17th Sunday OT @ St. Apollinaris

HOMILY - SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JULY 29, 2018
7:30 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES



Joseph Lowthian Hudson (or J. L. Hudson) was born in England in 1846. His family emigrated to Canada in 1855, and to Michigan in 1860.

Aside from providing the seed capital for the car company that bore his name in 1909, he is perhaps most well-remembered in the Detroit area for his retail department store.



Founded in 1881, eighty years later it was the #2 department store in the U.S. and boasted the tallest department store building – a 25 story building, covering an entire city block.

It was responsible for a Thanksgiving Day parade, and a July 4th Freedom Festival and fireworks display.

The auto company was absorbed into what became American Motors Corporation in 1959. By the time the store was 100 years old, it was in heavy decline, and twenty years later was bought out by what became Target Corporation.



The parade and festival are still around, but now under the control of an events management corporation

For myself, growing up in Detroit, Hudson’s is a series of memories spanning from my earliest childhood into adulthood.



As a young man, I utilized their gift wrapping service – watching the young ladies who could not only quickly wrap a box, but do it perfectly – or at least, so it seemed to me. I remember asking questions while they worked, and being shown – over and over – how they did it.

I’m not sure I ever mastered the fine art of gift wrapping, but I did gain at least some knowledge of it.



Today is the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. And today we begin the first part of the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel – which we will hear over the next several weeks.

The First Reading gives us a glimpse of the end of the 4th chapter of Second Kings. The prophet Elisha – the successor of Elijah the prophet – shows God’s power, mercy, and grace in the lives of the people.

What we hear today, is the fourth and last miracle of grace done by the prophet Elisha – the multiplication of bread. Demonstrating that grace satisfies our needs.



The three other episodes show us also that grace redeems, grace gives life, and grace heals.
In the Old Testament, God chose to work through prophets, patriarchs, and judges. And so, the action of grace – the gift of God – is given through the prophet himself.

Elisha is remarkable in that before his master Elijah was taken into heaven, Elisha was given one request; in which he asked for the gift of a double portion of the spirit of Elijah.

St. Paul speaks to us of unity – our call to live as the One Body of Christ. Now unity is not uniformity. Rather we are united by living a life of moderation but united in the Holy Spirit – through those gifts and fruits of the Spirit – and in peace and in charity.



This chapter of the Letter to the Ephesians begins by speaking of the grace of unity, moving on to the ground (or foundation) of unity, and then in the remainder of the chapter – which we did not hear today – St. Paul finishes by explaining the gifts of unity, and how the Church grows in unity through these gifts..

Finally, we begin today the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel – the Bread of Life Discourse. The story commences with the feeding of the multitude.



When confronted with this monumental need, the disciples take three very human approaches to dealing with it. Their initial response is that Our Lord should send the crowd away. Phillip chimes in about the financial requirements – taking a pessimistic view of what is needed. Andrew evaluates the present situation – what was available – but he sees no use in even trying.

Jesus proposes a fourth way. He gives thanks. And in that act of thanksgiving, he takes, blesses, breaks, and gives the bread and fish to the multitude.

That act of thanksgiving – in Greek εὐχαριστήσας (eucharistesas) where we get the word “Eucharist” – is the moment of overwhelming grace. When God receives the little we bring and brings it to perfection … fulfillment … multiplies it – beyond our own limited expectations.
We have four options, too, on how we respond to God’s gift of grace.



We can turn it away. We can overestimate its cost. We can underestimate its value.

Or we can – in a moment of thanksgiving – give ourselves completely over to it. Allowing ourselves to be taken, blessed, broken, and given – according to God’s will and God’s plan for us.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ … let us immerse ourselves in the infinite and manifold graces of this most Blessed Sacrament of the altar. Let us offer ourselves in thanksgiving – as a Eucharistic sacrifice – with Christ … and receive the gifts of grace that God desires for us … in unity … in peace … and in love.

16th Sunday OT @ St. Helena

HOMILY - SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JULY 21 / 22, 2018
5:00 PM (SAT), 8:00 AM (ST. HELENA) ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES



Rear Admiral Alan B. Shepherd was the first American in space, and the fifth man to set foot on the moon. Not only the fifth man on the moon, but also the oldest, and the earliest born.

He was born in 1923, in Derry, New Hampshire; and died in Pebble Beach in 1998 – at the age of 74.
He served in the US Navy during World War II, and was one of the first astronauts, being chosen as one of the Mercury 7 in 1959.

His first space flight was May 5, 1961. The one obvious malfunction was that there was no provision for … well … using the bathroom. Nature called during the flight, and Shepherd’s space suit suffered a couple of non-fatal electrical shorts.

Three months short of 10 years later, he was on the moon – and is famous for hitting two golf balls … the second one (he claims) flew for “miles and miles.”



