Gospels, which constitutes a way of living that is more restrictive than yielding to worldly temptations. The Kingdom is not a “Private Club” Our world is riddled with exclusive clubs, snobbery, privilege, preference and so on. We wouldn’t expect Jesus to have condoned this. When He announced the Good News of the coming of the Kingdom of God, He told those who thought themselves “privileged, “Produce the fruits of repentance, otherwise your privileged position will benefit you nothing.” He said that “conversion” was a necessary disposition for entry, and He succeeded in bringing it about in the most unlikely of people. Many sinners heeded His call and made their way into the Kingdom, whereas, many religious people stubbornly resisted and excluded themselves from salvation. God is full of great surprises! Unlike His creatures, He does not limit His gifts of grace or the scope of His concern. Indiscriminately, He calls all people to Himself, and makes no case about race, nor holds grudges against the “eleventh-hour penitents.” At heaven’s great banquet, those image-seekers who are forgiven will be grateful tablemates with forgiven murderers and thieves! Life, here and now, must be a preparation for the universal “feast”’ that is to come; prejudice should be disciplined by justice; and narrowness of heart by selfless love. We should not make judgments about who “gets into heaven.” That is best left to the wisdom and mercy of God. Salvation is a “gift” from God, not something that can be “earned.” But that doesn’t mean we ought not try to make ourselves worthy of it…. Through our Baptism, we are members of the new Chosen People—the “insiders,”—but we must never rely on that fact alone. Our life’s journey must be replete with our endeavors to produce the fruits of the Kingdom, namely goodness, right living and truth. Suffering: Part of our Training Throughout history, studies have shown that methods to educate the young were based on endurance: the more “inhuman” tests a child survived, the better they would be prepared to meet the hazards of adulthood. One good example is found among the tribes of Native Americans, whose initiation rites were designed to fortify their youth with life-skills. Left in a dark forest, armed only with a spear, the child was to spend the night, alone. In the morning, emerging from the forest, the young “brave” was no longer the innocent youth of the day before. Modern children are also faced with daunting challenges. They may not be abandoned in the wilderness, but they are surrounded by formidable dangers in the guise of numerous evil influences and bullying peers. They wend their way through their formative years equipped only with the “spear” of their parents’ love and training. Those who are able to withstand the temptations and torments, will emerge fortified from their ordeal. Others, who do not, constitute the bulk of society’s miscreants, continually preying on the population at-large. Throughout their ordeals, time passes seemingly very slowly for the developing youngster. Every minute can seem like an hour. But, arising from the darkness, they may find a loving family waiting for their return. What the youngsters do not know, in many fortunate cases, is that their family oftentimes was waiting on the sidelines, anticipating the outcome, all along. Everyone who wishes to grow to adulthood must face their own “dark forest” in some shape or another. We are trained in the “school of suffering,” but there is no point in being sentimental about it. People may become so “hurt” they become bitter, and will not accept being redeemed. Yet, suffering can be a great opportunity, with values not lying in the pain of it, but in what the sufferer makes of it. Suffering can purify one’s soul and transform one’s character. It can also bear “fruit,” and is an indispensable part of our becoming truly “human”—that is, people of maturity, depth and compassion. Suffering is a necessary ingredient in building us into a complete, Christian person. We must not see it as a punishment from God…God punishes no one*…. As part of the “human condition,” suffering is “allowed” by God, because only “good” can come from it! Our pain can bring us closer to Him. In it, we experience His power and love. There are truths which only sorrow can teach. One of those truths is compassion for fellow sufferers. Compassion is not learned without suffering. *The “eternal punishment,” which awaits the unrepentant sinner in the afterlife, is here understood as that pain arising from the absence of God’s presence, His Beatific Vision, and the everlasting deprivation of all grace. May God Richly Bless You! Not To Us, O Lord.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/QprGLR-nyeo

August 14th, 2022 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Fire Upon the Earth” Reflections on Today’s Scripture In Hebrew, “jeremiad,” is a noun, defined as “a long, sad and complaining story of troubles, misfortunes, etc.” Incidents similar to that in today’s First Reading (Jeremiah 38:4-10,) earned the prophet a lasting place in English language usage (even among those unfamiliar with Hebrew Scriptures.) As our story begins, King Zedekiah is infuriated by Jeremiah’s lack of support for his campaign against the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar. Accused by the nobles of “demoralizing” the troops with his call for prayer and repentance, and, a hasty and humble surrender, he was handed over to them, and left in a cistern to die. Jeremiah’s release was aided by an Ethiopian eunuch, Ebed-Melech, who interceded with the king on his behalf. ~~~ Our Second Reading (Hebrews 12:1-4,) stresses the importance of faith and the necessity of discipline. By means of an athletic metaphor, the writer described Christian existence as an “endurance race,” or “marathon.” Christians are supported by a “cloud of witnesses,” a term from Greek classics— like the Old Testament heroes, who supported their efforts—which meant to encourage those presently involved in life’s struggles. Just as excess weight and unnecessary baggage hinder athletes, so do sin and the distractions of evil pervert the course of the Christian, who is coached to maintain a firm concentration on their intended goal (eternal salvation,) in the face of all adversity. ~~~ The crisis of decision and divisiveness that Jesus’ presence brought to bear on the world, is an integral part of today’s Gospel (Luke 12:49-53.) Today’s text is a composite of three independent sayings dealing with the effect Jesus’ ministry (and that of the disciples,) would have upon the world. Jesus made it clear there could be no neutrality or indifference to His words and works. Jesus is presented as longing for the world to be “ablaze with His fire”—a frequent metaphor for God, Himself, and for His intervention among His people. Fire is seen as an apt symbol for the action of God’s cleansing and refining activities. Thus, no one is to remain neutral in the presence of the redeeming, judging, Son of Man, Jesus. The challenge of the Gospel purifies and separates before it unites and brings peace. Casting Fire on the Earth We should not be surprised if the teachings of the Gospel divide people. Jesus’ sense of justice brought Him into conflict with those who exploited the weak and poor. His integrity brought Him into conflict with the narrow-minded and the bigoted. The brighter the light, the darker the shadows it casts. There is a tendency today to “domesticate” the Gospel—to reduce it to pretty words and “feel-good” experiences. When that happens, the fire has gone out, the leaven has lost its power, the salt has lost its taste, the light has grown dim. If Jesus had flattered people, and said only “nice” things to them, He could have made Himself popular. But He chose, instead, to disturb people, because they needed to be disturbed! His words shocked some and infuriated others. Those He spoke to the poor were different than how He interacted with the Pharisees. If we reduce the Gospel to a bland message to all, ignoring the differences between rich and poor, privileged and dispossessed, we betray the Word, and make it “insipid!” It’s clear, however, that Jesus’ reference to fire and division were not meant to be taken literally. He taught that the Kingdom of God was open to everyone, saint and sinner, Jews and Gentiles, alike. He was gentle, but that doesn’t mean He was weak…. When occasion demanded, He could be very assertive, i.e., when He drove the money changers from the temple. “Public opinion” is one of the strongest forces we observe in our modern world. The internet has brought the myriad thoughts of one and all to the forefront of our consciousness like nothing before in history. So, when we hear commentaries about how people and their actions are perceived, we must carefully filter truth from nonsense. This is no easy task, and one that most people are unwilling to undertake, as evidenced by the continuing proliferation of commentators. Virtually no personal interactions occur today without one or another of the participants seeking to “ask Google,” for clarifying information, during the conversation! Rather than a quest for truth, however, in many cases it serves to bolster an underlying skepticism we have for information on the one hand, and of one another, on the other. Some people, who actively participate in charitable functions, are viewed by many as “doing God’s work.” However, if those same people openly lament deplorable conditions they observe, they may be dismissed as “socialists,” “insurrectionists,” or worse. Our Blessed Lord, Jesus, and His disciples who came after Him, were challenged by similar conditions. Today, we often find evidence of families’ discord when a member simply espouses a contrary opinion. Social media abounds with stores of children who, are being confronted by school curricula that “fly in the face” of conventional wisdom, and even historical fact, i.e., critical race theory. Coming home with such indoctrination, they are sometimes met with disagreement and even anger. Such situations call for even more diligent efforts on the part of parents to reinforce traditional values and truth. If there is love in the family, then there must be understanding, as well. Carefully guiding youth, by careful reinforcement of Scriptural values, will do much to dispel such errors and discrepancies. This requires the very strength of character that Jesus intended by His words and deeds. As “tenders of our Savior’s fire,” we must rededicate ourselves to the mission of cultivating holy principles. True and False Peace A swamp may look nice on the surface, but its depths are full of rotting things. Peace that is based on injustice is like that—it is a “false peace.” But then, there is “true peace”—a peace in which all of God’s children have their basic rights respected, and are able to live in freedom and dignity. This is the peace that our Blessed Lord came to bring. But peace like this just doesn’t happen; it has to be made. Sometimes the peacemakers will be branded “trouble-makers.” But Jesus had another name for them: He called them, “Children of God.” ~~Anonymous~~ May God Richly Bless You! Find Us Faithful.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:

