Statement from Passionist Leadership

Fr. Don's Sunday Homilies

4th Sun Lent A… Blind Man

Introduction…

Today’s Gospel is a wonderful story of darkness and light,

spiritual blindness and the gradual awakening of spiritual sight.

Once again, we focus on a long dialogue –

but this time the main character is a blind man.

Jesus reminds us at the beginning of the story…

Refrain… I am the Light of the world.

I The Gospel

In the second reading Paul challenges the Christians at Ephesus:

…Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

In the Gospel Jesus encounters a person born blind…

Jesus gives him sight.

As the story unfolds it focuses on the one who now sees,

the blind man who lived in darkness and now lives in the light.

The light of Christ is developing in this man’s life…

And notice, this awakening and developing is the spiritual insight

into who Jesus really is…

This takes place in the midst of hard questioning, mounting ridicule,

and finally physical expulsion from the presence

of the so-called “insightful” religious leaders of Jesus’ time.

Notice how the spiritual insight into the light of Christ

grows in the experience of the man born blind.

At first his friends ask him how he came to see.

He says “the man they call Jesus” healed me.

When the Pharisees begin to sharply question him,

he calls Jesus “a prophet.”

As the Pharisees continue to grill him,

he describes Jesus as a “devout” Jew who obeys God,

and as a “man from God.”

After the Pharisees “bodily throw him out” of their presence

Jesus finds him and lovingly speaks to him.

Jesus reveals himself as the “Son of Man”…

God’s special messenger.

The Light of the World now shines on this newly enlightened man

who exclaims, “I do believe Lord,”

and he bows down and worships Jesus.

And Jesus said…

Refrain… I am the Light of the world.

II Our World Today

We live in an “enlightened” age,

an age of “lightening fast” information exchange…

an age of profound seeking of many people for spiritual “enlightenment.”

They are called ‘seekers’.

But we also live in so much fearful darkness,

an age of violence and terrorism,

and regrettably in what Pope John Paul II called ‘a culture of death’.

It’s all around us… read today’s newspaper,

or listen to so many rant and rage talk shows…

or briefly check out Jerry Springer on TV.

There seems to be a barbarian meanness in so much of our culture,

along with a skepticism and even cynicism…

Where is the light that dispels this darkness?

And Jesus said…

Refrain… I am the Light of the world.

III Our Light

Story The Meth Head

I have a retired friend who now lives in the Charlotte, S.C.

Recently we were together and he was describing some volunteer work he has gotten involved with.

He volunteers at a soup kitchen in Charlotte a couple days a week.

He got to know some of the homeless in Charlotte.

One day while walking through a park on his way to the soup kitchen

he spotted Gary.

Gary was a meth addict and he was high on meth.

He was sitting on a park bench holding his hand

and talking to himself.

He didn’t look good – few meth addicts look good.

As a matter of fact, he looked terrible…

shabby clothes, hair disheveled, teeth missing, skin and bones.

You get the picture.

My friend walked over to Gary – that was his name – imagine that – my friend knew his name…

Gary held out his hand and mumbled that he had been bitten by a squirrel.

My friend called 911.

When the ambulance came the EMS folks took one look at Gary

and talked about just walking away from this mess.

My friend insisted that they take Gary to the ER –

after all, Gary was a person, even if messed up.

My friend told them to tell the doctors that Gary had been bitten by a squirrel.

The EMS people loaded Gary into the ambulance and headed toward the hospital.

Two days later my friend was standing in the doorway of the soup kitchen

when he saw Gary walking down the sidewalk

toward the soup kitchen.

He looked better.

He had washed up a bit, his hair was combed,

and he didn’t have that wild look about him.

My friend asked him how he was feeling,

and he said, “Better than two days ago.”

Then he showed my friend his bandaged hand

and said that he had received rabies shots and he was going to be ok.

They headed into the kitchen for breakfast together.

What do you make of this story?

Was the meth problem solved?

Would Gary be ok in the future?

Or was my friend just fighting an unwinnable war?

I asked my friend why he helped Gary?

He said that when he looked at Gary,

he saw a child of God, gone astray, but still loved by God.

And as he looked at Gary a bit longer,

he saw a lonely, abandoned person suffering… like Christ on his Cross.

How could he not try to help?

Would it matter?

My friend didn’t even ask that question.

