30th Sunday in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - 30TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 22-23, 2016
4:30 PM (SAT), 10:30 AM (SUN) ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Restorative justice is an approach to jurisprudence that focuses on on the needs of both victims and offenders as well as involving the whole community. This differs from traditional – or adversarial – justice, where the focus is on what laws have been broken, who has committed the crime, and what is an appropriate punishment.

Restorative justice looks to allow anyone and everyone who may have been affected by the situation to discuss how the injustice has affected them and what should be done to repair the harm.
In restorative justice, the focus is on healing relationships, not on punishment.

Today is the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

In today’s First Reading, we hear that God is a God of justice.

Because of our own familiarity with our the American justice system – whether through actual personal contact or through television or movies – we tend to think of justice as adversarial and based on punishment.

Yet, when the Bible speaks of justice, the Hebrew word is tsediq which is rendered in Greek as dikiasune. In the original languages, both of these words imply more of a restorative form of justice … that is, a restoration of the individual to right relationship with God, His Law, and His Holy People.

St. Paul, in the Second Letter to Timothy, speaks of his own right relationship with God, and his own focus – with his own execution looming in front of him – on Divine Justice as opposed to human justice.

In the Gospel, from the 18th chapter of St. Luke, Our Lord tells the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Tax collectors in the First Century were local agents of the Roman Empire – traitors to their own people. On top of this, most of them were also corrupt – demanding more than was appropriate in order to line their own pockets.

In the parable, Jesus tells us that it was the tax collector who went home justified, and not the Pharisee.

Of interest is how Our Lord explains that the Pharisee “spoke this prayer to himself” … that is, he was praying to himself … whereas the tax collector offered a humble prayer to God … fully recognizing his sinfulness.

It is imperative, in our own prayer life, that we first recognize our place before God. Knowing that He is God, and we are not. And as the God of Justice … of Righteousness … God desires us to be in right relationship to Him, and to Him alone … anything else and we are worshipping ourselves.

God’s justice seeks to restore us … to redeem us … to save us … from sin and its effects. While Hell may or may not be a place, the punishments come more from the eternal loss of any relationship with God – and by extension, the loss of everything that is good, true, or beautiful.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ … let us humble ourselves before our God … the Father Almighty who has sent us His Son to restore our relationship to God and who has sent the Holy Spirit to form us anew through the Sacraments. Let us hear and act on the words of Christ at the end of today’s Gospel:

[that] whoever exalts himself will be humbled, / and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - 29TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 15-16, 2016
4:30 PM (SAT), 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM (SUN) ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Called by many the best film of 1982, the movie titled “An Officer and a Gentleman” went on to become the third highest grossing picture of that year.

The story follows the training of a young Naval Aviation Officer and the merciless hazing he experiences at the hands of his Marine Drill Instructor.

Despite this, much of the training portrayed in the movie is relatively accurate, including the obstacle course with the twelve-foot wall, water survival and physical endurance tests, as well as the high-altitude or hypo-baric chamber.

This latter evolution is an enclosed room that simulates the effects of high-altitude on the human body, especially demonstrating the effects of low air pressure or hypoxia – that is low oxygen levels.

As the air is pumped out of the chamber, individuals are asked to perform trivial tasks. At some point, the tasks become increasingly difficult or time consuming. This is where a particular test subject has exceeded their own point of useful consciousness. Beyond this, an individual may pass out, becoming unconscious as their body shuts down to conserve limited resources.

The principal purpose for this training is to familiarize pilots, air crewmen, and flight personnel with the effects of hypoxia. The actual symptoms vary form person to person, and so it is essential that each individual be familiar with and recognize their own particular circumstances in order to avoid in-flight difficulties which might require oxygen supplementation.

Today is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

At the beginning of today’s Gospel from St. Luke’s 18th Chapter, the parable is introduced by explaining that our Lord wanted to convey to his disciples

the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.

Interestingly, the word here rendered as “becoming weary” appears a total of six times in the New Testament, and is more often translated as “faint.”

