Homily Sunday 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle B.
      1st Reading: Numbers 11:25-29 – Would that all the people of the Lord were Prophets.
      2nd Reading: James 5: 1-6 – You have live on earth in luxury & pleasure
      Gospel: Mark 9:38-43. 45, 47-48 – If any of you lead these little ones into sin, it would be better

The revelations about sinful and also criminal actions by Shepherds within the Church, over the last couple of months has left me troubled in spirit. The reports that have been coming out about those who were charged with the care of their flock have caused confusion, disappointment, and anger, lots of anger.

Tuesday evening, we had a listening session here in the Church with Bishop Parker and Msgr. Hannon here representing Archbishop Lori along with many of the priests and Deacons from the Frederick area. And I must tell you I walked out of this church deeply saddened by the level of pain and hurt expressed by so many who have been deeply wounded. I left this church feeling the anger of so many who have been let down by those in whom they had placed their trust to shepherd, to guide, and to care for them. I also witnessed a lot of anger which in some cases was masking the pain, while others were angry because they didn’t know how else to feel. So I walked out of this church wondering, what do I do? What do I say to those who have been so deeply injured physically and spiritually? What do I say to those whose faith has been shaken or to those who have already made the decision to leave the church? As all of this was going through my mind, I suddenly remembered that I had to preach on this weekend’s scriptures. And I have to tell you that it feels like the Lord has been shouting at me since the first time I read them a couple of weeks ago. But it’s not just this weekend’s scriptures. It seems like most of the Scripture over the last few months have been speaking to the current situation in the Church but it also feels like they have been speaking to me as well. So, when I read the Gospel for today, where Jesus says "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. When I read that, I looked up at the ceiling and said, “really Lord?” This is what you want me to preach on? It was obvious to me that this reading was calling bishops, priests, and deacons to accountability or at least to reflect on how well we are fulfilling the call we accepted at Holy Orders? And while this is true, the scriptures are saying so much more and they are saying it to all of you. It is saying it to all of us.

You see many of us when we hear the scriptures, particularly the ones that criticize those in leadership like the Pharisees, and Sadducees, or others in positions of power we may think that Jesus is speaking only to them. And yes the Lord is speaking to them in a powerful way because of the oaths they have taken. But the scriptures are like a mirror and when we hear them we should also be looking at ourselves. When we hear them, we should be saying, “Lord what are you saying to me? How do these words relate to me?” And today’s readings are no different.

In the first reading from the Book of Numbers, Moses has prayed over seventy elders as Yahweh commanded, so that they could receive the spirit and assume some of the responsibility for leading His people. As it turns out, two of those selected weren’t there during the prayer of commissioning, but the spirit fell on them anyway. And when the others heard these two prophesying they were offended. Those who were anointed or prayed over were offended that someone else might be called to do what they were charged to do. They had an elitist attitude that God’s spirit only fell on them and that they had a special privilege. And while we may think that this scripture is directed at bishops, priests, and deacons, we are challenged to think about how we too might at times have an elitist attitude regarding our faith. Whether we admit it or not, there are those today who believe if you are not Catholic, you are somehow deficient in God’s grace and therefore can’t speak the truth of the Gospel.

Then in the 2nd reading James is calling out the rich, those in high positions who have lived a life of luxury but have not taken care of those who harvested their fields. These are feelings I heard expressed last Tuesday night. And while these are valid and righteous feelings, again we must ask ourselves, is James speaking to us as well? Is there anything about James’s words that makes us cringe or at least uncomfortable?

Then in the Gospel, again the Apostles are upset because someone else is daring to perform the work that Jesus gave them to do? So Jesus calls them on it, and explains that what’s important is that his words and His love are being accurately proclaimed not necessarily whose doing it. But He also goes on to say that anyone who leads another astray, causing them to sin; or causing them harm, they are looking at a fate far worse than their physical death. And again, it would seem logical that the Lord is directing His words in particular to those in positions of authority in the Church. But He is not speaking just to them but to all the faithful. He is speaking to you and to me because by our baptismal call, we are commissioned to bring others to Christ. We are called to be the voice, the hands, the feet, the heart of Christ for others. So we need to ask ourselves, how am I representing Jesus to others? Am I accurately sharing with them the teachings of Jesus Christ, not the teaching of any particular Bishop, but of Jesus Christ? Because if I am not, if you are not, then we too can lead others astray, and maybe even into sin? We too are accountable for the souls of others.