August 7th, 2022 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Destiny, Shaped by Faith” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Our First Reading today, written in Alexandria, was written to strengthen the faith of the people (Wisdom 18:6-9,)—and help them rediscover and maintain the richness of their heritage and traditions. Taken from the second part of the book, it is an extended homily on salvation history, in particular the exodus experience as a pivotal even in Israel’s development as a people. Whereas, Israel is presented alone as “chosen by God,” Egypt suffered a deserved punishment from the very phenomena that spelled blessings for God’s people. ~~~ Everyone has an “Isaac,” some person, attitude, place or possession without which we think we have no identity, no future and no possibility for happiness. For Abraham, his cherished son, Isaac, was all these and more. His authentic faith in God, demonstrated by his willingness to let go of Isaac in sacrifice, is praised by the author of our First Reading (Hebrews 1:1-2; 8-19.) In it, we learn that a healthy balance of assurance and conviction enables believers to maintain both the intrinsic and everlasting dimensions of faith. All the faithful are challenged to “let go” of their “Isaacs”—fears, preconceived ideas, possessions and attitudes—that hinder true faith. In doing so, we allow God to become a more recognized and present part of our lives. ~~~ A compilation of parables and sayings on judgment and vigilance, today’s Gospel bears evidence of all three stages of textual development—Jesus, Church, evangelist (Luke 12:32-48.) When Jesus did not return to earth, as expected by the early Christians, the Church celebrated the Holy Eucharist, aware of Jesus’ presence within it—in hopeful anticipation of His Second Coming. This selection underscores the certainty, with which His return is held, and our need for responsible stewardship has not lessened, nor can our attitude of watchfulness be relaxed. (Note: the following message is an excerpt of one that I wrote in 2019. I think it is particularly poignant for today.) Living with Uncertainty Whenever we travel on an airliner, before the flight gets underway, one of the flight attendants dutifully delivers the following statements: “We’d like to acquaint you with some of the safety features of our aircraft.” (Holding up a laminated card, they continue:) “You are advised you may retrieve your personal copy from the pouch in the seat pocket in front of you, and follow along.” Then you will hear instructions on wearing/buckling your seatbelt, how the oxygen masks will deploy “in case of a change in cabin pressure,” and the one of which I’m quite fond: “In case of a water landing, your seat cushion may be used as a flotation device.” (Southwest Airlines crew sometimes say, “In case our flight becomes a cruise….”) Finally, your attention is called to the strip of lights along the floor that will lead you to an emergency exit, “The closest of which may be behind you.” The idea behind all this, aside from the legal considerations, is to help passengers be prepared for the unexpected. Few people pay much attention to these rote speeches, often given in rapid monotone, and, for some passengers, they might even promote anxiety. Today’s Gospel also gives us some instructions regarding the “flight of life,” in which we are all involved. Jesus tells us to “be prepared for the unexpected.” Like faithful servants, we should all keep ourselves in a state of readiness/preparedness—not in fear, but in trust and hope. As some of you know, I suffered an aortic aneurysm, several years ago. It felt like a heart attack, with shortness of breath, chest pains, and pain radiating down my left arm. Upon admittance to the Heart Hospital in Albuquerque, the tests showed a 5-7cm dissection in my ascending aorta, which, had it burst, I learned would have been immediately fatal. There was a discussion about surgery to correct the problem, however, because of its location, I was told closest facility able to perform such an operation was the Hospital at Baylor University, in Dallas, should it have been deemed necessary. Meanwhile, I was to be confined in ICU and the condition would be closely monitored, as I received mitigating pharmaceuticals. My reaction was, “Well, I guess I should get my affairs in order, and say ‘goodbye.’ ” I did just that, and resigned myself to my own “Second Coming of Christ.” Lucky for me, the drugs and rest worked, and the aneurysm was healed* during the course of the next 10-days, as many cat-scans attested. A regimen of further medication, limited stress and rest was prescribed, and I went home, eventually returning to work in a couple weeks. *It was determined [in 2021] that I required a new aortic valve and ascending aorta, and I underwent corrective surgery. The upshot of this affair was my taking an inventory of myself, vis-à-vis my readiness to die. Since that time, I have considered my life a “bonus,” and have attempted to maximize its benefits. I continue in a rather “settled” manner of living, to this very day. Most of us become increasingly aware of how fleeting are the days of our lives and how precarious is the hold we have on them. We are not made of stone, but of very fragile material. Life can be taken away from us in the “twinkling of an eye.” However, life’s brevity and fragility illustrates how precious is the treasure we carry in “earthen vessels.” Jesus was certainly aware of the uncertainty of life. His parable of the “Watchful servants awaiting the master’s return,” stresses that death can come at any moment. It isn’t that God is trying to catch us unaware, like a thief breaking into our house. That would be unthinkable. Death, not God, is the thief that robs us of life. The Faithful Servant Many people believe that happiness lies in having no commitments—no one to whom they must answer; no one whose problems or needs will ever tie them down. But, in fact, the opposite is true. A person’s happiness and fulfillment lie, not in freedom, but in the acceptance of duty. But it must be a duty lovingly accepted, not grimly resigned. Whoever performs only “their duty” is acting in a minimalist fashion. The more difficult the tasks to which we devote ourselves, out of love, the more we will be exalted in the sight of God. The greatest grace in life, the greatest freedom, is finding those things we have to do are really those we “love” to do. Here are a couple inspirational quotes from notable people on this subject: “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I woke and found that life was duty. I acted, and behold duty was joy!” ~~Rabindranath Tagore-1913 Nobel Prize Laureate~~ “Will the day ever come when joy is great and sorrow small? On the day we feel we are living with a duty, well fulfilled and worth our while, on that day joy is great and we can look on sorrow as being small.” ~~Dag Hammarskjold-Secretary General of the UN, 1953~~ May God Richly Bless You! To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/VkaXiJc7H_UGreat Is Thy Faithfulness.docx