Prayer is essential to our Christian life. And while some times it might seem like a chore, Jesus wanted to emphasize to His disciples … and to us … that is absolutely necessary … lest we grow weary … or faint for lack of it. Prayer is, in this sense, our spiritual oxygen. If St. Luke were to say that Jesus told the disciples to breathe always so as not to faint, we might chuckle … but like respiration is to our physical bodies, prayer is equally important for our souls … and must be constant, regular, and properly enriched.

Hold your breath for a short time, and you get light-headed. If you travel to a high enough altitude, or work in an enclosed space where the air is too thin … you might experience hypoxia and even pass out.

The same can be said about prayer. Without it, our spiritual life grows weak and may even cause us to fall into serious sin – resulting in spiritual death. We, too, must be careful not to spend too much time in environments that deprive us of prayer and prayer’s effects. Bad company, sinful entertainment, or excessive attachment to worldly pleasures … can distract us from prayer and orient us away from God.

As for the parable, it is important here that we realize that while the widow in the story suffered multiple deprivations that kept her from being considered worthy of receiving justice. As far as grace and our own relationship with God, we are not poor nor are we alone; but rather are children of God and rich in His grace.

While the widow in the parable’s only chance at a fair settlement was to embarrass the unjust judge, too often we sell ourselves short … and sell God short … by ignoring or forgetting that we are beloved sons and daughters of the most high God, who is our Father and extraordinarily wealthy in superabundant spiritual and material gifts … most especially gifts of grace, and mercy, and love.

We must recognize our rightful place in the household of God, and constantly draw in the power of the Holy Spirit … every moment of every day … in order to properly nourish our souls through adequate prayer.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us ask for the graces to more deeply engage ourselves in prayer … and right now, the prayers of this Holy Mass. As we hear the words and respond to their familiar ring and rhythm, may we be enriched by the treasures of God’s presence in both Word and Sacrament.

Let us breathe in the rich atmosphere of God’s love and mercy and grace … readily available to us in superabundance … as we pray together this great prayer-of-prayers … as we continue this liturgy.

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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY GRAPHICS / NOTES - 27TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 2, 2016 (ALL SCHOOL SUNDAY MASS)
10:30 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS

1. What makes superheroes "super?" - Superpowers

2. What makes Christians "super?" - Baptism

3. Baptism imparts supernatural graces and the supernatural (theological) virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love.

4. Natural faith is merely "trust," natural hope is merely a "wish," and natural love is merely "desire."

5. Supernatural Faith is faith in God and revealed truth, supernatural hope is directed to the things of heaven and eternity, supernatural love is a desire to do our best for God and to provide the best (greatest good) for our neighbor.

6. St. Paul speaks about fanning into flame the Faith, Hope, and Love St. Timothy received through Ordination, Confirmation, and Baptism through the power of the Holy Spirit.

7. The apostles ask Jesus to increase their Faith, but through the parable Jesus tells them to serve above and beyond in order to be "profitable" (or "useful") servants for God and the Kingdom of God.

8. We, like Timothy need to not take for granted, and cultivate ("fan into flame") the supernatural graces we've received in the Sacraments we've received; and like the Apostles need to be reminded that God's call exceeds our expectations, and that God's grace will help us to serve above and beyond.

9. And of course, "With great power comes great responsibility." (Amazing Fantasy #15)

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - 27TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 1-2, 2016
4:30 PM (SAT), 7:30 AM (SUN) ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Motivation is a theoretical construct used by psychologists to explain people’s behavior. It seeks to assign a reason to someone’s actions, desires, and needs. It can also be seen as a direction to behavior, identifying what prompts an individual to act a certain way, or why someone might repeat a certain action. It is unique in the sense that while a psychological concept, it has become part of the everyday language of popular culture.

In the Incentive Theory of Motivation, there are two types of motivation – these being intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is a self-desire to experience new challenges and new things, to evaluate oneself, and to observe and gain knowledge. Here the motivation exists within the person, and is driven by interest and enjoyment. Intrinsic motivation is long-lasting, but is difficult to foster; and the varieties are as diverse as there are individuals.

