3rd Sunday after Epiphany @ St. Matthew, Flint, MI

HOMILY - THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
JANUARY 22, 2017
SUNDAY 3:00 PM EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASS



For those who watched the recent Inauguration, it was refreshing to see six religious leaders offer prayers and readings from Scripture, five of whom represented Christian Churches or ecclesial communities, and four of whom proclaimed the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
In today's Gospel, we see Christ healing a leper as well as the servant of a Roman official.
The leper was a social outcast. For a leper to approach someone was illegal. Yet Jesus doesn't remind him of the law. For someone to touch a leper made that person unclean. Yet Jesus touches the leper.
Our Lord solves the latter problem by making the leper clean through a miraculous healing. The wrong is righted, not by banishing Jesus to a leper colony for a trial period, but by cleansing the leper of what was then an incurable and eventually terminal illness.
Jesus shows us that God knows no boundaries, nor does God respect our boundaries.
The second healing is done for a Roman official. Again, not someone in favor with the local Jewish authorities. The Romans were the hegemonistic occupying pagan force. Foreign invaders who worshipped false gods. Aliens who desecrated the land by their mere presence, whose armies kept the people at bay, and whose violence was feared.
Yet Jesus does not hesitate to offer to go and heal the man's servant.
He doesn't lecture him on freedom, or local rule. He doesn't demand a withdrawal of forces. Nor does he lecture him on slavery, for this servant was most certainly a slave and not a hired hand.
Jesus is not ashamed of our problems. His mission is to save, to heal, to redeem the individual.
Even with this, the Roman official, perhaps sensitive to the purity law of the Jews, prefers that Jesus not enter his home lest He incur ritual impurity. Here, the foreigner has more faith and respect for the Law than many of those in Israel.
Jesus recognizes his faith, and praises him for it. And in a show of authority for a man of authority, Jesus gives the word to heal the servant.
God knows no boundaries. God is not ashamed of our issues.
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins. Despite the walls we build, the prejudices we hold, the lines we draw in the sand. God reaches through these, and saves us ... heals us ... redeems us ... from our sins and from the effects of sin in the world.
What is needed from us is the humble word of Faith ... recognizing that God is God and we are not ... not a strident demand ... not a closeted denial of our issues ... but an open, honest recognition of what separates us from God, and the desire for redemption and healing.
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray to never be ashamed of Christ – for He is not ashamed of us. He died on the cross for us, for our sins, and for our issues. Not to approve of sin, but to raise us above it. As we receive the Eucharist today, may we reach through our boundaries and touch Christ. May the manifold graces of this sacrament today heal us ... save us ... and redeem us. Not by our power, but through Christ and by the will of God the Father, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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2nd Sunday after Epiphany @ Holy Family Mission, Rutherford

HOMILY - SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
JANUARY 15, 2017
SUNDAY 12:00 NOON EXTRAORDINARY FORM MASS



Today's reading is from the Second Chapter of St. John's Gospel.
The First Chapter of St. John's Gospel is used throughout the year as the Last Gospel at Mass, with the exception of the Third Mass of Christmas, where it is read as the Gospel of that Mass.
The Gospel of St. John does not start with a history of Jesus' lineage like the Synoptic Gospels, but rather parallels the Creation account in Genesis. The Creation account in Genesis begins with the three words, "In the beginning," and ends with the Creation of Man and Woman. The Creation account in the first two chapters of St. John's Gospel begins with the same three words, "In the beginning," and ends with the Wedding Feast at Cana, the Gospel of today's Mass. The interaction between Our Blessed Mother and Our Lord are telling. Our Lady tells Christ, "They have no wine," and He responds "Woman, what is that to me and to thee?" In other words, Our Lord is responding in a sense with the words of Psalm 8:5, "What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?" This is not Our Lord shirking His call or being selfish – and you might hear someone claim that, although they are wrong. Rather, Our Lord is indicating that despite the lowly position of humanity in relation to the majesty of God, God still desires to enter into a relationship, not only with humanity in general, but with each individual person. That is the supernatural action of the Holy Sacrament of Baptism which brings us in to the life of the Trinity, and makes us children of God. Too often we sell God short, presuming that He only wants to be part of the large issues, or the major crises in our lives. But, God desires to be involved in every part of our lives – both great and small, as well as the dark and light places. How can Christ truly save us if we do not allow him to save us from everything and if we do not return to Him all the good He has given us. We must bring God into every part of our lives and offer everything we are to Him. Our waking and our sleeping; our thinking and our dreaming; anything and everything is to be offered up to God through Christ. At the Offertory, after we chant the Credo, offer with the priest every aspect of your life and your selves to Him. As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, let us receive Him in this Eucharist and offer Him every aspect of our lives. Let Him save what needs saving, and consecrate our every action and thought to Him and Him alone.