July 31st, 2022 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Making Life Meaningful” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Qoheleth*, the ancient philosopher and author, seems to have shared T. S. Eliot’s world view: “The world ends…not with a bang, but with a whimper.” As evident in today’s First Reading, the author conceived that, when all is said and done, the whole of life is a heap of absurdity and ambiguity (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23.) He suggests that all material “things” are inherently lacking, and, in the end, death will “snuff out” even the brightest of life’s moments with utter certainty and finality. All of life, in every aspect, is futile, if viewed apart from God. *Hebrew, for Ecclesiastes ~~~ In today’s Second Reading (Colossians: 3-1-5, 9-11,) †Paul understands and experiences life as a participation in glory and a sure promise of even greater joy in the future—caused by his recognition of God in the person of the incarnate Christ. By the grace of Jesus’ cross, and in the “Man-for-others,” believers have come to a new awareness of human life. Christian life is to be understood as the “consequence” of salvation—directing our daily existence. Throughout our lives, our growth in knowledge will result in the renewal or “re-creation” of believers. ~~~ Jesus, and His “entourage” en route to Jerusalem, could be compared to one of the “walking” academies of ancient Greece (i.e. Aristotle, Plato, etc.) Along the way He educated His disciples in the costs of discipleship and the demands of the Kingdom. Today’s Gospel represents a portion of His apostolic formation, specifically concerned with the appropriate attitude one should hold toward possessions and preparedness for the coming reign of God (Luke 12:13-21.) The heart of Jesus’ exhortation was that we should avoid greed and understand that possessions, even great ones, are no guarantors of eternal life. Life does not consist in material possessions; a person will be valued not for what he/she has, but for what they are and can become. Life is to be seen as “on loan” from God, that could be “called in” at any moment. “Wealth—not a Possession, but Enjoyment It’s not how many possessions we have, but how we enjoy the ones we have, that matters. Many people have lost their capacity for enjoyment, especially those in affluent countries. They feel the need to accumulate “more and more” expensive “gadgets.” They sometimes find it impossible to enjoy the “simple things,” the way a child can. It’s not the amount of money, but our capacity for enjoyment of what we have that makes us rich. Seeking wealth, while having no capacity for enjoyment, is to be like a blind person who collects videos! We can become “possessed” by things. Many are so busy adding to their possessions that they have no time to enjoy life. Prison inmates are among those who have discovered how little one can have and still “get by,” and what extraordinary spiritual freedom and peace that can bring. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, author of “Gulag Archipelago,” writes: “People don’t know what they are striving for. They exhaust themselves in the senseless pursuit of material things, and die without realizing their spiritual greatness.” “People,” said the Little Prince, “rush about in express trains, but they do not know what they are looking for. They raise ten thousand roses in the same garden, and they are not [aware how that for which they search] could be found in a single rose!” When we distinguish between our needs and our wants, we will be surprised to realize how little is enough. If ask ourselves, “What is the purpose of life?” we might llikely conclude it’s surely not about accumulating possessions—which, in any case, will have to be “left behind.” Earthly things can never satisfy the human heart. Only eternal things can bring us the happiness that we seek. What makes us rich in the sight of God is not what we own, or even, what we’ve done, but what we are. Heavenly Glory While out for an evening walk, a man emerged from an area where the streets wire lit by bright lamps, and came into an open, dark place. It was only then he discovered that the sky was full of stars. He thought to himself, “How easily and effectively the earthly lights can extinguish the heavenly ones.” Another story is told about an American Banker who stood on a pier of a coastal Mexican village, where a small boat with one fisherman aboard, docked. Inside the boat were a few, large tuna. The banker complimented the fisherman on his catch, and then asked him, “How long were you out?” “Oh, an hour or two,” came the reply. “Why didn’t you stay out longer, and catch more fish?” “I’ve enough here to meet the immediate needs of my family,” the man said. “But what do you do with the rest of your time,” the banker inquired. “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta in the afternoon, and then stroll into the village in the evening to sip a little wine, strum my guitar and chat with friends.” The banker wasn’t impressed. “You should spend more time fishing. Then, with the proceeds, you could buy a bigger boat; then several more, until you had a fleet of them. After that, you could open your own processing factory and cannery. Of course, you would need to leave this village and move to Mexico City, or Los Angeles, and eventually to New York, from where you could run your expanding business.” “How long would all this take,” the fisherman wondered. “Maybe about 20-years,” said the Banker. “And what then?” the fisherman wondered. “When the time is right, you could take your company public and make millions!” “Then what?” asked the fisherman. “Then you could retire to a small coastal town, where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your children, take a siesta in the afternoon, and stroll into the village in the evening to have some fun with your friends.” “What do you think I’m doing, right now?” asked the fisherman…. Let us pray: “Lord, help us to seek the things that make us rich in Your sight, and grant that the glitter of this world may not dim our hopes of heavenly glory.” May God Richly Bless You! To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/d7DrJ1IyvcoWhat Shall I Render?.docx

July 24th, 2022 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time In any language—the perfect prayer A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Ask, Seek and Knock” Reflections on Today’s Scripture I’ve always been amused at the idea of a person having the hubris of “negotiating” with Almighty God, as Abraham does, in our First Reading (Genesis 18:20-32.) In his pleading for God to spare Sodom, he takes the position that there must be some “good people” in the city that do not deserve to be destroyed with the evil ones. With this assumption, he attempts to “sway” God to his point of view. Along the way, Abraham acts the part of the “buyer in a bazaar,” willing to “lower his price,” to achieve an equitable bargain…with God…. This presumptive tack is common of prophets and holy men throughout the Old Testament, who have a special relationship with God through which they can affect the Creator’s decisions. Such a lively dialogue between a human and God is in keeping with their profound understanding of Him: “He is a transcendent God, not a remote God…and surely not a “fearsome” God.” ~~~ In today’s Second Reading (Colossians 2:12-14,) we learn that because Christ is in His body, which is the Church, it follows that His life, death and resurrection are continuing, abiding realities within it. Because Christ, “the Head,” has died to “flesh,” with all its demands, the Christian should no longer submit oneself solely to human traditions. Baptism is the Christian’s integration into Christ’s death and resurrection, through which one dies (to sin) and rises, spiritually (to life.) This “new life” must then be developed through a life-long struggle against all that threatens it. ~~~ †Luke has provided a wholly credible setting for the Lord’s prayer in our Gospel, today (Luke 11:1-13.) Distinct from followers of †John the Baptist, the disciples saw themselves as a “group apart,” and sought “their own” prayer. Ever since that time, it has remained the characteristic Christian prayer. †Luke’s rendition reflects the modest pattern of day-by-day Christian living in his version (see Matthew 6:9-13, for comparison.) Commenting on the secular nature of the modern world, G.K. Chesterton has remarked that “Christianity has not failed, because it has not [yet] been tried!” We see our need for communicating with the Father throughout our lives as paramount to “walking the road” to our salvation. “Saying” our Prayers When most people “pray,” they think of some rote sentences they address to God, or Jesus or some holy person they revere, like Jesus’ mother, Mary. Over time, these utterances (or thoughts, if one prays “wordlessly,”) take on an automatic nature, and occur with little thought to the actual “words” they contain. Contemplatives, those people whose life is spent in solitude, and introspection, like monks in a monastery, also have difficulty in getting to the “heart” of the matter, when it comes to prayer. They spend many years diligently working to focus their mental energies on the specific nature of their prayer, in order to best attempt to communicate with the Almighty. Like any skill, however, we find that “praying” isn’t something that comes easily to most of us. We are self-absorbed in our normal daily life routines, and only occasionally, can we separate those distractions from our consciousness sufficiently, in order to concentrate on the meaning of our prayers. Most religious organizations, notably Catholicism, are replete with written, published prayers “for all occasions.” Raised in such a culture, it’s only natural for participants to learn that prayer means “reciting what they have memorized,” or read. Children, especially, are trained from an early age to memorize and recite the “Sign of the Cross,” the “Lord’s Prayer,” the “Hail Mary,” and many more familiar prayers—offered for their families and loved ones, for example, in a “nightly ritual.” As they mature, they are included in the formality of the Holy Mass, and dutifully, (if reluctantly,) attend with their parents, on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. I recall seeing families with multiple children “spread out” along the pews in Church, growing up, and hearing my parents comment on how lovely it was to see them there, in their “Sunday finery.” (Most of us remember being clothed in our “Sunday best,” which was ordinarily removed, upon returning home, in order to keep it looking “fresh.”) Later, as our Church-going continued, special “classes” were developed for children to attend, in which specific instruction would be offered to those who did not attend parochial schools. (Our Protestant brethren called this “Sunday School,” for their participants.”) We see characterizations of these gatherings in familiar TV shows, particularly “Young Sheldon,” wherein the tenets of their particular variety of Christianity is shared by a pastor or “Youth Leader,” in classroom-like settings. But as we reach adulthood, and we take the time to consider the true meaning of our prayers, some of us have given special effort to make them “significant,” and “purposeful.” Some