13th Sunday OT @ St. Helena, St. Apollinaris

HOMILY - THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JUNE 30 / JULY 1, 2018
5:00 PM (SAT), 8:00 AM (ST. HELENA)
5:30 PM (ST. APOLLINARIS) ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES



Merriam-Webster defines “victory” as:

the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist;

or:

achievement of mastery or success in a struggle

Mythology and history warn us of Cadmean victories and Phyrric victories – where winning the battle might mean losing the war; or where winning may result ultimately in a situation worse than losing.

We have all experienced wins and losses … and in spite of the ups and downs of life, we have all made it this far … and hope to continue into the near, if not the distant future … whatever that might bring.



Today is the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. And we hear from the second half of the fifth chapter of St. Mark’s Gospel.

From the end of the fourth … and the entire fifth chapter of this Gospel cover four situations, all related to a struggle which ends in a victory.



Jesus calms a storm: showing His victory over danger.



Jesus cures a possessed man: showing His victory over demons.



Jesus cures a sick woman: showing His victory over disease.



Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead: showing His ultimate victory … even over death itself.

The first reading from the Wisdom of Solomon reminds us that much of what we experience in this life comes from the choices we make. And that a life of righteousness – that is a right relationship with God – prepares us for safety, peace, health, and life.

St. Paul in the Second Letter to the Corinthians admonishes us to imitate Jesus’s life through a generosity of spirit, and by living out our Baptism through Faith, Hope, and Love.

In sharing His Divine Life with us, God gives us the opportunity to honor His gift by generously conforming ourselves to Christ and cooperating with the grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.



Christ’s passion and death was not a Phyrric or Cadmean victory. Rather, His life – and especially His passion, death, and resurrection – show forth not only His obedience to the Father, but even more so, His enthusiastic, willing, and generous acceptance of His mission … doing whatever it might take … to come to the aid of sinful humanity and to repair the damage brought about by the folly of the devil.

Through His complete and total self-gift … and by His example … Christ Jesus attains the Victory for us … provided we are willing to choose Him … and Him alone … over everything else and anything else … that might distract us from God’s call on our lives.



Our generosity in our relationship with God in Christ is always rewarded by God’s generosity to us through the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. If we hold back, God is still generous – but we will suffer the consequences of our own bad choices … which limit the action of God’s grace to work through, with, and in us … and to transform us … to transform our lives … and to transform our world.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ … let us pray that we might be “all in” for God. Let us make a firm choice to live our lives for Jesus Christ … through Him, with Him, and in Him. Knowing that whatever may come our way, the ultimate victory is our in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Nativity of St. John the Baptist @ St. Apollinaris, St. Helena, Holy Family

HOMILY - NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
JUNE 24, 2018
8:00 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASS (SAINT HELENA)
12:00 PM EXTRAORDINARY FORM (LATIN) MASS (HOLY FAMILY)

5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASS (SAINT APOLLINARIS)

Today is the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.

The Church only celebrates three “Nativities” – or “Birthdays:” Jesus’ birthday on Christmas, December 25; Mary’s birthday on September 8; and today, the birthday of St John the Baptist, June 24.



We all have a pretty good idea who St. John the Baptist was. The parish 10 minutes south of us near downtown Napa is named for St. John the Baptist. As is the parish nearly 90 minutes northwest in Healdsburg.

John the Baptist is also called the Forerunner or the Precursor … referring to his role in preparing the way for Jesus.



In today’s Gospel, we hear the confusion when John’s father does not want his son to be named after himself – but rather fulfills the Archangel’s command that he be named “John;” a name which means “God is gracious.” And how fulfilling that command frees Zechariah from the 9 month God-imposed silence … because he doubted the message of Gabriel.

The reading from Isaiah speaks of a servant whom God calls from before he was born. This text can be applied to Jesus, John the Baptist, or to any one of us. God calls all of us, and today we can reflect on the last of the prophets – St. John the Baptist.



Finally, in the second reading from Acts, we hear the beginning of the first recorded sermon of St. Paul.

This sermon of St. Paul’s, can be broken into three parts: preparation, declaration, and application.
In the first part, “preparation,” Paul speaks about how God prepared the Jewish people for the coming of the Messiah. This part is easy. The Jewish people lived in a far away land, and were different than the Pagans. For his listeners, Paul was recounting history … about a people – a “they” – who lived in a distant land.