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2nd Sunday OT @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)
JANUARY 14-15, 2017
SATURDAY 4:30 PM, SUNDAY 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM (RUTHERFORD), 10:30 AM (YOUNTVILLE) ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASS

In Japanese, when meeting someone, it is polite to say “Hajimemashite” (はじめまして), which is often translated loosely as “Pleased to meet you,” but actually means “It is the beginning,” or “It is the first time.” If you follow sumo or martial arts competitions, you will also hear the referees say right before the beginning of the action, “Hajime” (はじめ) which means “to start,” or “to begin.”
Today we begin the Sundays of Ordinary Time. In Latin, it’s called “tempus per annum”, or time during the year.
Ordinary – which we might consider to mean “unremarkable,” or “run-of-the-mill” – here means “ordered,” or “numbered.”
In essence, we count our way through the Church’s liturgical year, marking time for now until the beginning of Lent on the first day of March.
Our readings today have an ordered or structured approach as well.
The First Reading from Isaiah comes from what are called the “Servant Songs” – prophecies which foretell the coming of the Messiah – a Hebrew word rendered in Greek as “Christ” – both of which mean “the anointed one.” Anointing figures prominently in the rites for both Baptism and Confirmation. And so, through these two Sacraments of Initiation, we too, become “anointed.”
In the Second Reading from the beginning of St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul calls them as members of the Church – the Body of Christ – to be “sanctified in Christ Jesus, [and] called to be holy”.
We too are called to be made holy in Christ Jesus . . . sanctified for our work as His hands and feet, as His voice . . . in the world we live in.
Today’s Gospel Reading is from the First Chapter of St. John’s Gospel.
John’s Gospel is unique among the four Gospels because within its first chapter . . . it parallels the Creation account found in the Book of Genesis – the first book of the Bible.
On Christmas, the Gospel reading for the Mass during the day, is the start of John’s Gospel. And identical toGenesis, the first words of John’s Gospel are:
In the beginning . . .
From there John parallels the seven days of creation with seven events from the beginning of Christ’s ministry.
Just as the Creation account in Genesis leads to the creation of Man and Woman in the first Creation, John’s Gospel leads to the Wedding Feast at Cana.
Today’s Gospel reading is the Second Day of the new Creation, where St. John the Baptist speaks of both Baptism in water, and how the Christ will “baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
This parallels the creation of the waters above and below in Genesis – drawing a parallel between the material creation and the new creation – a spiritual re-creation – brought about by Christ’s reconciling all things to Himself by the Blood of His Cross (Col 1:20) as all creation cries out for redemption in Christ (Rom 8:20ff).
And so, we find ourselves at the beginning of a new year. Let us be reminded of our own Baptism and Confirmation – where we were made the children of God, and anointed as members of Christ’s Body the Church – and as such called to live in the new creation in Christ.
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, may we begin anew. Let us pray that we might be configured more deeply to Christ . . . as individuals as well as members of His Body the Church. And as such, may we share in His mission to restore all creation . . . through the Power of the Holy Spirit.

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Tuesday 1st Week OT @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY - TUESDAY 1ST WEEK ORDINARY TIME
JANUARY 10, 2017
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS (4TH GRADE)



In today's Gospel, we hear that Jesus "taught with authority."

An authority is an "expert power" in something.

We see in the word "authority" the first six letters spell "author." An author is the creator of something – whether a book, or a work of art. In the case of God, He is the "Author" of all creation.

