18th Sunday in OT @ Ss. Francis & Clare, Birch Run

HOMILY - EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

JULY 31 / AUGUST 1, 2021  

In a book on spirituality, Jesuit author J. Francis Stroud tells a story about how to catch a monkey. It goes as follows:

In India hunters have a simple but effective way to capture monkeys. They cut a hole in a coconut large enough for the monkey’s hand to go in, but small enough to hold it captive if it makes a fist. They then put a banana into the coconut and wire the coconut to a tree. The monkey puts its hand into the coconut, grabs the banana, but cannot get its hand out because it won’t open its fist and let the banana go.

Today is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In the first reading, we hear how the Israelites “grumbled” that they had no food. The Lord sends down the miraculous rain of man’na – the word supposedly means “what is this?” in Hebrew.

In the Gospel, after Jesus challenges the people who had eaten the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes, they turn on Him and ask: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do?”

They even recall the miraculous rain of man’na that their “ancestors ate ... in the desert.”

What Jesus does tell them is that His “Father gives you the true bread from heaven” and that this bread “gives life to the world.”

They immediately respond, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

The crowd flips and then flops. They eat the bread Jesus miraculously multiplied, and follow Him across the sea. When Jesus challenges them, they turn on Him and demand a sign. He ignores their challenge, and instead tells tells them that His Father is the source of this bread. Then they ask for this miraculous bread always. Flip. Flop. Flip. Flop.

It may be helpful to realize that a few chapters after the scene we heard from the Old Testament in Exodus, the people who are at first impressed with the miraculous man’na ... after eating it day-in and day-out, go back to complaining – later on – about how sick they are of the man’na.

Is this some odd trait of human nature? When confronted with a miracle, there is an initial amazement, but after a while ... miracle schmear-a-cle ... and they’re on to something new. Or else get excited about a miraculous free lunch, but when challenged, make demands for more miracles.

Saint Paul provides a clue in his Letter to the Ephesians, where he exhorts us to “put away [our] old self ... and be renewed in the spirit of [our] minds.” By putting on a new self, he tells us we will be re-created “in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.”

Like the monkey, caught in the coconut trap, we need to be constantly reminded to put away our old self ... our old habits ... our old sins ... our old ways of thinking. We get caught in the trap of the past and it seems that under our own power we just can’t let go.

Every week, we come here to worship God. In a miraculous re- presentation of the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, we are given His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity under the form of bread and wine.

But are we trapped in worldly values and habits that prevent us from being renewed in Christ? Are we clinging to an old self or past hurts or perceived slights? Are we trapped in habitual sins that we refuse to repent of or be freed from? Are we unable to let go of all of this and allow the grace of God to re-create us in holiness and righteousness?

Do we flip ... flop ... flip ... flop between sin and virtue without any end in sight?

The answer is – Let Go and Let God. Jesus Christ is truly here ... in the Word of God ... and in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. We must, indeed, put away our old self, old ways, old habits, and old sins ... and allow God’s grace and mercy to renew us in Christ.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray for that renewal in our hearts, minds, and bodies. Let us see the miracle of grace that is here before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus Christ – the Bread of Life – and receive the new life that we have been promised ... in Christ Jesus our Lord.

17th Sunday OT @ St. Cyril Bannister

HOMILY - SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

JULY 25, 2021  

Born in Washington D.C. some eighty or so years ago, Roger Kaufman is considered the “father of needs assessments.” 

A needs assessment is a systematic way of evaluating and resolving the gaps between a current situation and a desired situation. Needs assessments can be applied to individuals, classrooms, organizations, or communities. They can be used to improve products and services; as well as to clarify problems and identify appropriate solutions.

A key to a successful needs assessment is that the focus be on results and that the evidence be concrete enough to be efficient and effective.

Kaufman’s approach requires a far-reaching view … looking beyond mere products and outcomes … and even going beyond the traditional bottom line measures such as rewards or profits. These two levels he refers to as “micro” and “macro” needs … but which are, in themselves, too short-sighted.

Rather, Kaufman has developed a model for strategic planning that he calls “mega planning.” Looking beyond the output … and beyond the bottom-line … to consider “what sort of world do you want for those who come after you?” … “for your children and grandchildren?” This “ideal vision” requires thinking beyond our immediate selves and circumstances and rather consider the broader impact … or lack of impact … on society and the world at large.