Today is the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

And besides the first reading which speaks of the failure of human leaders to properly shepherd the people of Israel – and God’s promise to appoint a shepherd Himself … and the Gospel, where St. Mark indicates Our Lord’s pity for the people who were “like sheep without a shepherd;” and the Responsorial from Psalm 23 … what do shepherds have to do with today’s readings?

Not much.

Neither is there much connection with astronaut Alan Shepherd.

Rather, today’s Gospel is a prelude to the next month’s worth of Gospel readings on the Bread of Life discourse.



Over the next several weeks, we will shift gears from Mark’s Gospel – which brings us to the point just before Jesus feeds the multitude – to John’s Gospel … Chapter 6 … which is the theology of the Most Holy Eucharist … right from the Savior’s mouth.

St. Paul gives us a theological foreshadowing of this. Telling the Ephesians, and us as well that “the blood of Christ” has brought us near to God, has broken down our divisions, and established peace.
We are “reconcile[d]” with God “through the cross . . . through [Christ] . . . in one Spirit to [God] the Father.”



This word – “reconciliation” comes from a Greek word (apokatallassō) that literally means to reverse a separation through a transformation.

This is the point of the Sacraments. Baptism changes us from strangers to God into members of His family. Confirmation moves us from spiritual infancy into spiritual maturity.

We are fed by the Eucharist – which is the whole point of the Mass – and our celebration of the Eucharist at the altar.



Every Mass, we hear this proclaimed at the end of each Eucharistic Prayer: “Through him, and with him, and in him . . .”

And the graces we receive are the power of God which brings about the reversal of whatever separates us from God . . . so that we may be transformed by His most powerful grace.

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 immersed in that transforming grace … that removes whatever separates us from our divine inheritance. And that “through . . . with . . . and in” Christ Jesus, we might be raised up as God’s daughters and sons, redeemed in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.

15th Sunday OT @ St. Helena, St. Apollinaris

HOMILY - FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JULY 14 / 15, 2018
5:00 PM (SAT), 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM (ST. HELENA)
5:30 PM (ST. APOLLINARIS) ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES



Originally formed in 1968, the folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, and Nash – or sometimes Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young – have recorded 8 studio albums, 5 live albums, 6 compilation albums, 4 video albums, and 19 singles. They music is noteworthy for it’s intricate vocal harmonies and influence on contemporary music. As a group, they are remembered for their tumultuous interpersonal relationships and political activism.

One of their biggest hits, written by Stephen Stills, is titled Suite: Judy Blue Eyes – and consists of four movements, the fourth being a short stanza in Spanish with the back-up vocalists intoning “doo-doo-doo-da-doo” during this coda final verse.



The song is memorializes the imminent breakup between Stills and female artist Judy Collins.

In the second movement – where the tempo slows down to half of the other up-beat sections – almost like a mantra – we hear the phrases “what have I got to lose” or “what have you got to lose” repeated nearly half a dozen times.

Despite its popularity, it ranks #418 among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.



Today is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – with the Sunday falling on July 15.

Our first reading is from the Prophet Amos – historically the first of the twelve minor prophets – pretty much being “shown the door” by the wicked priest Amaziah. Amos is outside of his homeland, preaching to the Northern Kingdoms, and trying to get across a message of social justice, God's almighty power, and divine judgment.

What does he have to lose? The worst that can happen to him is that he gets to go home to the Southern Kingdom and the Land of Judah.



Amaziah, on the other hand, would have to get rid of the false gods he was promoting, and the false worship – the consequences of which, Amos was trying to warn him and the people about.

In the Gospel, Jesus sends out the Twelve Apostles. His instructions to them are to head out with only the barest of human necessities – but well-equipped with the power and the authority of God.

They may only have the sandals on their feet and the tunic on their backs and a walking stick, but they have been given divine power over evil and illness.

From a material perspective: What do they have to lose?

Finally, St. Paul in the opening of the Letter to the Ephesians speaks of the riches of God bestowed on us as Christians. Not only do we have  “every spiritual blessing in the heavens” but we are to be “chosen . . . holy . . .” and blameless. We are loved and adopted by God “through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of [God’s] will” and are forgiven and redeemed “in accord with the riches of [God’s] grace”.



These spiritual riches, as well as knowledge and wisdom of God’s mysteries, are ours in abundance through Christ Jesus Our Lord.

With such an abundance of spiritual wealth – what can the world offer us?

Our inheritance is found in our relationship with God in Christ Jesus. We have everything we need to foster and build this relationship.

At the end of Mark’s 8th chapter, we hear:

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.

What do we have to lose if we turn our back on Christ?

Everything.



As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – let us pray that we might recognize the passing nature of this world, and the eternal riches offered to us as children of God. May the Eucharist we receive today nourish us and enlighten us to follow Christ Jesus . . . always and everywhere . . . He who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.

14th Sunday OT @ St. Helena

HOMILY - FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JULY 7 / 8, 2018
5:00 PM (SAT), 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM (ST. HELENA) ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES



Laurence Overmire is a contemporary American writer, poet, and activist.