Remember the quote from Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians:

…Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

My friend had been a retreatant here at our Retreat Center for a number of years before he retired and moved south.

During those retreats he learned much about prayer, about Christ, about the Church…

and he enjoyed the retreat weekends with other men from his parish.

His own walk with Jesus deepened.

The light of Jesus entered his life.

As I reflect on my friend’s story, I believe that…

as the light of Christ dawns in our lives each day,

it heals our own spiritual blindness…

we are not so self-centered and self-pampered… because life is not just about me…
We aren’t so burdened by worries and fears so much…

because we begin to realize that we are not in charge… God is.

We become more aware of our own addictions and sinfulness… but now bathed in the healing light of Christ’s love.

We begin to have more peace of mind and heart.
We become more aware that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is present at our side each step of our journey, every day.
We begin to see life as Jesus does.

Refrain… I am the Light of the world.

Conclusion

As we continue with this Mass let’s ask Christ to continue to bath our hearts in his light,

and to strengthen us to bring his light into our world.

For as Paul says in today’s second Reading…

Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

May the Body and Blood of Christ enlighten us all.

For as Christ said…

Refrain… I am the Light of the world.

3rd Sun Lent A… Long

Introduction… Seekers

Many people today are ‘seekers’…

people seeking for something more… for the spiritual…

for deeper meaning in their lives,

for peace of mind, and serenity.

These are parts of a spiritual life,

but I believe that a spiritual life or Spirituality entails more…

Spirituality is a way of living.

For Christian Spirituality prayer is central

and Jesus is at the heart of prayer.

Refrain… Have Mercy o Lord, Have Mercy on US

I Lent

For us Catholics our Sunday worship and the Seasons of our Sunday worship are important parts of our Spirituality…

There are Advent Season, Christmas Season, Lenten Season, Holy Week, Easter Season, Pentecost, and Ordinary Season.

Each Season teaches us something about Jesus and our God.

Sunday Worship is a sacred time for our coming together

as a faithful family to lift our minds and hearts to God as disciples of Jesus.

Remember, we were created for community, fashioned for fellowship,

and formed for family.

Lent is a wonderful season of our spiritual journey…

journeying with Jesus to Holy Week… our High Holy Days.

Lent is a time for all of us to ask,

“How am I doing?” on my journey with my Lord.

Am I trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps?

Is there anything in my life I need God’s help to develop or change?

Refrain… Have Mercy o Lord, Have Mercy on US

II Today’s Gospel

Today’s Gospel tells us a story about a woman going to get water.

The story is about so much more.

The imagery used is one of water…

The Samaritan woman comes to a well to get water.

The source of life-giving water is sitting near the well, resting.

The dialogue begins with Jesus, the source of life-giving water,

asking the Samaritan woman for some water.

As the dialogue progresses,

she becomes more and more aware that this is no normal stranger…

she is drawn to this wonder-full man who promises her life-giving water…

This is more than just water from a well…

This is water that brings soul refreshment and healing,

inner energy and direction…

this is Spirit-filled water…

God’s very Spirit poured into our hearts.

This is what Jesus offers the Samaritan woman

who came that day to the well to get water.

Refrain… Have Mercy o Lord, Have Mercy on US

III What about You?

What about you and me?

We know that God wants to pour into our hearts this Spirit-filled water.

…The love of God has been poured into our hearts

thru the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)

My question is…

For what do you thirst?

What do you want out of life, while on your life’s journey?

Wealth, good health, a good job,

recognition of our worth?

Do you thirst for anything more?

What about peace of mind and heart?

What about release from the fears and worries that burden us so?

You can have lots of money and still thirst for happiness and peace…

You can have nice clothes and drive a big car,

have a large screen TV and an I-phone…

and be in the state of constant anger and resentment

and perpetual dissatisfaction?

Our culture tells us that we will no longer be thirsty

if we own a lot of things, have a good job, wear nice clothes,

Are these enough for our journey?

What happens if we lose one or two or several of life’s blessings?

What happens when we grow older and begin to diminish?

What happens when suffering and pain enter our lives?

The woman at the well thirsted

for the life-giving water that Jesus promises.

She talked with Jesus and listened to him…

She was so excited as she told her townspeople

of her encounter with Jesus…

…Could this be the Messiah? (John 4:29)

Refrain… Have Mercy o Lord, Have Mercy on US

If we met Jesus what would we ask for?