groups even devote specific attention to the various “needs” of their members, and attempt to address them, in “group prayers,” especially during gatherings for “Bible Study.” During my formation period, and even earlier, as I prepared myself to receive Holy Orders to the priesthood, I spent numerous hours pouring over tomes devoted to religious subjects, philosophies and commentaries on the Holy Books, especially, the Bible. As I did so, I formulated an understanding, albeit rudimentary, of what “prayer” actually consists. My doctoral thesis, “The Efficacy of Prayer,” in fact, was devoted to this very question. Early childhood indoctrination consists in praying “for” some specific intention—the well-being of loved ones, living and dead, and/or the successful completion of their particular pursuits, i.e. recovery from illness, safety during travel, etc. These days, it’s not unusual for religious groups to have a “prayer team,” whose sole purpose consists in learning of the needs of their members and friends, and concentrating their prayer “intentions” on their behalf. We regularly hear the phrase, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you…” during some difficult time. (The intention thus expressed, has the hopeful effect of giving suffering people some solace that their plight is not being suffered “alone,” and perhaps, easing their “burden.” Without specific “follow-up” efforts, however, sometimes such words can fall short, even to the point of inspiring “bitterness.”) It occurred to me that such efforts may not have particular effectiveness, considering our belief that God is omnipotent—knowing everything, past, present and future about…everything and everyone. If we presume to bring our intentions “to His attention,” are we affirming our belief in this power? If we do, we must realize that He is “aware” of our needs, and our plights, sufferings and our wishes, surely, far more than any of us will ever be. If there were anything that was “planned” by Him, to affect a particular outcome, say, wouldn’t it already be “in His mind” to do it? Nonetheless, it is good that we persist in our prayers, particularly, the Lord’s Prayer, as we have it in today’s Gospel from †Luke, and either hope that our reverence and spiritual longings will be “heard,” by God, or that by praying, we become more spiritual in our everyday lives. If that, indeed, occurs, then, we may be moved to “take action” to prevent or ameliorate the suffering or injustice that has befallen others. The Liturgy of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is, to my mind, the most thoroughly thought-out and Biblically-rooted prayer that has ever been composed. My focus, as presider, during the Mass, is solely directed in offering the most reverent and diligent effort that my human abilities allow. In this way, I am hopeful that those who partake of the Sacrament with me will be suitably moved to spiritual understanding and appreciation for its multi-variate purpose—bringing us closer, in communion with Creator, as we relive the ultimate sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. May God Richly Bless You! "I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right; but it is always my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation may be on the Lord's side." ~~Abraham Lincoln~~ To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/g41wwZWqR_g Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.docx

July 17th, 2022 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mary intently listens to Jesus’ lesson A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Hospitality” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Our Scripture lessons today deal with “hospitality.” Like a finely choreographed and intricate dance, the process of accepting outsiders into one’s home and turning them from strangers to guest was governed by specific rules and principles. Our First Reading (Genesis 18:1-10,) relates how Abraham entertains God and two companions in his tent—a familiar story style of this era—when it was thought “normal” for God to take on human form. Similar accounts of humans entertaining the gods and/or goddesses while unaware of their true identity were common among the mythologies of the ancient world. Usually, in these accounts, blessings were heaped upon the human host in proportion to his/her hospitality. Abraham supplies a lavish meal for the trio, and true to form, he hears that Sarah will bear a child. ~~~ In today’s Second Reading (Colossians 1:24-28,) †Paul recounts his suffering for the sake of the Gospel, even rejoicing in it, because he sees it as the completion of Christ’s suffering for the Church. He advises us to suffer patiently, as well, inasmuch as Christ has endured the ultimate—death on the Cross for our sins. ~~~ Our Gospel selection today strikingly exemplifies the familiar relationship between the family at Bethany and Jesus (Luke 10:38-42.) The exasperated Martha does not hesitate to point out that it is partly Jesus’ fault that she is left on her own to make all the preparations for His visit; while Mary is presented as the ideal disciple, sitting at the Lord’s feet in rapt attention. The story could be understood as presenting the superiority of the contemplative life over the active life. However, in consideration of the depths to which hospitality was ingrained into the culture of the day, we have adequate cause for confusion. The lesson for us should be that Christian service is the fruit of contemplation. Setting Priorities Most people have difficulty in establishing a degree of importance to their activities, and simply take them “one at a time.” Often, this means that those things that have more pressing impact on their lives are left until some random order allows their completion. We see this in the case of our Gospel story, today, as Martha is consumed with her duties as “host.” She laments her sister not helping her with the details, and foregoes any particular enjoyment or fulfillment from her guest. We may, indeed, have sympathy for Martha, and wonder why Jesus seems to be unappreciative of her ministrations. Instead, He made a point for the benefit of people like Martha, who are essentially generous people, but over-anxious about getting things done. Always anxious and worried, she was the “slave” to her duties. Most tasks we face fall into one of two categories: Urgent ones, and Essential ones. In fact, however many seem urgent, only a few actually turn out to be essential. Most of us tend toward completing those pressing tasks before us, without considering their true relevance. The best way to tell what our actual priorities are is to reflect on our normal behavior. Whether or not we realize it, those activities to which we devote the majority of our time and energy are, in fact, those we consider most important. Sometimes, it might require some tragedy to befall us, for us to put things into perspective. Consider if you suddenly contracted a terminal illness…or suffered a tragic accident. Most likely, then, you would realize that most of what consumes your daily routine is trivial, and even, insignificant. Although most people would identify with Martha, who was busy about many things, yet constantly short of time. We might call such people “workaholics.” But we need to look beyond the daily chores and urgencies. We need to devote more time to ourselves—above all we need time for reflection. Mary had her priorities straight—dropping everything to listen to the Words of Jesus. In doing so, she was devoting herself to what she undoubtedly understood was the most important: sitting at the feet of the Master. If we could regularly spend some quiet time in quiet meditation, everything in our lives would benefit—our spirituality, our relationships, even our work. Action and contemplation are not meant to be contrasted. Both are necessary, and have to be integrated into our lives. Giving and Receiving Self-centered people hate to “receive,” because it makes them feel inferior and indebted to others. Perhaps unconsciously, on the other hand, they love to “give,” because it inflates their ego, thereby making them feel superior to others. This may be, in part, why it is so difficult for medical professionals to become “patients.” They are so used to being ‘in charge” of the care for others, and they haven’t honed their abilities to receive care. Of course, giving is important—but so also is receiving. None of us is truly self-sufficient—we are all incomplete, and need to receive from one another…and especially from God. It’s nothing less than tragic to be unable to receive God’s grace. This is, perhaps, best illustrated by the way we “pray.” Most of the time, when someone prays, they are the ones “speaking,” albeit to God. In a sense, they are “saying prayers,” rather than actually “praying.” The words we express with our lips are often simply waves on the surface of our being. The highest form of worship…is silence. Merely being in the presence of God, without saying or doing anything, is not an easy thing to do. As soon as we stop, we might feel empty—even useless. This is because most of us derive our sense of self-worth from “doing.” We often don’t know how to cope with idleness and stillness. The result is our lives may become shallow and superficial. There are those who equate love of God with social action. Just as prayer can become a “cop-out,” or escape, so can social action. Without meditative prayer, such efforts can become totally self-directed and self-propelled, rather than inspired. Ultimately, prayer becomes not about “the words,” but about communion with the Creator. Dedicated contemplatives have reported that when they sit, silently, they become enwrapped in His presence. So, at a casual glance, it may seem that Mary’s part in our story was the easier—all she had to do was sit, quietly—and Martha’s the more difficult. On reflection, however, we can understand that, at least sometimes, giving someone our undivided attention is more challenging. Such wholehearted attention may not be “easy,” but it’s tremendously fruitful, spiritually. May God Richly Bless You! "It's not a crime to be human. We will do things imperfectly, and the grace of God can handle that. God will address the issues in our lives and teach us what we need to know. He will gently correct us, and we are safe with Him. ~~Pope Francis~~ More Precious than Silver:I Stand in Awe.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/LjzRk97Ucoc