In the second part, “declaration,” Paul speaks about what God desires to do for anyone who will believe in Jesus and the Gospel. This would have gotten their attention – telling them what God is going to do for “you.” While the old adage says “it is better to give than to receive,” there is always excitement when someone gives “you” a gift.

And in the third part, Paul tells his listeners what it is that they need to do. Here is the hard part – what do “I” have to do … in order to receive the gift they must hear the Gospel, repent and believe, and be Baptized.



Here we see how Baptism was already an integral part of the early Church. Yet while John baptized to inspire his followers to repentance, the Baptism in the Church is in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit – and is a baptism of regeneration … washing away sins, especially the stain of original sin.



One is symbol – brought by the forerunner; the other is Sacrament – given by God’s graciousness.
And so, today we honor St. John the Baptist, and commend ourselves to his intercession.

May we, who receive today the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ … in recalling our own Baptism, pray for true repentance. And may the graces we receive in this Eucharist today strengthen our resolve to persevere in following the call God has placed upon each and every one of us.

VBS @ St. Apollinaris Parish

HOMILIES - VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
JUNE 18 - 22, 2017

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4th Sunday after Pentecost @ Holy Family Rutherford

HOMILY - FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
JUNE 17, 2018
12:00 PM EXTRAORDINARY FORM (LATIN) MASS



Pretty much every American school kid knows that July 4, 1776 was the day the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia.

Perhaps less known is that on June 15, 1215 in Runnymede, England the Magna Carta was signed. And last Friday – besides being payday –  marked the 803rd anniversary of that fateful day.

Prior to the signing of the Magna Carta, English kings were somewhat at liberty to act as they saw fit, for good or for ill. Enormous burdens through taxes and levies were common; as were arbitrary seizures of people, property, and cash by the Crown. The unchecked power of the monarchy led to widespread corruption.



Enter the Magna Carta – the Great Charter of Liberties – that ensured the right to own and inherit property, and protection from excessive taxation. Things we take for granted 803 years later – such as, the consent of the governed, due process, equal protection, and separation of church and state – find their origins in the Magna Carta.

Today is the 4th Sunday after Pentecost.

In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, he speaks about the “expectation of the creature waiteth” Pointing out “the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.”



While this sounds awkward, the Greek word used for “the creature” – κτίσις – is a word used by rabbis to mean someone who had converted from idolatry … and so, perhaps a better rendering would be “convert from idolatry” or alternately “idolater” or “convert” depending on the context.

In the Gospel, we hear Our Lord’s admonition to St. Peter to “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” While Peter protests – after all, it was the end of long hard day of work, and the fishermen had caught nothing at all.



Yet God has a plan. Despite what we may think. The result of Peter going against his own will and fulfilling Christ’s command is a miracle: “a very great multitude of fishes.” So great, that “their net broke.”

Indeed, regardless of how we may weigh our own circumstances, God remains in control. God’s law, and God’s plan overshadow our own plan. And no matter what we may consider as “liberty” . . . unrestrained liberty rapidly descends into license … what we often see played out in the world.
We must be reminded over and over … that true freedom … true liberty … comes through Jesus Christ.



Yet are we fully convinced of this? Are we totally committed to living our lives through, with, and in Jesus Christ? When we think we have a better idea … or perhaps when things don’t go our way … do we cast aside fidelity to Christ and instead pursue our own whims? Or even, perhaps, wade into the corruption of the world?

Saint Paul reminds at the start of todays reading “that we are the [children] of God … heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ”  but not through force of will, but rather “if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.”



As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us put out into the deep. Let us step out in fatih, setting aside any fears or misgivings … and place ourselves in the hands of Our Savior. Let us remember that all Creation – ourselves included – is subject to the Laws of God and Reign of God … and as members of the Body of Christ, we are called to be citizens of the Kingdom of God, and reign with Christ in eternity.

11th Sunday OT @ St. Apollinaris Parish

HOMILY - ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JUNE 17, 2018
8:00 AM (ST. HELENA), 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES



Best known for their Fairy Tales, the Grimm brothers (Jacob and Wilhelm) were born in 1785 and 1786.

Lesser known is that both brothers lived difficult lives, worked hard to continue their educations without support, and supported their families through hard work from a young age.



Jacob was a linguist, a lawyer, and a writer; and Wilhelm an author and anthropologist.

Not only did they compile and edit several editions of their books of fairy tales, but they also worked together on creating a German dictionary.



As a linguist, Jacob is known for what is called Grimm’s Law which shows the relationship between b, p, and f; d, t, and th; and g, k, and x. For example, the English word “brother” correlates to the German word “bruder;” where the d and the th are somehow historically connected to a more ancient parental language.