When I ministered in our Retreat Center in Springfield, MA.,

I became close friends with a family in western MA.

They were a wonderful Catholic family, with kids and grandkids.

One of their sons, Philip, developed a brain tumor.

After several years of hospitalizations, operations, laser surgery, and continually declining health

Philip passed away, leaving two young children.

It seemed sad and unfair if you looked on the surface of things.

How could God let this happen?

If you were to ask them what they thirsted for,

what they wanted from Jesus,

they would have answered “Philip’s healing”.

It turned out that the water that Jesus gave them,

the sustenance and nourishment with which Jesus refreshed them,

was the patience and courage to accompany their son lovingly

on his final journey to the waiting arms of Jesus.

Their son died a peaceful death, surrounded by his loving family –

sad at his departure, but loving him to the end,

and grateful for their precious time together…

memories shared and rejoiced in… up to the end.

But for them, death was not the end.

We prayed at Philip’s funeral Mass:

… O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?

…But thanks be to God

who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

My friends, this is life… complex, seemingly tragic at times,

but also joyful and uplifting.

Challenging at times, but also fulfilling.

And our hearts are forever thirsting,

til they rest in the Lord.

Refrain… Have Mercy o Lord, Have Mercy on US

Conclusion

As we continue with our prayer together

we will soon offer ourselves with Jesus to our loving Father.

We will then remember Jesus’ love for us

as he poured out his life on the Cross t

o bring light into world of darkness,

forgiveness into the valley of sinfulness,

and the promise of new life into the experience of death…

Jesus’ death and our death.

Then Jesus will offer us his own Body

to nourish us and strengthen us for our journey

as we now continue Jesus’ Mission

and bring the Kingdom of God into our world.

Refrain… Have Mercy o Lord, Have Mercy on US

2nd Sun Lent A Transfiguration

Introduction…

We are called to belong, not just to believe. As our Lenten Journey continues I want to reflect on what it means to belong to God’s people, God’s family, Jesus’ disciples. In the letters of St. Paul the apostle many times he reminds us that we are called to be God’s people.

He says we are put together, joined together, built together, Members together, heirs together, fitted together, held together…

And will be taken to our heavenly home together… (1 Cor 12:12; Eph 2:21, 22; 3:6, 4:16; Col 2:19, 1 Thess 4:17)

In roman 12:5 Paul gives us a beautiful teaching. He says: In Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others. We were created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for family.

We are God’s people, God’s family, Jesus’ disciples.

I Seekers

Many people today are ‘seekers’…

people seeking for something more… for the spiritual.

There are many examples of spiritual seeking: yoga, zen, meditation, mindfulness, Buddhism…

Many are looking for ‘more’… for deeper meaning in their lives,

for peace of mind, and serenity.

These are parts of a spiritual life,

but I believe that a spiritual life or spirituality entails more…

spirituality is a way of living.

For Christian Spirituality prayer is central, Jesus is at the heart,

and we have our seasons of worship... our praying together.

Let’s look at Lent.

Lent is upon us. Lent is a wonderful time of year…

a time for all of us to ask,

“How am I doing?” on my journey with my Lord.

Am I trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps?

Is there anything in my life I need God’s help to change?

II The Transfiguration

In today’s Gospel we see Jesus taking Peter, James and John up a mountain to spend time with him.

Do we spend time with Jesus?

Do we get to know Jesus, who calls us through our Baptism to be a disciple?

Or are we too busy with our own agenda?

This morning at this Mass we spend time with Jesus.

Jesus is pleased that you are here…

just as he was pleased that his disciples were with him

on the mountain of Transfiguration.

While they are together Jesus is transformed before their eyes…

Peter begins to speak…

he is utterly amazed…

and he wants to build three condos up here, and remain awhile…

As Peter is jabbering away,

“a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him’.”

Imagine that… God speaks… and tells Peter to

“listen to Jesus.”

Quit jabbering and just listen… pay attention… hear what Jesus has to say…

“Listen to him.”

II Listen to Jesus

Do we ever just listen to Jesus?

When we pray do we do all the talking?

God gave us one mouth and two ears.

Is our prayer all mouth?

Talking to God is important.

Ways of talking to God…

Praise God, thank God, say I’m sorry, and ask God for help.

However, my question is:

do we ever just listen to our loving God?

Question… How do we listen, of better, how do we pay attention to God?