July 10th, 2022 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Good Samaritan takes victim to lodging A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Christian Love Guided by Faith” Reflections on Today’s Scripture The book of Deuteronomy represents an original and bold synthesis of Israel’s sacred traditions, rites and institutions. Our First Reading (Deuteronomy 30:10-14,) is taken from a section of the book thought to have been composed for the purpose of moral instruction during the Babylonian exile. As a principle of life, the Law revealed God’s will, not as a controlling or constricting force from without, but as an inspiring and motivating principle from within. ~~~ Today’s Second Reading (Colossians 1:15-20,) asserts the primacy of Christ, over and a above the angels; the value and necessity of the cross; and the cosmic effects of salvation. From this, we understand that Christ, made present in an active manner on earth, acts in the person of God as both His helper in creation, and the pure emanation from the Almighty. Jesus is not a static representation, but the actual counterpart of God in the visible world, with power over all creatures and powers. Jesus is proclaimed as Lord from all eternity and forever. ~~~ The Jews interpreted “neighbor,” as one’s fellow countrymen. In today’s Gospel, we once again hear the parable of the Good Samaritan, uniquely presented by\ †Luke, to serve as an explanation of the ramifications of loving one’s neighbor as oneself (Luke 10:25-37.) In it, †Luke succeeds by illustrating Christian commitment as a challenge that questions traditional values, and shatters stereotypical modes of behavior, as it offers the new and radical alternative of life, motivated by love. In so doing, “neighbor,” was thereafter understood to be defined not in terms of territorial proximity or of national allegiance, but in terms of benevolence and need. The Road from Jerusalem to Jericho “A man was going down the road from….” Jesus doesn’t attach any religious or social labels to the man, though it is reasonable to assume he was a Jew. Whether he was a good man, a bad man, important or unimportant man, seem to be irrelevant. All that matters was that he was human being. “He was set upon by bandits….” Heartless, violent men, who prey upon the weak exist in the real world. We know about them, as well. “A priest and a Levite saw him lying there, half-dead….but passed him by.” We know that these were religious people, yet they felt no compassion for the wounded man. Religion without compassion is a contradiction. Without compassion, one can’t call oneself a true human being, let alone a truly religious person. “A Samaritan came along….” He saw the wounded man, felt compassion for him, and came at once to his aid. He didn’t worry about the trouble it might have caused him, nor was he put off by the fact the man was a Jew. (We know that Jews and Samaritans were enemies at the time) At the start of the story, we know very little about the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan. And, by the end of the story, we don’t know much more. Yet, we know all that matters. We know the kind of people they were. Their characters have been revealed to us. We see the priest and the Levite as “self-centered” people. When the “crunch” came, they put themselves first. The Samaritan, on the other hand, was an unselfish person—putting the injured person “first.” The priest and Levite were guilty of the sin of “omission.” These may be our “worst” sins, but most of us think, that as long as we don’t “do any harm,” to anyone…we’re “okay.” But, possibly, might we have watched someone being hurt, and not intervened on their behalf? Some people see themselves as blameless, as long as they stay “distanced” from anyone in trouble…thinking, “I didn’t want to get involved….” The Samaritan in our story was one who cared—deeply. Such people are very special, and we think of them as “salt of the earth,” and “light of the world.” Their care doesn’t arise from a sense of “duty,” but because their hearts will not allow them to do otherwise! We each have the capacity to care—small opportunities to show it come our way every day. If it’s within our power to say a kind word; or offer a little sympathy; or give some small support; these little “drops of oil and wine,” may serve to take some of the pain out of a wound. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho represents the road of life we each trod. At the end of the story, Jesus said to the lawyer, who questioned our Blessed Lord about the way to serve his neighbor: “Go, and act like the Samaritan!” These words are spoken to us, too…and since we are still “on the road,” we can still carry them out…. Spontaneous Goodness There is a story about a traveler in Alaska, who, while driving his motor home along the highway, suffered a breakdown. His axle had broken, and he found himself stranded in what seemed to be a forsaken wilderness. Although he couldn’t see any signs of civilization for miles around, he decided to walk, in hope of finding someone to help him. He left his family, and pressed on. After a few miles, he had a stroke of luck—he came upon a farm house. Telling the farmer about his predicament, he found him quite sympathetic. Fortunately, he had welding equipment, and agreed to tow the motor home to his yard with his tractor. In short order, the farmer completed the repair on the broken axle. The tourist reached for his wallet, asking, “how much do I owe you”? “You don’t owe me anything,” the farmer said. “But I feel I should pay you for what you have done for me.” “You have already done so,” replied the farmer. “I don’t understand,” he told him. “You have given me the pleasure of your company for a couple hours.” The man was stunned, but delighted, at having encountered such generosity. People like that restore our belief in the essential goodness of human beings. Goodness is as much a mystery as evil. But whereas evil saddens and depresses us, goodness delights and inspires us! The highest state we can attain is when goodness becomes an easy “flow of grace,” uncalculating and natural. When it falls from us without our notice, as a leaf from a tree, it’s clear we are dealing with an act of spontaneity. Such people typically don’t think they have done anything “special.” For some, generosity consists in a few sporadic acts; for others, it is a way of life. One can arrive at this happy state only by long practice. It is not achieved by a few “great deeds,” but by many “little ones.” Great things are not done by impulse, but are a series of small things put together. The real reward for a good deed is that it makes the next good deed easier. Every little action of the common day makes or unmakes our character… May God Richly Bless You! "Like the Good Samaritan, may we not be ashamed of touching the wounds of those who suffer, but try to heal them with concrete acts of love." ~~Pope Francis~~ Believer's Prayer.docx

June 3rd, 2022 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Christ sends out the disciples A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Venturing Out as Christ’s Disciples” Reflections on Today’s Scripture At the beginning of its history as a people, the covenant by which Israel was related to God, was likened to a marriage bond. The “wilderness years,” when Israel was totally dependent upon Yahweh for guidance, sustenance and protection, were compared to the intimacy of a honeymoon. The exile in Babylon, with its shame and banishment from their homeland, was regarded as a period of forced separation from Israel’s beloved spouse. Consequently, the return from exile was considered a reconciliation. In our First Reading, today, the nuptial imagery has come to full flower in the picture of Jerusalem as a loving mother, nourishing and comforting her children in fulfilled peace (Isaiah 66:10-14.) Loved and forgiven by the Lord, Jerusalem was to become for all other peoples the sacrament of divine love and forgiveness. ~~~ Today’s Second Reading, part of the conclusion of †Paul’s message to the churches of Galatia, represents his personal authentication of the letter (Galatians 6:14-18.) Besides assuring its recipients that the message had originated with †Paul, the conclusion to Galatians is also a recapitulation of the major themes of the letter. Because of the “Christ-event,” †Paul regarded himself as crucified to the world. Christ’s death and resurrection, symbolized by the cross, were not simply events that produced benefits for the believer, but the cross is an event in which the believer himself participates. †Paul understood his physical, emotional and psychological sufferings as having a prophetic value. Only those who have endured a share in the cross are capable of fueling the revolution that will change the world. ~~~ On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus performed many signs that revealed God’s power in Him. He cast out demons, overcame illness, forgave sins, warned of those dangers that worked against the Kingdom and challenged His followers in the hard lessons of discipleship (Luke 10:1-2, 17-20.) When they went forth from Him, bearing the message of “peace,” to each welcoming home, the disciples were, in effect, bringing the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. He