Jesus is the Son of God, and "through Him all things were made" according to the First Chapter of St. John's Gospel. Therefore, Jesus shares in God's authority because He shares in creation with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Human authority is always derived. We base our opinions and motives, too often, on things we've heard without true knowledge of what we are saying. It can be like a game of "telephone tag," where by the time the message is passed through so many people, it's completely distorted and lost.

As God, Jesus can say "I am" with the authority of the Son of God. He is consubstantial with the Father, and shares perfect union within the Trinity as the Second Person of the Godhead.

Because of this, Jesus has many titles. He is God's Word incarnate, our Savior, the Messiah, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Light for the human race, Emmanuel, our King, the Bread of Life. And He exercises His authority in all these ways.

The Letter to the Hebrews says that Jesus is "crowned with glory," that is, He has authority over all things and over all creation. We see that in the Gospel where He shows His power through healings and exorcisms. He has authority over the visible, physical world as well as the invisible, spiritual world.

And despite His great power, He is "not ashamed to call us brothers" and sisters. And we should never take that for granted. We need to give Jesus full authority over every aspect of our lives, no matter how trivial or small it may seem.

Every day, we should do everything for the Glory of God through Jesus Christ in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

That is the key to living a solid Christian life.

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Epiphany @ St. Joan of Arc, Yountville

HOMILY - THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
JANUARY 7, 2017
SUNDAY 10:30 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord – the great feast celebrating the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

In the Epiphany, we close the Christmas Season, and next week will be back in Green Vestments, reflecting what is called Ordinary Time.

It was November when we were last in Ordinary Time – and here, ordinary does not mean ‘routine,’ but perhaps would be better called ‘ordinal’ or ‘numbered’ – we left Ordinary time just before Thanksgiving, and pick it up in a week.

So, what has transpired?

We spent four weeks in Advent, preparing for the Three Comings of Christ: (1) His coming in the flesh at Christmas, (2) His coming to us in Word and Sacrament – most especially in the Eucharist, and (3) His coming at the end of time.

And for the past two weeks, we have celebrated Christmas.

The rest of the world, it would seem, is “out of order.” They began celebrating Christmas sometime around Hallowe’en, and for the past two weeks have been getting ready for various random Federal Holidays and perhaps Valentine’s Day.

The Epiphany elicits images of the Three Wise Men and their three gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Modern scholars dispute the actual number of wise men, whether they were kings, or wise, or even men; and many other sorts of minutiae … perhaps seeking to introduce some sort of ‘disorder’ into our hearts and minds and souls.

But whoever they were, the three gifts represent the first time that non-Jews recognized the coming of the Christ, as well as who He truly is.

Gold acknowledges that He is a king, even though He is born in a stable and lives a humble life.

Frankincense acknowledges that He is God – the rising of sweet-smelling smoke represents our prayers rising to God.

And Myrrh acknowledges that He has come to die – His sacrifice bringing order back to Creation after the disorder brought by the sin of our First Parents in the Garden of Eden.

Today’s feast has an even greater emphasis in the Eastern Churches.

Not only is Christ’s coming in the Flesh to the Gentiles – that is not only the Three Magi, but also ourselves as well – commemorated, but also His Baptism in the Jordan, and His First Miracle at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee.

Yesterday’s daily Mass reading, the Saturday at the end of Christmas season, was from St. John’s Gospel and reflects this miracle – or what St. John calls “the beginning of His signs” … the first of seven signs enumerated in St. John’s Gospel. In this reading, we hear the words of His Blessed Mother, Mary, who tells the servers, and we do well to heed Her words: “Do whatever He tells you.”

A call to heed the Voice of Christ in the Person of the Word made Flesh, but also in the Word of God – that is, in Sacred Scripture.
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Three Wise Men. 

A call to heed Christ manifested in human Flesh – elevating human dignity to a higher place – within ourselves, in the assembled community, in our neighbor, and in a special way in the poor and needy.

And tomorrow, we will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. 

A call to heed Christ manifested in the Sacraments. Our access to the Sacraments is only possible through Baptism, and once we are “in the door” so-to-speak, the highest point is our regular and worthy reception of Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar – the Holy Eucharist.

And so, with the East, we reflect upon the manifestations of Jesus Christ in the Flesh, in the Word, and in the Sacraments.