One way…

Reading the stories about Jesus,

What is your favorite story about Jesus?

Maybe it’s the story of the Good Samaritan,

or the Samaritan woman at the well,

or the healing of the man born blind,

or the raising of Lazarus…

or the Prodigal Son…

or maybe the crucifixion,

or the resurrection.

Spend time with one of these stories.

You’ll have to break out the Bible… dust it off… but it’s worth it.

Find your favorite story? Read it a couple of times.

(I might suggest… go to Amazon, search for ‘Children’s Bible, with Pictures… and order that. It’s a simple way to read the Bible stories.)

Find your favorite story. Read it a couple of times.

Why do you like it?

What does it tell you about Jesus? About God? About yourself?

Tell Jesus…

Jesus, you raised your friend Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus, be my friend.

Raise me from any darkness of sinfulness in my life.

Raise me from bondage to any kind of addiction in my life.

Jesus, give me new life, like you did Lazarus.

Another way of listening to Jesus…

What is your favorite image of Jesus?

Maybe it’s the ‘Good Shepherd’ – a favorite image from the earliest times of our Church.

or Jesus as the ‘friend’ of people who suffer,

or Jesus the ‘healer’,

or Jesus the ‘prophet’,

or Jesus the loving ‘friend’ of Mary and Martha and Lazarus,

or Jesus as ‘Lord’ and ‘Savior’.

or ‘Jesus on the Cross’.

What does your image of Jesus tell you about Jesus?

Tell Jesus.

Jesus, you are my shepherd. You guard me and guide me,

Especially in the dark valleys I sometimes experience.

Jesus, I see you on the cross. I see your love for me poured out on that Cross. Jesus, help me in my sinfulness. Jesus, help me in any darkness I go through. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for loving me.

Spend time in prayer each day.

Just talk to Jesus.

Spend time with stories of Jesus…

if we are spending time with Jesus and getting to know Jesus, and if we “listen to him”

something begins to happen within our hearts…

within our lives…

we begin to change…

how we view life changes,

how we react to situations changes,

how we treat people changes…

We become less self-centered and self-pampered…

because life is not just about us…

We realize that we don’t always have to prove ourselves…

because we are loved by Jesus…

We don’t always have to be perfect and have the right answers…

because we are not God, but we are God’s beloved…

We aren’t burdened by worries and fears so much…

because we begin to realize that we are not in charge… God is.

We begin to have more peace of mind and heart.

We become more aware that Jesus, our Good Shepherd,

is present at our side each step of our journey, every day.

Perhaps Psalm 23 takes on more meaning for us…

The Lord is my Shepherd…

We might even start off our day with that Psalm.

How we act each day can begins to change…

not drastically at first,

but with little steps, in small ways…

Notice… we are becoming transfigured, becoming transformed, becoming more like Jesus!

And Jesus is now sending us down from the mountain to enter into our world, more Christ-like,

more a son and daughter of our loving Father.

We become more committed to compassion when we face situations of suffering…

I love the stories of Mother Theresa of Calcutta…

they tell us so much about how Christ would have us act…

and they challenge us to act in a Christ-like way.

We can’t solve the world’s ills,

but can we help one person at a time?

As members of God’s people, and as disciples of Jesus,

we can try to bring goodness and peace, respect and care into those situations where we encounter difficulties, division, hostility or conflict.

Or we can add to the hostility, the anger and conflict.

Can we ask Jesus for the patience and the wisdom we need in difficult situations?

Don’t be afraid to ask for Jesus’ help… He tells us to do that.

That’s the beauty of discipleship.

That’s the cost of discipleship,

We ask Jesus’ to help us to be people of character,

people of integrity and people of courage.

Conclusion…

Jesus… help us to follow in your footsteps.

As we continue with this Mass,

strengthen us and nourish us with this heavenly food and refreshment… your own Body and Blood…

We can’t do it without your help,

without your strength,

without your presence within our hearts now and each day.

Help us to be committed disciples, transfigured into Christ-like men and women who follow you.

1st Sun Lent A Handicapped Kids

Introduction…

Many people today are ‘seekers’… people seeking for something more… for the spiritual. There are many examples of spiritual seeking: yoga, zen, meditation, mindfulness, Buddhism… Many are looking for ‘more’… for deeper meaning in their lives,

for peace of mind, and serenity. These are parts of a spiritual life, but I believe that a spiritual life or spirituality entails more… spirituality is a way of living.