Today is the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today’s readings we hear how “the hand of the Lord feeds us [and] answers all our needs.” And in the Old Testament reading and Gospel, we hear of miraculous feedings … first by the Prophet Elisha – who feeds 100; and then by Our Lord, Who feeds 5,000 men … not counting the women and children.

Looking at the “micro” and “macro” levels, Elisha’s servant – in the Old Testament – and Phillip – in the Gospel protest that there is just not enough food … to feed so many people.

Yet in both cases, not only are the people fed … but there is an abundance of food – beyond what was the immediate need.

God calls us all to look beyond our perceived limitations … we are called to consider the bigger picture … the “mega” level … from God’s perspective – not from ours.

Saint Paul gives us some guidance in being able to expand our horizons. He outlines the virtues that are “worthy of the call [we] have received,” namely humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity, and peace.

Saint Paul further expands on our call in Christ … by exhorting us to be: one body, one Spirit, one hope … and to live this out through one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [and] one God and Father of all. 

All of this must be embraced, embodied, and lived – through the assistance of God’s grace. Not only on a “micro” or “macro” level … but on a “mega” level … what St. Paul calls “over all … and through all … and in all.”

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray to see ourselves and others through the eyes of God. May our vision become more and more far-reaching … so that in “one body, [and] one Spirit, [and] one hope” we may receive the graces and foundations … and the gifts and the vision … of a people united in faith and baptism … in God’s love through Christ Jesus Our Lord.

14th Sunday OT @ St. Cyril Bannister

HOMILY - FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JULY 4, 2021  

Today is the 4th of July, the day historically held as to when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Congress. In the preamble of the Declaration, we hear:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Following the French and Indian War - also known as the Seven Year War - the British Crown had begun to seek ways to recoup its military expenses from the American Colonies. The colonists, on the other hand, were opposed to taxation by the British without representation in Parliament. The British began to send troops to the colonies in order to suppress local governments ... and the rest is, as they say ... history.

In summary, that is how 236 years ago, the American Revolutionary War began.

In the First Reading, we hear how the prophet Ezekiel was sent to the Israelites whom God calls “rebels who have rebelled against me”.

In light of American history, we might wonder just what is so wrong with Israel rebelling against God? How can God not allow them their unalienable rights - most especially the pursuit of happiness?

Yet, as we heard in the Opening Prayer, our Savior Jesus Christ has “raised up a fallen world” and we - as the recipients of that gift - have been “rescued from slavery to sin”.

In other words, the rebellion of the Israelites was not against any oppression from God, but rather it was a base desire to return to “slavery to sin” - or to turn a phrase, they made a declaration of de-pendence ... on sin ... to the point of becoming slaves to sin.

In the Gospel, we hear how Jesus was received by the people of His own village as His taught in their Synagogue. While no one in the village disputed the “wisdom” or “mighty deeds” of Jesus - they were stuck on What they thought He was ... and on Who they thought He was. After all, they watched Him grow up ... knew His relatives ... knew His Mother. But despite Jesus’ power in word and in deed - the villagers could not get past their mindset that Jesus was only a carpenter ... a commoner ... no different than anyone.

Because of this - they were offended by Jesus ... and Jesus was amazed at their lack of Faith.

Which raises the questions - What does this mean for us? How do we know when we are living the Life of Faith? How do we know if we are living in the Freedom that is ours as children of God?

Again, we heard in the Opening Prayer that we have been “raised up” and “rescued” ... and in this, we should be filled with “holy joy” and receive “eternal gladness”.

And as St. Paul tells us in the Second Reading, despite any “insults, hardships, persecutions, [or] constraints” which may appear as “weaknesses” ... God’s “grace is sufficient” for us and God’s “power is made perfect in [our] weakness.”

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity - let us pray that we may embrace the Freedom we have received in Jesus Christ. May we hold onto the Truth - in the Person of Jesus Christ - and may our relationship with Him be self-evident in our lives. 

Let us tap into God’s infinite grace and mercy - which we receive through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit ... that we may be raised up to take hold of the gifts of holy joy and eternal gladness - our birthright as daughters and sons of God the Father ... redeemed and rescued by the Sacrifice and abasement of Jesus Christ ... and despite our weakness - may we be made perfect through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.