As we approach this altar to receive the Most Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ; let us pray for the grace to truly recognize Christ in each other, in the Sacred Word, and in the Church’s Sacramental life.

May we submit our hearts, and our minds, and our souls to Jesus Christ – our King, our God, and our Sacrifice – and call upon Him as our Savior … He Who alone can order our disordered world and bring order ot any disorder in our own lives. 

Let us call out to Him to save us – Jesus Christ – Savior of the world!

+ Wedding at Cana + Adoration of the Magi + Baptism in the Jordan +

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Mother of God @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD  

DECEMBER 31, 2016; JANUARY 1, 2017

SATURDAY 4:30 PM, SUNDAY 7:30 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Today we celebrate the Octave Day of Christmas, the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.
The Church teaches four Marian dogma; two of ancient origin, and two of more modern origin. They are:

1. Mary’s Perpetual Virginity

2. Mary’s Maternity

3. Mary’s Immaculate Conception

4. Mary’s Assumption into Heaven (at the end of her life)

Just 24 days ago, we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. That dogma is one of the two modern dogma, having been promulgated in 1850 by Blessed Pope Pius IX (the ninth.) It was the resolution of a 400 year old theological argument between the Dominicans and the Franciscans. One that heated up so much in its first 200 years, that Pope Gregory XV imposed absolute silence on the until the Holy See should rule on the matter.
The result was the first of the modern Marian dogma held by the Church.
The second modern dogma, was declared in 1950 by Venerable Pope Pius XII. That dogma is celebrated with solemnity on August 15.
The first ancient Marian dogma is Her Perpetual Virginity. This was widely supported by the early Church Fathers, and affirmed by many Ecumenical Councils by the 7th century. And even the early reformers held this until recent time.
And today, we commemorate the second ancient Marian dogma - Our Lady under the title of “Mother of God.”
Why all this talk about Mary? The reason being that all good theology about Mary is good theology about Jesus.
In fact, Her role as “Mother of God” was contested in a situation which brought into question who Jesus was.
In the 5th century, the new patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius – recently come from Antioch – was denying that Mary was “Mother of God,” and asserting that she was merely the “Mother of Christ.”
Nestorius also asserted that God could not become human, that Jesus could not be con-substantial with God the Father, and held that Christ was in a sense “possessed” by God the Son and was sort-of God and sort-of Man.
You may recognize in these words above a contortion of the Creed which we profess at every Mass. The Creed that was formulated in 325 at the Council of Nicea. We profess every time we recite the Creed that Jesus is “True God and true man” … “consubstantial with the Father” … “God from God, . . . True God from True God.”
The fathers of the Council of Ephesus in 431 recognized that by chipping away at what the Church would teach about Mary, Nestorius was putting the belief of all Christians at risk. That is, by going after the Mother, he was also attacking the Son.
Nestorius’ teaching was declared heresy – that is, is was seen as an opinion at odds with the ancient teachings of the Church. Nestorius never recanted his teaching, but he retired to a monastery where he lived out the rest of his days.
And so, today, we celebrate Mary’s Motherhood – the Greek title for this is “Theotokos” or “God-bearer.” We will affirm in a few moments in the Creed Jesus’ relationship to God and to us.


HOMILY GRAPHICS - 10:30 AM (ALL SCHOOL) ORDINARY FORM MASS

On a side note, the Catholic Church and the Nestorian Church of the East – in 1994 – signed a document affirming Mary’s title as Mother of God, and Mother of Christ. Ending a more than 1500 (fifteen hundred) year dispute.
Indeed, the Faith we hold is always Universal – a proposition of “both-and” and very rarely a proposition of “either-or.”
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us give thanks to Almighty God for the Faith we all hold – ever ancient, ever new. Let us also close out this Octave of Christmas, knowing that Christ has indeed come . . . and is with us . . . Emmanuel . . . our Savior . . . the Newborn King.


DUE TO THE DOGMATIC NATURE OF THIS HOMILY, 
AND RECTORY CANINE'S INTEREST IN ALL THINGS "DOG," 
TOBY "THE WONDER DOG" IMPARTS HIS "WOOF" OF APPROVAL. 

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