For Christian Spirituality prayer is central, Jesus is at the heart, and we have our seasons of worship... our praying together.

Let’s look at Lent. Lent is upon us. Lent is a wonderful time of year… a time for all of us to ask, “How am I doing?” on my journey with my Lord. Am I trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps? Is there anything in my life I need God’s help to change?

Refrain… Have Mercy O Lord, Have Mercy on Us

I Today’s Gospel

Today’s Gospel tells us the story of the temptations of Jesus. Jesus becomes one of us – Jesus was like us in all things, except sin. In today’s Gospel Jesus was tempted to be something he was not. The devil told him, “You can turn stone into bread… Think of what a hit you’ll be with common people.” The devil told him, “You can jump from the Temple Mount and not get hurt… Think how that will impress people.” The devil told him, “You can make others bow to your power… Think about that for a while.” Jesus would not buy into these quick steps to success… He would rather treat people with compassion, share meals with sinners, and teach his disciples God’s way of living. His was not a simple way, but a loving and challenging way.

Refrain… Have Mercy O Lord, Have Mercy on Us

II Our Temptations

What are our temptations? Greed, Envy, Anger, Laziness, Lust, Gluttony, Arrogance… the Seven Deadly Sins… are temptations for all of us.

There’s one temptation that we might not pay too much attention to. We live in a culture that is very competitive… We like to shine forth… To have the right answers. To be in control. To win. The Super Bowl is about winning. March madness is about winning.

Let me tell you a story:

At the Seattle Special Olympics a number of years ago nine contestants, all with physical or mental disabilities, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the sound of the gun they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run and finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the track, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back… every one of them. One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “this will make it better.” Then all link linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story.

Why? Why does this story touch so many people? Because deep down most people intuit something beautiful in this story, something more important than winning. People were not turned off because of the handicaps of these kids. People didn’t look the other way because of their obvious lack of perfection. People were touched by the beauty of their compassion.

In our competitive culture, winning, being # 1, competition, and coming in first place… for many people this is what life is all about. We pay our sports figures inordinate amounts of money to win… and very few can stand a loser. Let me add that winning is not bad… coming in first is not evil. But…

When it comes to living in the real world, You can’t win all the time. You can’t always be number one. You can’t always be in control or have the right answers. Sometimes life gets messy and even harmful.

We hear the story like the Seattle Olympics and it touches us and reminds us that life is more than winning. The story reminds us that life is also about reaching out to help others, many times in the midst of their pain and suffering. And what about people with handicaps? Many times we can’t even look at them… We forget that handicaps do not destroy the dignity, the beauty, and the worth of people. No one is useless. Remember, Jesus did not win. He ended up on a cross… The people he helped weren’t there. His friends abandoned him. His mission seemed a failure. But in the end Jesus was transformed… He became a shining light in the darkness, a life-giver and a wound-healer… for by his wounds we are healed.

Deep down in each of us God’s grace is working to help transform us into other Christ’s… to be people of compassion, understanding and care… We all need to be transformed… and that’s what Lent is all about.

At Easter time we will renew our Baptismal vows… our promises to live like Christ in our world – a world that so often tempts us to other values… self-centered self-pampering, entertained consumers, with our consciences numbed by comfort. That’s why we need to pray…

Refrain… Have Mercy O Lord, Have Mercy on Us

Conclusion

As we continue with this Mass we will offer ourselves at the Offertory to our Loving Father, along with Jesus. We will then remember Jesus’ love for us, poured out on the Cross. At Communion time Jesus wants to come into our hearts, to pour on us his great love for us. Jesus wants to continue transforming our hearts and our lives as his disciples.

What does that mean?

How does that look?

One more story…

The Hands of Christ

During the Second World War after the D Day invasion of France the American soldiers liberated a small French village on their way through France. After the fighting the villagers came out into the village square to discover that the fighting had scarred their beautiful life sized statue of Jesus. It was covered with dirt, and had several bullet holes, along with other scratches. Worst of all, both of the hands of Christ had been blown off. Some of the villagers suggested that they get a new statue. Others suggested that they clean up the statue, but leave the bullet holes and the scars as a reminder of their blessed liberation. But they wanted to get a sculptor to make two new hands for the statue. A third group suggested they clean up the statue and keep it as a reminder, but that they put no new hands on the statue. To this day the life sized, scared statue of Jesus stands in the village square, with no hands. Below it is a plaque, which reads, “We are the hands of Christ.”

