Tuesday 1st Week of Advent, St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY GRAPHICS - TUESDAY FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
NOVEMBER 29, 2016
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS

The First Reading talks about the Isaiahian Gifts of the Holy Spirit (as opposed to the Corinthian Gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor 12).

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1st Sunday of Advent @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
NOVEMBER 26-27, 2016
4:30 PM (SAT), 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM MASS

Sleep is a naturally recurring state of body and mind consisting of decreased interaction with external stimuli, and inhibited physical activity. Observed from the outside, it can appear to be a passive and unchanging state of being.

However, there are three stages of sleep, which can be called light, normal, and deep; as well as REM sleep – called this because of the “rapid eye movements” that occur – which as many of you may know, is the period of sleep in which most dreaming occurs.

Light sleep is the initial phase of sleep, occurring at the outset, and consists of a slowing down of the electrical signals in the brain. Normal sleep consists of a continued slowing of brain signals, with periodic bursts of higher frequency activity. Deep sleep consists of slow and regular brain activity. In these phases of sleep, both breathing and heart rate also slow down.

REM sleep, which is when the most vivid dreams take place, consists of brain signals similar to those in a waking state. Breathing becomes more rapid and irregular, and heart rate increases; while the muscles experience sleep paralysis.

And, so it would seem, sleep is not a uniform, dull, or passive state. While from external observation it appears as if nothing is happening … on the inside, many different things are going on.

Today is the First Sunday of Advent. The church decorations have shifted from green to violet, the Advent wreath has one candle lit, and the Scripture readings diverge from solely focusing on the end of time to our preparation for the Three comings of Christ.

Indeed, Christ will come at the end of time. But He also comes to us in Word and Sacrament every time we come together for prayer. And of course, He came over 2,000 years ago as an infant, born in Bethlehem.

Today’s reading from Isaiah is a mid-point between two events which occur before and after the short reading we have just heard. Before this reading, we hear a courtroom scene before the Throne of God. The charges are stated, and the evidence is presented. And after this reading, follow a series of judgments to be leveled against the accused.

But in the middle, God speaks of a promise. A promise of a future righteous kingdom, where all would worship the One, True God. Where conflict and division would be eliminated. The Word of God would proceed from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

In the Epistle reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, we hear three instruction. The first is to wake up. The second is to clean up. And the third is to grow up.

St. Paul tells us that we “know the time.” And so we are to wake up. To take an assessment of our surroundings and to interact with the outside world. We need to shake off any paralysis or dreaminess and take stock of things … right here and right now.

And once we have done that, we are to clean up. Whatever “works of darkness” we may have taken up or acquired are to be cast off … and thrown out so the we might be clothed in the “armor of light”.

And finally, we are to grow up. That is, we must not wallow in our base desires, pleasing only ourselves, and feedingourthe flesh. But we are to assume our roles as full members of Christ, putting on Christ Jesus in all that we think, say, and do.

The Gospel reiterates these three admonitions, but in reverse. Jesus reminds us of the time of Noah when people were wrapped up in worldly affairs and were eventually carried away in the flood.

Next he speaks of one “being taken” and another one “left”. This word translated as “being taken” means to be carried off by a higher power … arrested, or sent off for judgment of ones crimes.

And finally, Jesus reminds us to stay awake.

As we begin these four short weeks of the Advent Season, let us resolve to draw closer to God. Let us wake up, clean up, and grow up in Christ … so that we might rejoice at His coming not only at Christmas, but whenever we gather in His name, and ultimately when He comes in glory.

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Thanksgiving @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - THANKSGIVING DAY
NOVEMBER 24, 2016
7:00 AM, 10:00 AM (THU) ORDINARY FORM MASS

Today we have joined together to commemorate our national holiday of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is historically connected to a 1621 event in Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. Those in attendance were the roughly 50 survivors of the Mayflower’s original 100 who had endured the ocean voyage, and 90 native Americans.

Theologically, the pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation were Calvinist separatists – who wanted nothing to do with the Anglican Church. As contrasted with the Puritans who founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony who while also Calvinists sought to remain within – in order to reform – the Anglican Church.

The famous Indian known as Squanto – technically Tisquantum – was originally kidnapped by an English explorer who brought him to England. He was eventually sold to Spanish monks, who freed him, instructed him in the Catholic Faith, and paid for his return to America.

On his return, he found his entire tribe – the Patuxet – dead from smallpox.

Over the next two years, he assisted the pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation due to his facility in the English language, and helped establish a peaceful alliance between the pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe.

The first 1621 Thanksgiving lasted three days, and was recorded by two historians. The exact date is unknown but is considered to have been around the Feast of Saint Michael.