Despite their humble beginnings, the Brothers Grimm have their place in not only German but western culture – through hard work, perseverance, and study.

Today is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time.



In the first reading we hear a prophecy told in a clever story.

A prophecy is more than a prediction. The Hebrew prophets spoke of future things using the past tense – that is, as something that already happened … but that was still waiting to be revealed.
While Ezekiel is speaking about trees, this is not a proclamation on horticulture. He is speaking of future kings, and of one king who would carry on the dynasty of Kings David and Solomon – after it would appear that the line had been destroyed. That is the shoot that is transplanted from the withered tree.



St. Paul speaks to the Corinthians about the realities of Christian death. The early Christians struggled wondering “when is Jesus returning?” Next week, next year, next millenium? Here we are in the second Christian millenium – two thousand years – and we still struggle.

But in order to make it something they could not only remember, but perhaps understand, Paul speaks of “being at home” … and that in this life, “we are at home in the body,” while in the next, we “go home to the Lord.” Both are homes, both are part of our Christian journey.



And finally, we hear two of Our Lord’s Kingdom parables. Parables are more than fairy tales or prophecies or allegories.

The parables of Jesus are meant to reveal Divine realities by using common things and activities. In the light of His Incarnation, this is logical – because if God became man, He most certainly would use visible human activities and objects as a way to convey the unseen mysteries of God.

And apart from the Gospel verse “The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower,” the seed can also be seen as God’s grace poured out on humanity – and taking root, and bringing with it transformation in us and in our lives. Or that like small seeds, grace is barely noticeable, yet can have an enormous effect.



It is important to not ascribe divine power to fairy tales. Snow White may teach a moral lesson, but she is not revealing the mysteries of God. On the other hand, turning all prophecies and parables into fairy tales or wisdom lessons, denies the whole of Salvation History and God’s unfolding of His mysteries – which are fully revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – let us pray that we might be inspired by God’s grace to a deeper understanding and experience of His revelation. And as we continue this Sacred Liturgy – may the signs and symbols of the Mass point us to higher things – ultimately to God … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Sacred Heart @ Holy Family Rutherford

HOMILY - EXTERNAL SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART
JUNE 10, 2018
12:00 PM EXTRAORDINARY FORM (LATIN) MASS



During the Octave of Corpus Christi in the year 1675, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque – a Visitation nun in the French town of Paray-le-Monial – had what is called the “great apparition.” She had a vision of Jesus holding out His pierced heart toward her and said:

Behold this Heart which has so loved men, that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself in order to testify to its love. In return, I have received from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and their sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in this sacrament of Love.

I was once asked to represent the Catholic position on “The Atonement.” I wasn’t familiar with this term, because it is perhaps one of the only theological terms that originates in the English language. In a sense, it relates to redemption, righteousness, and relationship.



When I arrived (late) at this theological “free for all,” someone from a mainstream denomination was carrying on with the theme of “What kind of Father kills his own Son,” and “Wearing a Crucifix is like wearing an electric chair, or wearing a noose.” In effect, mocking the Trinity and mocking the Cross.

After this enthralling discourse, it was my turn.

I began by speaking of the infinite Love of the Most Holy Trinity, traveling at an infinite speed, in an infinite quantity, with infinite force – and when this infinite … infinite … infinite … infinite Love meets the immoveable free will of humanity … it’s like a train wreck … like a high speed train being driven into a brick wall.



And then I pulled out my crucifix from under my shirt, and held it up, saying: “God didn’t do this. We did. We’re the ones who tell God, ‘No,’ or ‘Not now,’ or ‘Not yet.’ We are the ones who reject the infinite Love of God. And this is what that train wreck looks like.”

Today, I have chosen to offer the Mass of the Sacred Heart as an External Solemnity. This is allowed in the Extraordinary Form for this feast as well as in October for the Most Holy Rosary.

The Gospel provides us with an understanding of how the world looks at the “train wreck” that I described above. That is, what is the world’s response to the devastation caused by its rejection … our rejection … when the infinite, high speed, enormous Love of God … crashes into the brick wall of an immoveable, unrepentant human heart.



In the first place, God's love is inconvenient. Our Lord hung dead from his cross, but because it was the day before an important Sabbath, something had to be done with these bodies.

Secondly, the world is impatient to move beyond God's love. While Our Lord was dead, the thieves were not. So, the Romans broke their legs, hastening their deaths by asphyxiation.