Refrain… Have Mercy O Lord, Have Mercy on Us

6th Sun A... Introduction…

I have recently been doing some work on ‘Spirituality’.

Some people say that they ‘are into ‘Spirituality’, but not ‘Religion’.

My question is… (and I ask them this)…

What is ‘Spirituality’?

As far as I can discern, ‘Spirituality’ is living our life with God in it.

God matters.

Christian Spiritualty has Jesus in the center of our lives…

Jesus and his teaching and his life matters.

Catholic Spirituality also has our participation in the Sacraments…

this matters in our life.

Let me just take the Eucharist…

We come here today to encounter the Holy,

to be in our God’s Holy, Sacred Presence,

and to let God’s Presence radiate within us.

We come here to sing with each other, our voices joined together…

to sing hymns praising our God,

to speak our prayers,

to listen to God’s Word

and to keep our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2)

We come to offer our lives to our loving Father together with Jesus,

to remember Christ’s love for us, shed on the Cross,

and to be graced with Jesus’ presence and Spirit

as sustenance for our journey this coming week.

For us Catholics, our ‘Spirituality’ is not just about our personal walk with the Lord in our life.

At our Eucharist we come together… it’s a ‘we’ journey…

We sing, we respond in prayer, we encourage and sustain each other.

Refrain… If today you hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.

I SS

Let’s look at our Scriptures for today.

What do they teach us?

Listen to the first lines of the first SS Reading from the Wisdom of Sirach:

If you choose you can keep the commandments.

They will save you… if you trust in God, you too shall live.

How do we choose to live? What guides us?

Listen to the opening lines of the second SS Reading

from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians:

Brothers and Sisters: we speak a wisdom to those who are mature,

not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom.

Wisdom is to see the way God sees.

What is this “wisdom of God” which we can trust?

‘Keep your eyes on Jesus’ (Heb 12:2)… listen to his words… follow his actions.

For us Christians, Jesus is the wisdom of God come among us.

Refrain… If today you hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.

II A Broken World

Our world is broken… read today’s newspaper or watch the News on TV.

There are many good and beautiful things about our world…

but there is much darkness also.

There are many good and beautiful qualities in each one of us…

but there is darkness also.

In today’s Gospel Jesus speaks about some of the darkness

in each one of us

and gives us instructions on how to handle it…

Jesus brings us God’s wisdom.

Let’s take a look at some of this…

Anger…

Jesus instructs us to be very careful about anger.

What gets us angry at others?

Are we angry too often?

Does our impatience and angry reactions lead to lingering angry thoughts,

which lead to angry words or gossip,

which can lead to resentments and ongoing anger?

Be careful of resentments taking roots in our heart.

We live in an angry society with too much violence and rage.

How handle anger?

I ask: why do we get angry?

Do we expect that others will always pay attention to us,

or to our wise suggestions…

to our way of doing things… to our wise answers?

Is this a realistic or even a healthy expectation?

Good luck if we expect this to happen all of the time…

I have learned that sometimes others listen to us –

if we tell them what they want to hear.

Many more times they don’t listen to us…

and we can’t force them to.

Why get angry?

What does that change?

How does that help?

Or as Dr. Phil says, “How’s that workin for ya?”

I know several people who have children or grandchildren who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.

This causes much consternation and heartache in the family…

What good will anger do?

Will these addicted ones follow wise advice?

My suggestion is for family members to go to Alanon.

Listen to others who deal with similar situations…

Anger will not solve this kind of suffering and pain.

Easy does it… lift the addicted up to God in prayer,

and trust that the Lord loves them and will deal with them.

And share with others who have similar experiences.

Don’t try to bear it alone!

Refrain… If today you hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.

Lust…

Jesus instructs us that lustful actions spring from lustful thoughts.

Lustful thoughts seem to be the background of much in our culture.

Our culture is over-sexualized.

We use sex to sell everything.

Porn is a two billion dollar a year industry…

and it’s available in the comfort and privacy of your room on the Internet.

Porn can be very addictive.

It can color and even deeply wound a person’s ability

to relate to people maturely.

For example, how many men see women as boy toys?

Women in our culture…

So much of our fashion industry teaches women

that they have to package themselves

as desirable commodities

or they will never be noticed or loved.