On October 3, 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation that said, in part:

"Now therefore do I recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November … to be devoted … to the service of that great and glorious Being … [to] all unite in rendering … our sincere and humble thanks …"

74 years later, President Abraham Lincoln designated it as a permanent national holiday, calling upon all citizens and residents to,

"observe the last Thursday of November … as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who [dwells] in the Heavens."

Contemporary historians present alternatives to the Pilgrims. Many other locations claim to have been the first “first” thanksgiving.

Florida claims Ponce de Leon’s celebration in 1513. Texas claims an event celebrating the victory of Coronado in 1541. Virginia and Maine claim an event in 1607.

Nonetheless, the imagery of the 1621 event is embedded in our imaginations and is part of our own national history … or perhaps mythology.

How fitting that we have gathered here this morning to give thanks to God Almighty through the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass. As the word Eucharist itself means “thanksgiving,” let us be attentive to the prayers of the Mass which call to mind this spirit of gratitude.

Our readings from the Old Testament and St. Paul’s Letters both reflect on giving thanks for God’s grace and peace, and the abundant gifts He pours out on – us – His Holy People..

While in the Gospel, we hear how even Jesus Himself struggled to elicit gratitude from people – He only had a 10% success rate.

Perhaps its human nature. We have to work at gratitude. We have to make an effort at being thankful.

Research in positive psychology has concluded that:

"gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships."

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – the Holy Eucharist … a Greek word that means – thanksgiving and gratitude – let us offer a prayer of thanksgiving to Our Lord and God for the benefits we have received in our lives from His most gracious hand.

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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris Parish

HOMILY - 32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
NOVEMBER 5-6, 2016
4:30 PM (SAT), 7:30 AM, 10:30 AM (SUN) ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Today is the start of Vocations Awareness week. Everyone has a vocation, that is a call … placed on their lives from God. God created each person with a purpose, and it is up to us to sift through the chaos of life and follow Christ … not only as clergy or religious … but also as spouses, parents, and singles.

I can trace my own call to the priesthood to the young age of 4. My parents were in the habit of seating all five of us kids in the front row so that we could see what was going on. As a toddler, there’s nothing worse than staring at the back of somebody’s head and wondering what everybody else is looking at.

Back then, in the 60s, the Mass was the old way. And in the summer of 1966, my youngest brother was born – so we all ended stuck in the back row with the baby. For the rest of the summer, I would attempt, mostly unsuccessfully, to get to the edge of the pew so I could look down the aisle at what was going on up front on the altar. Most of the time, I’d make too much noise, and be picked up and taken outside; or else I’d be told to sit still and be quiet. One Sunday, however, I managed to make it to the end of the pew. I was able to lower myself over the edge and onto the floor. Looking back, it seemed that nobody had noticed.

At that point, I saw my chance. I made a break for the front of the church, sprinting as fast as I could, hoped to reclaim my spot back in the front row.

Of course, my dad was faster … and scooped me up … and took me outside … where I wailed at the injustice of it all.

Off-and-on, we would play Mass, wearing a bathrobe or a blanket, with a beach towel around the neck … two flashlights pointed upwards on the coffee table in the place of candles; and then … the process of making hosts by smashing marshmallows between the pages of the dictionary or phone book … with Hawaiian Punch serving in place of wine … a handkerchief and a dish towel for altar cloths.

I’m not sure that we ever made it completely through a Mass before somebody ate all the marshmallows or drank all of the Hawaiian Punch; but I remember that we at least tried.

I was an altar boy, and sang in the choir or lead the music off and on. I also served as a Minister of Communion and a Lector, and helped with Jail Ministry.

Even with a job or while in the Navy, I did what I could at the local parish.

I got a lot of advice … much of it contradictory. But that shouldn’t surprise anyone. No two marriages are the same. And similarly, no two priests or religious are the same.

Eventually, I started taking night school classes in Theology and Philosophy, and after two years left my job to pursue full-time studies. And after seven years of school, I was ordained a priest.

The bottom-line to all of this is that when God calls, it’s not a one-shot deal or a lightning bolt, but usually there are threads and paths that connect throughout your life. It was less of my choice to go into a certain job or profession and more the choice to finally listen to God’s voice and answer His call … the call that God placed on my life from before I was born.

Through all of this, God knew what He was doing … My job was to figure out what it meant for me … and how I was going to follow Him.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray that we will all listen to … and hear … the voice of God … who calls us to follow Him in a variety of ways. A vocation is a calling, and that doesn’t always mean priesthood or religious life. The vocation of spouse and parent is a challenge. And living as a faithful single person is not always easy.

And so, let us pray for each other … that our hearts may be directed “to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.”

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