So what do we tell those whose faith is shaken? What do we tell those who at one time were attracted to the Catholic Church, but now, maybe not so much? What do Ruth Huffer and Mia Marcellino who are on mission with Net Evangelization Teams; what do they tell those high schoolers they will be ministering to around the country?

We tell them the truth. The sacraments of Jesus Christ are still the sacraments which provide nourishment, grace, and healing. We tell them that Jesus is every bit as present, body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist today as before. We tell them that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church and that the Holy Spirit is still guiding the Church despite the efforts of people inside and outside the Church to bring it down. And because Jesus is still the head, we can trust that all who have had a hand in inflicting grave harm and suffering on the body of Christ, will be brought to accountability.

Jesus will not let his Church fall, but He has at times in the past, and seems to be doing so today; He does allow His Church to suffer, to be brought low, and to go through a period of penance and purification.

Our job is to continue to bring the love of Christ and the truth of his teaching to anyone and everyone He calls us to. But we will not be able to do this if we ourselves do not pray daily, and receive the Sacraments. We will not be able to do this if we don study our faith and know what it teaches and why. We will not be able to do this if we allow the anger and the disappointment to keep us from reaching out to others with the love of Christ. The Lord will sort out this mess in time. We just need to remain faithful for we too are accountable; for our own souls and the souls of others. The Lord will not abandon us. In fact He is speaking to us more loudly and more clearly than perhaps at any other time in our lives. We just need to listen, to learn, and to love and trust that the Lord sort this mess out.

       

Homily: Monday 16th Week Ordinary Time _July 23, 2018
1st Reading: Micah 6:1-4,6-8–Do the right, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God
Gospel: Matthew 12: 38 –42 – Demand for a Sign

With apologies to C.S.Lewis I submit the following Memo
From: Satan, Prince of Darkness
To: All demons working in the mission fields of earth.

There are generally three types of humans on which we must focus our attention. One group is those who do not believe in an all-powerful God, or in the One called His Son. Our job for them is easy as all we need do is keep them rooted in believing that all they have, that all that happens is within their control, because it is all that they choose to believe or reason could be possible and logical.

The second group are those on which we must focus more of our energy. It is those pathetic humans who have a tepid belief in a Creator, a lukewarm acceptance of the actions of Jesus, His Son, and whose teetering faith becomes stronger or weaker based on what their eyes can see, and how much they comprehend the evidence which is all around them. These are the ones to which we must be constantly attentive to convincing them that they must not only have proof but powerful, visible, undeniable proof that God exists and that He loves them.

Finally there is a third group whom we must also stay on top of; those who seem to be particularly vulnerable to their own human nature, because this God of theirs foolishly gave them free will, and because He did, they mistakenly believe they can do whatever they want because He will always be there to welcome them back if they have strayed from His desires for them. For these it is simply a matter of convincing them that there is no urgency to follow His commandments because they have more than enough time to return to Him.

So keep fighting the good fight of deceiving, and coddling these pitiful creatures for in the end if we do our jobs well, we will win this battle and our ranks will be swelled with those who waited till it was too late to realize what they truly had.

I hope you will pardon my attempts at playing C.S. Lewis but I wonder how many people today would say they believe in God or call themselves Christian, but would still require proof that God is there for them, or that God is listening to them. I wonder if Jesus came today, how many would want proof that it was really Him and would want to see a miracle for their faith to remain firm. And I wonder how many today profess a belief in God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but take for granted His unconditional love and infinite mercy by choosing their own path, following their own desires, satisfying their own cravings, simply because they think that God will always be there to take them back. I wonder how many wait too long or until it is too late.

And I also have to wonder does God get impatient with us? He would certainly be justified in getting frustrated with the hard-headed, self absorbed creatures who are His children.