cautioned them that some would reject His message of peace, and thereby, would be more culpable and would judged more severely. As His emissaries, Jesus’ disciples would, during His earthly ministry and during the continued ministry of the Church after His resurrection, share in His power over evil and in His responsibility for goodness in the world. He taught them that discipleship requires little equipment, much grace and great perseverance. Bearers of Peace Rather than simply the absence of war or conflict, peace implies openness, friendship, tolerance, good will, hospitality and reconciliation. It disposes us to reach out to others, helping to break down barriers of suspicion, fear, prejudice and bigotry. Working for peace means welcoming people close to us, those who annoy us or disagree with us and also, those who provoke anguish within us. To take the path of peace is to accept people as they are, with all their limitations and weaknesses. The people with whom we need to make peace usually are not our friends, but our enemies! During Holy Mass, we hear the priest say, “May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.” What a wonderful gift is being offered to us—the peace of Christ, a peace which the world cannot give. Then we are invited to “offer each other a sign of peace.” The hand with which we reach out to our neighbor is the same one with which we receive Jesus in Holy Communion! We come to Holy Mass to receive blessings from our Blessed Lord. If we take nothing else away but “peace,” our time would be well spent. We must be prepared to give back something of which we have received. The end of Mass is not like the end of a football game, or a film, where we simply “get up and leave.” At the end of Mass, we are “sent forth,” having received the peace of Christ. We are then sent out as ambassadors of that peace to others. To be effective messengers of peace, three things are needed: we must have peace, ourselves; we have to be willing to share that peace with others; and the other person has to be willing to receive it from us. The harvest is great; the opportunities for sharing peace, for making peace, are many. We may not always succeed, because it takes at least two to make peace. The great danger is that we might allow people to take our peace away from us. This happens any time we become angry, hostile, bitter or vengeful; when others do not respond favorably to us. We have to accept that our peace will not always be accepted. It may come back to us like the echo of our own voice. But, at least, we ought to try. In a world torn apart by rivalry, anger and hatred, we have the challenging vocation to be living signs of love, that can bridge divisions and heal wounds. The Harvest is Great For those with eyes to see it and a heart to respond to it, there is a harvest to be had in our hospital, homes, schools, prisons, workplaces and neighborhoods. Every day is harvest day…. Most people are quite content to leave the work of ministry to specialists: priests, nuns, missionaries; those who became Christ’s instruments. Few things help individuals more than when responsibility is placed upon us, and letting Him know you trust Him. †Luke is the only evangelist who tells us of the sending of 72 disciples. Jesus steered them to goals beyond themselves by making them His apostles. We also are asked to share with others what we have received from Jesus. There are things that will remain “undone” if we don’t do them. We lift ourselves up in proportion as we help to lift others. To be an apostle is to become one who is sent. One doesn’t have to be some kind of genius, or superhuman person to be able to do Christ’s work. There is a difference between an apostle and a genius, that has little to do with talent or intelligence; it has everything to do with purpose and commitment. Just because we are called doesn’t mean we become more intelligent, or more imaginative than we would have otherwise become. We must still rely on our native gifts. But by having more purpose, more dedication than otherwise, we can make a huge difference in the world. May God Richly Bless You! God is our Refuge.docx

June 26th, 2022 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Becoming ‘Fit’ For God’s Kingdom” Reflections on Today’s Scripture [Note: The reference above, to “Ordinary Time,” in the Liturgy, applies to the Sundays between the “high feasts and seasons.” During this time, we dwell on the myriad teachings of Ancient Scripture and those of Jesus’ life on earth.] Today’s First Reading focuses on the “call” of Elisha to become a prophet (1 Kings 19:16-21.) It is meaningful for us, because we all are called to be disciples of “The Word” to the world. We hear of the prophet Elijah’s gesture of “throwing his cloak” over Elisha, which symbolizes a transfer of power, and also prefigures the “laying on of hands” in our modern sacramental ordination and confirmation ceremonies. Elisha’s willingness to abandon his former life is made evident to us as his total commitment to become Elijah’s follower. ~~~ †Paul, (the former Pharisee, Saul,) believed passionately in freedom, having known, too long, the “slavery” of a rigid religious on one’s free will—experienced due to the “bondage” of law and precept. Our Second Reading (Galatians 5:1-18,) relates to us the account of Christ having set him free from all that, in which he reveled. Aching for his disciples to similarly value their freedom, he felt sadness and anger when they did not truly appreciate it. The responsibility of conscience for their choices was compelling, because Christian freedom is never license to “do as one pleases,” but is always motivated—and constrained—by love. He contrasts the Spirit of God with unredeemed humanity, turned in and upon itself. If one’s thoughts and actions proceed from the Spirit, they are holy; but if from carnal flesh, they are debased. ~~~ We begin a new section, “the travel account,” in today’s Gospel (Luke 9:51-62.) The sayings and narratives come from Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, toward the end of His earthly ministry. His encounter with a would-be disciple emphasizes Jesus’ stressing that missionary activities would “become consuming,” and leave no room for “secular” pursuits. In forthright language, He says that sacrifice and total self-commitment are demanded of a disciple. That role does not, however, consist in zealous punishment of those who reject Jesus and His mission. Rather, life’s most painful choices are often not between good and evil, but between “the good,” and “the best;” giving oneself to “proclaiming the kingdom,” without reserve; like the astute farmer must give his whole attention to ploughing a straight furrow. Restraint from Retaliation In Jesus’ time, Samaritans and Jews were mutual enemies. So, when the Samaritans heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, they refused to receive Him. Indignantly, James and John howled for revenge, and called for Jesus to “hit back,” and call down “fire from heaven” on an entire village. This is an apt example of “tribalism,” wherein total loyalty to one’s own is demanded, no matter if the tribe is right or wrong. The apostle’s idea was outrageous, but according to their way of thinking, those who opposed them were not just their enemies, but God’s, too! Jesus’ response, as they should have realized, was to “rise above” such behavior. More courage and strength is demanded not to retaliate against someone. To “walk away” from a disagreement or a fight demands great self-control. To “give-up” control to an antagonist may be seen as weakness, but for Jesus, it was necessary in order to promote love and respect. A weak person thinks they must “win;” the strong one, however, knows they need not triumph in every conflict. Jesus’ teaching of non-violence and non-retaliation requires exceptional strength and an unique kind of love. Truly, evil must be resisted, but not if it means doing further evil. We can only overcome it by doing good. Religious fervor can fuel conflicts, as history attests, but religion can also help us go beyond them. Violence begets violence, but Christ challenges us to respond to darkness with light—to the worst in the “other” with the best in “ourselves.” Escalation of evil can only be stopped by one who humbly absorbs it, without passing it on…. Dogged Determination It has often been said that to achieve any worthy goal, one must first articulate what it is that they seek, and then fully theorize what it will be like to have attained it. In so doing, it becomes “tangible” to us, and we see ourselves in possession of it, long before we actually realize it. The next step in the process is to conceptualize all the “intermediate steps” needed. This way, we won’t labor in vain before we are equipped to possess our prize. This is the manner in which all great artists have said they prepared themselves in order to create their masterpieces. Michelangelo is rumored to have once said about his famous statue, David, that he simply had to “remove all the granite that wasn’t David,” in order to sculpt it. Artur Rubenstein similarly said, when embarking on perfecting a new piece of music, “I see myself physically performing the work, from the very first instant I see the music.” Then he sets out to diligently practice all the parts of the piece, until he is able to assemble them into the final performance. In his book, Psycho-Cybernetics, plastic surgeon, Maxwell Maltz, postulated the human mind to be like a cybernetic organism—one that instinctively delineates possible pathways toward a targeted goal. When we focus our energies on our eventual end-game, our minds naturally conceive the preliminary steps required to achieve it—much like a torpedo speeding toward its intended mark. For some, these might appear too daunting, causing them to yield to temptation and “shortcut” the process—resorting to “quick-fixes,” rather than making an ardent effort. Almost always, this leads to frustration and failure. Jesus showed His determination to reach Jerusalem, and didn’t allow the resistance of the Samaritans to deter Him from His goal. He also stressed to His would-be followers the necessity of forthright resolve required to be His disciples, admonishing them from “looking back” to their former lives. In doing so, He showed them their attention and their energy would be divided. We must be fully committed to our task, or we will lose sight of our goal, becoming tempted to “turn back,” or even quit, altogether. Our resolve may also be weakened by “second thoughts,” doubts and regrets. The cost of the journey may seem “too high,” and we may instead think of other things we have given up, that still “tug” at our hearts. But if we keep “looking forward,” our undivided attention will be given to our chosen task. We will become fully committed, and whole-hearted. With the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will have great strength and all our resources will be enlisted and harnessed. We will not be easily sidetracked, and so have an excellent chance of realizing our goal. Finally, we will know the “joy of the dedicated,” and in due time, be made fit for the Kingdom. May God Richly Bless You! "Disciples live so the characteristics of Christ are woven into the fiber of their beings, as a spiritual tapestry." ~~Robert D. Hales~~ O Clap Your Hands.