Modesty… we don’t even know what it means.

How much money gets spent on cosmetics and cosmetic surgery every year,

By men and women,

so that one can be beautiful and noticed and loved?

Being beautiful is not bad…

Unless we think that physical beauty

is the only beauty that counts

and it’s the only way we can be worthwhile…

Refrain… If today you hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.

Forgiveness/reconciliation…

Jesus teaches the importance of reconciling

with those from whom we are estranged.

This is not always easily accomplished…

sometimes it’s downright impossible.

But… do we harbor resentments and hold onto angry thoughts about others?

Do we treat others as enemies,

shunning them or gossiping about them… because they hurt us?

Forgiveness might simply include our asking God to change our hearts…

and praying for those whom we find it hard to forgive.

We don’t have to become their best friend.

That might not be wise.

We might be estranged from them.

But we can still forgive them and pray for them.

We don’t have to trust them or get back together with them.

But we can still forgive them and pray for them.

Jesus tells a number of stories about forgiveness.

At the heart of each story is the fact that as sons and daughters of God

we realize how much our loving God has forgiven us…

and we ask God’s help to be forgiving people.

Remember Jesus words from the Cross…

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do…

Jesus didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk.

I might mention, Mother Theresa of Calcutta described prayer as ‘making room for God in our hearts’.

If our hearts are filled with anger and resentments, how can we pray?

Forgiveness is a very important part of ‘Spirituality’.

Refrain… If today you hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.

III The Wisdom of God

Jesus came to heal a broken world.

Jesus brings the “wisdom of God,”

the dream of God for us… God‘s will for us.

Jesus teaches us and shows us how to live…

He leads the way.

Following Jesus

is not just a matter of externally conformity to the commandments…

not committing adultery, not being lustful, not being angry, not stealing…

Following Jesus is an inside job…

Following Jesus is asking God to transform us inwardly

into a forgiving, patient, respectful, kind and caring person…

a virtuous person… a person of integrity.

Following Jesus means asking God

to heal and transform our attitudes,

and interior dispositions…

from angry to patient, from unforgiving to forgiving

and from lustful to respectful and gracious.

Only God can do that for us.

We need the very Spirit of Jesus to transform us…

Refrain… If today you hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.

Conclusion…

As we continue with this Mass

we will soon offer ourselves to the Father along with Jesus.

we will soon remember Jesus’ love for us poured out on the Cross.

we will soon be invited by Jesus to come forward,

to be strengthened and nourished by his very Body.

We ask Jesus to come into our hearts and transform us…

to heal our brokenness, our angry dispositions,

our unwillingness to forgive,

and any temptation to lustfulness.

We ask Jesus to transform us

into patient, forgiving and gracious disciples,

people of integrity and goodness.

We pray,

Jesus help us. Jesus heal us. Jesus strengthen us… Amen.

Refrain… If today you hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.

February 1, 2023 5th.Sun A

Introduction…

We come here today to encounter the Holy,

to be in our God’s presence

and to let God’s presence be in us.

We come here to sing with each other, our voices joined together…

to sing hymns to our God,

to speak our prayers,

to listen to God’s Word

and hopefully a message from God to us…

and to offer our lives to our loving God together with Jesus,

and to be graced with Jesus’ presence and Spirit

as sustenance for our journey this coming week.

Response: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

I Good Deeds’ Light

In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus challenge us to be the “light of the world”. What might that mean?...

After all, many times we come here needy and weary and tired.

We come here needing the light of encouragement and inspiration. Perhaps some are wondering how they can lead God’s life in the world which seems so draining and so challenging.

We come seeking strength… And the Gospel offers challenge.

Your light must shine before others,

That they may see your good deeds,

And glorify your heavenly Father.

What good deeds does the Gospel talk about?

How are we to be light?

Not just what must we do,

but how will we have the power to do these good deeds?

Response: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

II The Good Deeds

In the first reading the Church gives us examples of the “good deeds” Jesus refers to.