In 2012, he published a book titled The One Idea That Saves The World which puts forth a call to unity. Prior to that he wrote poetry, seeing it as a means to reflect on his life, and calling it “a diary in art.” He called poetry “the art of using language to transcend language.”



A quote attributed to Overmire that seems to be making the rounds is:

Expect nothing and accept everything and you will never be disappointed.

While that may sound a bit dark, if one considers that expectation is “a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future;” for the most part, attempting to predict the future can create heaps of disappointments. Prognostication, while perhaps entertaining in part, can be a source of much regret.

Today is the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In the first reading, just before what we have heard read today, Ezekiel has just experienced a powerful vision – so powerful that it knocks him down. He has seen angels, and wheels, a throne, and brilliant fire and light. And it is from this vision in first chapter of his prophecy that we get the images or icons for the four Gospels: A lion for Mark, a man for Matthew, an ox for Luke, and an eagle for John.



Yet, now that the vision has passed – and Ezekiel has literally been knocked over by what he has seen – he get’s no time to rest … no time to process all of this. Rather, despite whatever expectations he had in the midst of this glorious and awe-inspiring vision, he is sent out on a difficult mission to speak the Word of God to the rebellious and obstinate people of Israel.



St. Paul speaks of “a thorn in the flesh” which pummeled him. And despite his expectation that God was going to heal him – at least according to Paul’s will – God’s will is that Paul learn the perfection of God’s power and grace through suffering “for the sake of Christ” realizing in this that “when [he] is weak, then [he] is strong” – because only then can he show forth “the power of Christ . . . dwell[ing] in [him].”

In the Gospel, Jesus returns to His hometown, only to find that the people take “offense at Him” – because He is not what they expect. They think they know him, yet what they know is nothing more than a false expectation – which keeps them from receiving true Faith . . . so much so that the Gospel tells us that Jesus “was amazed at their lack of faith.”



As a corollary, in the episode of the healing of the centurion’s servant – which is not found in Mark’s Gospel, but is only in Matthew and Luke – Jesus was “amazed” at the Faith of the centurion.

We commemorate this at every Holy Mass when we echo the words of the centurion saying: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof . . .”

This is not for us to expect nothing, but rather for us to model our own Faith on the amazing Faith of this Roman official.



And, indeed, no matter our circumstances, provided we live “for the sake of Christ [Jesus],” and provided that through the transforming grace of the Sacraments we allow the “power of Christ [to] dwell with[in us,]” we will experience that power in the mighty works of God in our own lives.

When we allow our expectations to sell ourselves short of God’s glory . . . or worse – allow our limited expectations to sell God short – even to the point of losing Faith, we will struggle in this “valley of tears” and miss out on our birth right as sons and daughters of God most high.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray for a deeper outpouring of the baptismal virtue of Faith. Or perhaps we should pray for an amazing outpouring of this supernatural grace – to transform us beyond our own expectations and rather to accept the infinite graces and power of God into our lives.

Most Precious Blood @ Holy Family Rutherford

HOMILY - THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
JULY 1, 2018
12:00 NOON EXTRAORDINARY FORM (LATIN) MASS



Today we celebrate the First Class Feast of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The feast was initially commemorated on the Friday of Fourth Week of Lent.



In 1849, the Blessed Pope Pius IX fled Rome during an uprising. A truce was signed on July 1; and in honor of a restoration of peace, the Holy Father extended the Feast of the Precious Blood to all of Christendom.

Later that year, he included it in the General Roman Calendar for the first Sunday in July; and in a simplification of the calendar, it was moved to July 1.



Pope Saint John XXIII raised it to the level of first class, and in the revised Missal of 1969, it was removed … and reduced to a votive Mass.



In the middle of the 15th century, Franciscans and Dominicans – in the presence of Pope Pius II – debated whether the Precious Blood was an essential part, or merely a concomitant part of Our Lord’s sacred humanity. One hundred years later, the Council of Trent stated that the Precious Blood was indeed part of Christ the Lord. (I don’t know if the debate was an error in theology or biology, but I’m glad it’s been settled.)



Closely associated with the Sacred Heart – which is sometimes devotionally referred to as the “wine cellar of the Precious Blood.”



Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI spoke in England in 2010, saying: “The outpouring of Christ’s blood is the source of the Church’s life.” And that the Precious Blood is represented “by the martyrs of every age, who drank from the cup which Christ himself drank, and whose own blood, shed in union with his sacrifice, gives new life to the Church.”

The martyr comes from the Greek word for “witness,” and the Emeritus Holy Father encourages us to be “witnesses of the beauty of holiness, witnesses of the splendour of truth, witnesses of the joy and freedom born of a living relationship with Christ!”

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – may we remain united to Him in His Mystical Body the Church … and may His Blood course through our veins … so that He may increase the Divine Life of Grace within us … more and more … each day.