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/m4Gch_8AUd8

June 19th, 2022 Feast of Corpus Christi The Body and Blood of Christ A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “Sharing Life with Christ” Reflections on Today’s Scripture The whole passage (Genesis 14:1-24,) is an intriguing episode, appearing abruptly in the Genesis narrative. Our selection (vs 18-20,) has been inserted into the story of Abraham’s encounter with the king of Sodom. It is probably this “Melchizedek incident,” which explains the importance of the whole passage in the mind of the compiler, and the reason why it was included in Abraham’s story. (Melchizedek—a heathen king—is mentioned two other places in Scripture [Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7]—but today’s Reading underlies the political and religious status of David.) It justifies Israel’s ancient connection with Jerusalem and the right that the king and the priesthood held over Israel. The Christian tradition of the bread and wine are seen here to prefigure the Holy Eucharist. ~~~ The striking point in our Second Reading—the earliest account of the institution of the Holy Eucharist (1 Corinthians 11:23-26,)–is that †Paul does not think of the Holy Eucharist and Christ’s presence within it in a “static way.” In dynamic terms, he shows it to have lasting and definitive consequences for the life of the people who are included in the “New and Everlasting Covenant,”—(words of the Consecration of the wine, at Holy Mass.) Two other phrases, “in Memory of Me,” and, “until He comes,” recall the Jewish Passover prayer, (that God may remember the Messiah, and that His kingdom may come—from the Lord’s prayer.) This “memorial” links the Holy Eucharist with the past, and also looks forward to the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom. ~~~ In today’s Gospel selection (Luke 9:11-17,) the Eucharistic significance of the multiplication of the loaves is brought out, cleverly and economically, by the use of familiar liturgical language—“Jesus took; blessed; broke; gave.” This was a meal of the Messiah “with His own,” wherein He was acting as host, at an extraordinary meal. In so doing, Jesus showed us that He would preside over the Messianic Banquet and bring salvation to His people. This can be appreciated in remembering when Yahweh providing manna for the people in the desert and Elisha similarly distributed bread to his followers (Exodus 16; and 2 Kings 4.) Just as Jesus fed the crowd and healed them, in the Holy Eucharist, the Church continues the missions of Jesus to teach, to heal and to nourish the people of God. The Nourishment Jesus Gives Us Jesus saw the multitude gathered to hear Him with compassion—as if they were “sheep” without a shepherd. Drawn to Him by the magnetism of His words and the warmth of His personality, they heard Him teach them about the Kingdom of Heaven; and saw Him heal the sick. Finishing in the late afternoon, when everyone was tired and hungry, the apostles urged Him to send them away. Instead, He worked a great miracle to feed them. One can imagine how happy they were when they returned to their homes! “Breaking bread,” was, and continues to be, the common phrase used to signify a communal meal. From ancient times, this has signified a gathering of intimates, where food and fellowship are shared. It’s no mystery why Jesus utilized this custom to encapsulate the custom of the Holy Eucharist, which we encounter at the celebration of every Holy Mass. As the new People of God, we find Jesus in our midst, sharing His words through Scripture—living words that console, inspire and challenge us. We also experience healing of wounds, our divisions among people and healing of our isolation from one another. We are also healed of our selfishness and indifference to others, and formed into a community of love. Finally, we are nourished by the food of the Holy Eucharist—“Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you shall not have life in you” (John 6:53.) At the end of Mass, we are not simply dismissed, but sent forth as bearers of life to others. As they proclaim the paschal mystery of Jesus, the pilgrim People of God advance towards the heavenly banquet, when all the “elect*” will be seated at the table of the Kingdom. “In Memory of Me” At one time or another, most of us have felt we have been “left behind,” “ignored,” or “passed over.” It can be very painful to not be recognized for our contributions, and be treated as if we don’t really matter. But something worse can happen to us: we could be forgotten. This is to be treated not just as if we were of “little account,” but of “no account at all”—as if we didn’t exist…. All of us yearn to be remembered. It is said that people do not fear death as much as the possibility of being forgotten. Jesus also wanted to be remembered. As He sat at table with His friends, on that Holy Thursday evening, He utilized the ancient ritual of “breaking bread,” which became the first Holy Eucharist celebration. Every time we celebrate the Holy Mass, we recall some of the wonderful things He said and did. Reflecting upon them, we try to apply them to our lives. When we remember Jesus in this way, He becomes “present” for us—not simply as a “reenactment,” but as a true “memorial.” We believe in the “real presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. This is what sets us apart from all other Christians, who only “ceremoniously” remember the event. For us, the Eucharist is the actual body and the actual blood of Jesus Christ, made present for us in the sacred words of consecration. This is the miracle of transubstantiation—wherein the “physical elements” (bread, wine,) appear the same, but the “substance” becomes Christ’s actual body and blood. In Holy Communion, a physical and spiritual bond is forged between our Savior and us, with the result that we are able to enter into a deeper intimacy with Him, than would be the case if He were merely physically present as another human being in our midst. This is not simply communication, but a true communion with Him. Memory is a precious faculty, so much so, that when people’s memories fade, as in those afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, we can empathize with the devastation that brings. Memory connects people and events that are no longer present. When they are brought to mind, they are not just ephemeral, but become truly present; something we feel, rather than see. When we remember people who have died, in this way, we reap a harvest from what they sowed while they were among us. How much more fruitful it is to remember Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, in the way He asked to be remembered! A Parting Thought †Paul’s account of the institution of the Holy Eucharist begins “On the night He was betrayed….” It’s interesting to reflect on how Jesus treated Judas’ betrayal. He had been with the apostles throughout Jesus’ ministry, sharing their fellowship and their trust. When He betrayed Jesus, one can only imagine how very painful it was for our Savior. However, unlike most people, He didn’t “hit back” at Judas, or expose him in front of the others. In giving Him a morsel of the bread (His Body,) a gesture of His friendship, He let him know that He was aware of what He had been planning. In refusing to point the finger at him, He left the door open for Judas to return to the “fold.” Judas’ actions hurt the other apostles, too. In betraying Jesus, he betrayed his friends, as well. Nonetheless, we don’t remember that night for Judas’ betrayal. We remember it for the gift that Jesus left us in spite of the betrayal. Conscientiously received, the Holy Eucharist will help us recover from any betrayals we have suffered at the hands of others, also. …Moreover, it should help us avoid betraying anyone else…. May God Richly Bless You! "Proclaiming the death, according to the flesh of the only-begotten Son of God, that is, Jesus Christ; Confessing His resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven, we offer the unbloody sacrifice in the churches. We are sanctified; having received His holy flesh and the precious Blood of Christ, the Savior of us all." ~~Council of Ephesus, ca. 431 A.D.~~ Come, Share this Feast of Love.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/P08yat3no70 *The ”elect”—those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, and have followed His commandments.