Thirdly, the world is cruel in the face of God's love. Our Lord was already dead. His Blessed Mother standing by the Cross had to watch as a soldier desecrated His precious Body by piercing His side with a lance.



And despite the world’s response – Blood and Water poured forth. Signs of Baptism and the Eucharist – the entry into the Sacraments, and the Source and Summit of our Christian life.

The world does not comprehend the immensity, the abundance, the intensity of the Love of God for all humanity. And perhaps, neither do we. But today, we can pray the prayer of reparation, as Our Lord requested nearly 350 years ago.

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Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for me is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Your altar (in Your presence) eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Your loving Heart is everywhere subject.

Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Your pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying for from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow You, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Your Law. We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against You; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against You and Your Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Your Vicar on earth and Your priest are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Your Divine Love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which You have founded. Would, O divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Your divine honor, the satisfaction You once made to Your eternal Father on the cross and which You continue to renews daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Your Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Your grace, for all neglect of Your great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent other from offending You and to bring as many as possible to follow You.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowing gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to You, so that we may one day come to that happy home, where You with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, world without end. 

– Amen.

10th Sunday OT @ St. Helena Parish

HOMILY - TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JUNE 9-10, 2018
5:00 PM (SAT), 8:00 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES



Rhetoric is one of the three ancient arts of discourse – collectively known as the trivium – that is, grammar, logic, and (of course) rhetoric.

Rhetoric is the art of informing, persuading, or motivating an audience. It requires the speaker understand, discover, and develop words, ideas, and knowledge; and to appeal to reason, emotion, and beliefs; crafting words through invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery.



The orator Hermagoras of Temnos, from the second century B.C., took the septem circumstantiae of Aristotle – that is, the seven elements of circumstances – as a starting point for exploring any subject rhetorically.



Those seven elements are: 


Quis, quid, quando, ubi, cur, quem ad modum, quibus adminiculis.

And if your Latin is rusty, they are:

Who, what, when, where, why, in what way, by what means.

A mnemonic can be found at the end of The Elephant’s Child in Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories, at the beginning of a poem, which reads:

I keep six honest serving-men:

(They taught me all I knew)
Their names are What and Where and When

And How and Why and Who.

These are sometimes called, in English, The Five W’s – questions whose answers are useful in gathering information. They are used in journalism, writing, research, or investigations as a sort of checklist for quickly getting to the bottom of things. Answering each of these questions with a factual answer can provide a basic outline of what is going on.

Today is the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and our readings present us with questions and answers.



In the Old Testament Reading, our First Parents have just fallen from grace. God Himself enters the scene and asks them three questions:

Where are you?
Who told you [this]?
Why did you do [it]?

These three simple questions form a sort of examination of conscience – which can be helpful when dealing with a personal failure or shortcoming.

In the Second Letter to the Corinthians, today’s reading has Paul providing answers to questions about Faith and Hope, suffering and eternity.



In the Gospel, Jesus’ relatives must have been asking questions, too; and they have come to the conclusion that Jesus is “out of his mind.” When in fact, the reality of the situation was: Jesus was certainly “out of their mind” – that is, thinking outside of the box. But there is no question that in doing His Father’s will, Jesus is always thinking with the mind of God.

Which raises the question: How are we to understand more fully the mind of God, or the plan of God, or the power of God … with only the use of a limited human intellect. God is infinite, we are finite. God is all-knowing, we need instruction. God is immortal, we only live for what seems a short time.



We need to rely on the the grace of God and the gifts of God … poured out on us through the Sacraments … and in particular through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit – so that we can aspire to lift our minds to Divine things.

The gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, and Counsel inform and direct our minds; in order to raise our thoughts to the heights of God. While the gifts of Fortitude, Piety, and Reverence direct our will toward God … and in the direction of God’s will and God’s plan.

In the Sacraments, we answer questions all the time – Baptism, Matrimony and Holy Orders all require the responses: “I do,” “I do,” “I do.”



And shortly, we will profess our Faith together, answering the question: “What do I believe?”

At the end of the Gospel, Jesus asks: "Who are my mother and my brothers?” And immediately gives the answer: “[W]hoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Which begs the question for us – are we doing God’s will? And if not, what is keeping us from putting into action those words we will all pray before Communion: “Thy will be done.”



As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray that our answer to God’s call and God’s Will … will always be “Yes.” And in that “yes,” we can be assured that we are living through, with, and in Christ; attuned to and knowledgable in God’s Word; and doing all we can to follow Him – the Way, the Truth, and the Life.