God speaks to the prophet Isaiah…

Thus says the Lord

Share your bread with the hungry,

Shelter the oppressed and the homeless;

Clothe the naked when you see them,

And do not turn your back on your own.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

And your wound shall quickly be healed…

Then you shall call and the Lord will answer,

You shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

III But I am so weak and the needs are so many

We hear these words of Isaiah,

and we might be tempted to think that the needs are so many,

and we are so weak,

or so busy taking care of ourselves and our own…

we are so busy trying to do the rite thing,

and make a living

and put food on the table…

we are so busy going to school

and holding down a part time job…

we are also so wounded, so weary, so tired,

so in need of healing and energizing ourselves…

How can we be a light to the world?

How can we crowd more into our busy schedules?

Can we solve the world’s problems?

They are so immense, and we are so small.

Response: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

IV Our Good Deeds

My dear friends, we don’t need to go to foreign countries to let our light shine forth.

Look to your family…

are there any sick you’ve not visited for awhile, or at least called to check up on?

Look to your neighbors…

are there lonely, elderly, or sick neighbors you’ve forgotten about or overlooked?

Look to your jobs… are you kind and civil to your fellow employees, even the uncivil ones?

Do you ever pray for your fellow employees, even the ones that drive you up a wall?

Look to your enemies…do you carry resentments and grudges,

and hold onto hurts,

instead to asking God for the power to forgive –

you don’t have to become friends with your enemies,

just learn to forgive and turn them over to God’s care.

Life can get complex, can’t it?

But keep it simple.

What opportunities do you have in your daily lives to let your light shine forth, as followers of Jesus?

Response: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

Several years ago I was on a preaching assignment in Point Marion, south of Uniontown. As part of the job the Pastor drove me to visit his shut-ins, to hear their Confession, and give them Holy Communion. Many of his parishioners are poor people who live back in the Hollers – Blue Jay Holler, and Old Cow Holler.

These were God’s little people. No Senator or Congressman would ever visit them… You won’t see them on the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, nor will you see them on TV’s Reality Shows.

They were poor and sometimes infirm. I wrote this reflection after my visit with a number of these households… (Nov 7, 2001)

I hear the laments /

of bent and broken bodies /

in bondage /

to black lung, arthritis, /

swollen joints /

or just fragile old age.

I hear the laments /

of caregivers, /

strained and stressed /

seemingly trapped /

by love’s duty. /

Suffering with the suffering. /

Pained by the pained.

I hear the laments /

of present day Calvaries. /

I kneel in awe /

before pain born bravely /

and love laboring. /

Where is God? /

Here in this smelly, small, sacred room, /

in this wrinkled, weathered, /

worn face, /

smiling a welcome.

These are the unseen. /

Our society is unable /

or unwilling /

to abide these /

un-beautiful people. /

Our world’s wisdom /

vanishes in their presence. /

What brings happiness?

Hilfiger, Gucci, Lexus /Caviar or Cartier?

Our world’s wisdom /

freefalls into the gorge of suffering /

and crashes onto its rocks.

Do we fear to approach them - /

these lamenting ones? /

Do we fear our own demise, /

glimpsed in them?... /

The fragility of our lives, /

buttressed now by youth, /

beauty, strength /

and seeming control?

What can we bring them /

these lamenting ones? /

what does God give us? /

Our time /

our smile /

our heart, /

a few words. /

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, / your love.

Response: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

Story…

At the Seattle Special Olympics a number of years ago nine contestants, all physical or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

At the gun they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heart the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back… every one of them. One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “this will make it better.” Then all link linked arms and walked together to the finish line.

Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story.

Response: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

V Our Power?…God’s Power

How can we hope to be “light to the world” when the world is in such need? Or when we are perhaps weary, tired, aware of our sinfulness, or of our need for healing and strengthening?..

Isaiah said it so well as we read above…

If we reach out to offer some help to others, what does God say:

…Then you shall call and the Lord will answer,

you shall cry out for help, and the Lord shall say, “Here I

am.”

What a heartening and nurturing response from the Lord. God understands our need for help and healing and strengthening, and graces us with the assurance that God will be here….

Response: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

VI God Is Here

Indeed, in this Eucharist, God is here, in this sacred place, now at this time.

We have heard God’s Word,

and now we offer our lives and our needs to God,

together with Jesus our Lord and brother.

God in turn gives us back the very Body and Blood of His beloved Son – to be our nourishment, our healing… to reside in us and walk by our side along our journey.

This assurance gives us the power to be Light to the World –

for now we are other Christs in our world –

(Remember the story of the statue without hands…

Tell the story…

We are Christ’s Hands now… We are the Light of the World, as was Christ.)

Response: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.

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