June 12th, 2022 Feast of the Blessed Trinity The Blessed Trinity A Message from Father †Michael Today’s Theme: “The Indefinable Mystery of God” Reflections on Today’s Scripture Our First Reading is taken from the latest part of the book of Proverbs, written well after the return from the exile of the Jews in Babylon—a time when Israel had to come to understand more deeply her perception of “Wisdom” (Proverbs 8:22-31.) From an initial concept of practicality—how to succeed in life; acceptance of suffering and loss—it became the realization that wisdom was the power by which God acts in the world; and thus, the essence of God, Himself. Often personified, “Lady Wisdom” is claimed to be God’s first-born child, delighting in the Supreme Presence, as well as at home in the company of human beings. Through Her, God’s creation becomes an act of communication; through Her, He “delights in the children of men”; through Her intimacy with God, She reveals the key to the ultimate meaning of life to humankind. ~~~ †Paul’s epistles, of the past several weeks, have discussed the human condition without Christ, and the act of justification by faith in Jesus. In today’s Second Reading he illustrates the first consequence of justification: “peace with God,” defining a proper relationship with Him and the enjoyment of His divine blessings (Romans 5:1-5.) Hostility and alienation, earlier outlined, has everafter been overcome through the passion, death and resurrection of our Blessed Lord. His grace gives rise to the firm hope of our sharing in God’s glory. This builds character, and enables us to persevere despite all odds—with the power to resist evil…because “character” produces hope. The Holy Spirit is not only a gift, but stands as witness to the outpouring of God’s divine love. ~~~ In today’s Gospel selection the Holy Spirit becomes “the Spirit of Truth” (John 16: 12-15.) This Spirit carries on the work of Christ after He departed to the Father. Differing from Jesus, in that He is “not corporeal,” (lacks a “body,”) the Spirit is present, dwelling within the disciples, as our teacher. Only after Jesus’ glorification could they have understood what was said and done during His ministry. Ever since that time, the Paraclete has continued to guide all successive generations of mankind, in the true meaning of Jesus’ teachings. Images of God If we take the time to appreciate all the wonders around us, we can readily observe God’s handiwork. But to actually “see God,” one cannot simply look at “things,” rather, we must look “within ourselves” to find Him. Until we discover Him, He will always be remote from us, and appear unfriendly and uncaring. One God in three persons denotes a God, Who is within us, and yet utterly beyond us. This is a great mystery, but it is one of love. God is greater than all of creation. We can never fully comprehend God. We struggle to understand even earthly things, so how can we grasp heavenly things? Only the gift of Wisdom can help us understand the ways of God. It’s a sad state of affairs, that people can know the truths of the faith, and yet not know God…. It is very important to have the correct image of God. If we get that wrong, everything else will be “out of focus.” We wouldn’t be able to pray properly or have a proper relationship with Him if we have a false or inadequate image of Him. The Christian properly sees life as a response to God’s love. To tell what God is like, we only have to look at Jesus. In fact, this is the very reason Jesus came to earth to be our Savior. God knew our feeble human minds could not understand the unfathomable existence of a Supreme Being, any more than a dolphin could do calculus! However, He knew we would be able to relate to a human being, like ourselves. So, Jesus was made “incarnate,” (that is, “made flesh,”) in a human body. “Jesus is the temporal image of the invisible God,” to paraphrase †Paul. One of our most endearing personifications of Jesus is that of the Good Shepherd, Who was willing to “give His life for His sheep.” In Him, we see the Father’s love vividly demonstrated for us. And so also, is the Holy Spirit—"the bond of love between the Father and the Son,” in the words of †Augustine. The mystery of the Holy Trinity is not something about which we should argue or even study. It is more something to “pray about,” and to “live.” The Christian lives in the world of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This world is not a place “somewhere out in space,” but it is our same world, where God manifests Himself to us, every day. A Sense of God We can think of faith as the grace of a mysterious encounter with someone, beyond reasoning and emotion—realizing, however, that these may be also be present. WE can grasp God with our minds and our senses—in fact, with our whole being. In this way, we gain a “sense of God,” a true feeling, not just an intellectual conviction about Him. Tolstoy tells of a night when he was praying, when he went out into the dark night. Looking up, he beheld the multitude of stars, some bright, some dim, arrayed in a maze above him. There was a sparkle in the heavens, and all around him he saw dark shadows and silhouettes of trees. He writes: “It was a marvelous night. How can one fail to believe in the immortality of the soul when one feels such immeasurable grandeur within one’s self? That’s when I heard an inner voice say to me, ‘He is here. Kneel to Him and be silent.’ ” Happy those who have a sense of God and of His presence in their lives—it is the only true wealth worth having! As a wise person once said, “Lord, I don’t need to believe in You. It’s not a matter of belief any more. I just know it.” When people know something—really know it, deep, down in their hearts—they don’t have to argue about it, or prove it. They just know it and that’s enough for them. Faith is truly a gift from God, wherein a person believes with their heart, without knowing why or even seeking to know. The intimate certitude that fills one is sufficient. When we have sense of God’s presence in the world, we need no longer feel alone…we can look with admiration and love at creation as the work of an Artist who is our friend. For many, however, God’s “silence” presents a big problem. But a “loud and evident God” would be a bully, an insecure tyrant, instead of as He is, a bottomless encouragement to our faltering and frightened being. “His answers come in the long run, as the large facts of our lives, strung on that thread running through all things” (John Updike.) May God Richly Bless You! "God is the only One to Whom we can surrender without losing ourselves...." ~~Anonymous~~ Hymn of Promise.docx To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here: https://youtu.be/VgyV0LYypWY