12th Sunday OT @ St Peter Chesaning / St Cyril Bannister

HOMILY - TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JUNE 19/20, 2021 

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 week marked the 800th anniversary of that fateful day.

Prior to the signing of the Magna Carta, English monarchs were somewhat at liberty to act as they saw fit – enormous burdens through taxes and levies were common; as were arbitrary seizures of people, property, and cash by the Crown.

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 800 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 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In our reading from Job we hear a portion of God’s testimony against Job’s complaint. In this pericope, God describes His act of creation – fixing the limits of the seas and oceans, and setting up weather patterns. All the while asking Job: “Who did this?”

The answer, of course, is simple: God did. The laws of nature. The boundaries of Creation. Are all according to God’s plan.

The Psalmist speaks of “the abyss,” and “the depths;” “storm[s],” winds, and “waves;” as well as how all of this is “the work . . . of the LORD.”

And while this may have caused fear, “distress,” and dire “straits;” with but a word, God calms the storm and rescues those in danger.

All of this terrifying power of nature remains under God’s merciful control. As unreasonable as the universe can often appear, it remains subordinate to the jurisdiction of the Most Holy Trinity.

In the Gospel, the disciples are in boats with Jesus; when “[a] violent squall [comes] up,” and waves begin “filling up” the boat ... Jesus stills the storm with a word, and in His next sentence rebukes His disciples for their lack of Faith.

Indeed, Jesus is the Son of God ... commanding the power of nature with a word. No matter how we might view our circumstances, Jesus remains in control.

Yet are we fully convinced of this? Are we totally committed to living our lives through, with, and in Jesus Christ? When the storms of life beset us ... or perhaps more simply, when we don’t get our way ... do we cast aside faithfulness and instead pursue our own whims? Or the way of the world?

Saint Paul reminds us in the Second Letter to the Corinthians that if we have truly died with Christ, we must “live . . . no longer . . . for [ourselves] but for [Jesus]” who died and rose for us. We must allow “the old things . . . [to pass] away” and embrace the “new things [that] have come” to us through grace, mercy, and love.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us in Faith step out into the deep. Let us set 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 Christ, we are called to be citizens of the Kingdom of God, and reign with Christ in eternity.

Corpus Christi Sunday @ St. Peter Chesaning / St. Cyril Bannister

HOMILY - THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
JUNE 5/6, 2021 

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. 

Also, this weekend celebrates Fr. Bill’s birthday – as well as the anniversary of my own ordination to the priesthood twelve years ago.

Our readings this year for this feast, commonly known as Corpus Christi, seem to focus on the theme of Covenant.

A Covenant is similar … but also different … than a contract. Where a contract is an exchange of goods or services … a Covenant is an exchange of persons … creating an extension of kinship and family.

The Sacraments of Inititiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist – bring us into a family relationship with Almighty God – the Most Holy Trinity.

Matrimony brings two people into a relationship with each other – creating a new family.

Ordination places a man into relationship with God and the People of God.

Covenants are based on promises or vows.

In promises of Baptism are somewhat familiar to us: “Do you reject Satan … Do you believe in God the Father … Jesus Christ … the Holy Spirit …”

The promises of Matrimony are also familiar: “I take you … to have and to hold … for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health … until death do us part.”

But I would hazard to guess that the promises of Ordination are perhaps less familiar to us.

If you ask the general public, the biggest promise is celibacy.

If you ask the bishop, the biggest promise is obedience.

But the former isn’t even asked in priesthood – because that’s old news. Already asked and answered six or more months before at diaconal ordination.

And obedience is the last promise made – a period or question mark at the end of four other promises taken as part of the Covenant-making ritual of ordination to the priesthood.

Are you resolved with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail, the office of the priesthood … as a … fellow worker … in caring for the Lord’s flock?

… to celebrate the mysteries … for the glory of God and the sanctification of Christ’s people?

… to exercise the ministry of the word … preaching the Gospel and explaining the Catholic faith?

… to consecrate your life to God for the salvation of his people … to unite yourself more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?

And the answers, like all of the other promises we know: “I do … I do … I do … I do … with the help of God.”

A priest isn’t married to one person – but he is, in a certain sense, married to God and the people of God … to do what he does “without fail … faithfully and religiously … worthily and wisely … united … to Christ the High Priest.”

A Catholic evangelist once made an observation “No priest, no Eucharist. No Eucharist, no Church.” Yet all of these Covenants … and all of their promises … work together in synergy … to build the Church. 

Priests come from families, not seminaries. And brides and grooms come from families. And, of course, so do babies … and all the people of God. The Church is the People of God – in relationship with God and with each other.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ … the subject … the protagonist … of today’s Solemnity – let us pray for Fr. Bill on his birthday weekend – and if you would … for me … as well as the whole Church. And, “[m]ay God who has begun the good work in [all of us] … bring it to fulfillment” in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.