In today’s 1st reading, God speaks through the prophet Micah seems to have had enough. And in the Gospel Jesus’ response to the Pharisees would make it seem like He is tired of their unbelief, which has once again been revealed in their demands for yet another sign.

In the 1st reading imagine a courtroom with the people of God on trial. In it the Lord has lodged a legal complaint against the nation of Judah. The witnesses are the mountains and hills which are part of God’s creation. There is evidence against God’s chosen people and He has summoned His people to listen to His accusations and prepare their defense. The evidence is all the injustices they have committed and their lack of gratitude for all that God has done for them. The evidence is so compelling that it causes God to cry out and say, “O my people, what have I done to you that you should respond to my love in this way?

Then the people, essentially attempt to plea bargain by asking what compensation they need to pay for their sins. Then Micah speaking the peoples part says “With what shall I come before the Lord?” They want to know what gifts they should bring to appease the Lord. They almost seem defensive and in an almost mocking way, seem to be saying, “Do you want more animal sacrifices, or do you want us to sacrifice our first born for our crimes? They’re trying to pay off God.

But God rejects all of these. It’s almost a slap in His face that his people would speak to Him in this way so He puts an end to the plea bargaining. He says, “I told you what I require. Do what is right and just, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God.” Everything is contained here. This is what God requires of all His people not just the people of Judah in the Old Testament, or those Jesus encountered when He walked the earth, but it is what he requires of us today.

Those who call themselves Christian, who truly live out a God centered life do not need to demand signs, because God is already with them making Himself known each and every day that they choose to humbly walk with Him, to love as He loves, and to advocate for others so that they are treated fairly and justly.

All who say they believe in God and in Jesus His Son, must continually ask themselves am I doing all that the Lord asks of me or am I living only for myself and what satisfies me today, because I will have the time later to do what the Lord asks.

Let’s not make the mistake of believing there is no urgency. We must not take God’s love and mercy for granted. This is what frustrates the Lord and this is exactly what the evil one is counting on.

       
       
        To Whom Shall we go?  What are we to do?

        The events of the last few months have left me troubled in Spirit.  As an ordained Deacon of the Catholic Church, I find myself wondering, "What do I tell them?  What do I tell my parishioners?  What do I tell any Catholic who faith has been shaken by the revelations of the past few months.  What do I say to them when they come to me and ask why the Shepherds of the Church who were charged with leading them closer to Christ, have let them down?  They are angry, and I am angry.  I have prayed about this and reflected on this daily since the news was broken that some of the  Shepherd's of our Church have abused their position and given in to sinful actions which have injured those they were supposed to care for.  And in my prayer and reflection, the words of St. Peter continue to come back to me after Jesus asks him,"Are you going to leave me too" Then Peter responds "To whom shall we go, you have the words of everlasting life."  It is these words that keep resonating in my ears.
         So in the midst of all of this mess that the Church is embroiled in, what am I to do? What are we to do?
          We do the only thing we can do.  We place our trust in Jesus Christ who established this Church to begin with.  It seems to me that if we believe that Jesus is the head of the Church and that the Holy Spirit continues to lead and guide the Church, it can not be be brought down by the actions of men. If we truly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and that His words are truth and life, then we must we believe that the gates of hell can not prevail against the Church He established.  
         So what do we tell those whose faith has been shaken?  What do we tell those who want to leave the Church, Those who have lost hope?  We tell them that the Sacraments are still the Sacraments, established by Christ to give us grace, strength, and healing.  We tell them that the Eucharist is still the Eucharist, the real presence of Jesus who feeds us and remains with us.  We tell them that it is Jesus who is the head of the Church, not mortal men, and that despite the failures of humans,  the Church is still under God's protection.  
         We tell them that God loves them, and God will not abandon them.  But we don't simply tell them, we walk with them.  We continue to show the love of Jesus to them.  We continue to show them the compassion and mercy of Jesus.  
          The Body of Christ is not just a theoretical concept, or a nice image.  The Body of Christ is the living, breathing presence of Jesus in the world, and we are connected to one another with Jesus as our head, heart, and soul.  Jesus lives and breathes in this world through us, and it is up to us to be Jesus in a world that has lost hope, that can't see Him, that can't feel His love.