Extrinsic motivation comes from influences outside of a person, and is the performance of an action in order to obtain a desired outcome. Typical extrinsic motivators are rewards and punishments (or the threat of punishment), as well as competition. Here, there is the difficulty that a person may focus less on the desired action and more (or too much) on the end result. There is even the possibility that punishment or threats may actually result in an increased interest in an undesired activity.

Overall, motivation can be seen as a cycle where thoughts influence behavior, behavior influence performance, and performance in turn influences thoughts. Motivational theories can be categorized as rational or natural, cognitive or process; and there are many different theories … each of which have their own adherents, detractors, and applications.

Today is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In the First Reading, we hear from the Prophet Habakuk, one of the Twelve Minor Prophets. Very little is known about this prophet, but because of the content of his oracles and prophecies, it is presumed that he lived around the year 600 BC. His name is also obscure, and is probably based on the Hebrew word meaning “to embrace.”

Today’s first reading begins with the prophet’s lament to God, and ends with God’s admonition to have faith and to persevere in hope.

The Gospel reading, which continues our readings from St. Luke, consists of two parts. First, the apostles’ recognition that they need more faith, and their petition to Christ to increase it. The parable that follows is a lesson addressed to this request.

This parable is a cautionary tale similar to the Parable of the Talents. After all, the expectations of any servant is that he is to serve, and that the master will be waited on. Jesus asks the unlikely question “Who among you …” and indeed, the answer is most likely, not me.

When God bestows a gift on an individual, He expects that it will be utilized to further the growth of the Kingdom of God. If all we do is receive God’s gifts, and merely return them to Him … not seeking to further the greater glory of God – then we are “unprofitable” or in some translations “useless” servants.

Saint Paul addresses this in the beginning of his Second Letter to Saint Timothy which hear in today’s Epistle reading.
Timothy is encouraged to “fan into flame the gift of God” … and we would do well to heed this admonition as well.

Through Baptism, we have all received the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love. Supernatural gifts which go beyond mere natural belief, trust, and compassion.

Yet we must use these Divine gifts and fan them into flames … without fear or shame … in order to experience the power of these gifts which come to us from the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. It is only through the motivation of the Spirit of God that we can begin to build up the Kingdom of God.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray that we might embrace the supernatural gifts we have received through Baptism and through all the Sacraments … “profitably” … that is, for the greater glory of God, and for the furthering of His Kingdom. As we ask for a greater outpouring of not only Faith, but also Hope, and Love … let us prove ourselves useful and profitable servants of God, by living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our daily lives, and with courage receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

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26th Sunday in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - 26TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
10:30 AM, 12:00 PM ORDINARY FORM MASSES

James Sherley was an English dramatist of the early 17th century. Born in 1596, he was said to have been “the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly the same language and had a set of moral feelings and notions in common.” He wrote plays from 1625 until 1642 – when Parliament outlawed the performance of stage plays.

He was born in 1596 in London, and studied at Oxford; eventually receiving his B.A. from Cambridge. After receiving his M.A., he served as an Anglican minister until his conversion to Catholicism around 1623.

His work spans 10 volumes, among which is the poem Death the Leveller. It begins:

The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against Fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:

He speaks of the tumbling down of crown and scepter, and the how even the strong must admit their weakness before death. Neither might nor earthly glory survive death, but

Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.

So ends his poem.

Today is the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, and again we hear from the prophet Amos in the First Reading. We are skipping around in the book. Last week we heard of the reasons for God’s judgment on the people, and today we rewind two chapters and hear the prophet’s lamentations against the indulgent. In the preceding verses Amos also laments the willfully ignorant and the indifferent, and goes on to cry out against those who are impudent.

This is not an essay in dialectic materialism … between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Rather it is speaking against “having too much” and intentionally neglecting the duties toward ones neighbor.

But even more so, it is a warning against putting one’s trust in this world and the things of this world … to the point of putting our faith in material things and placing them before our duty to both God and neighbor. It is not a condemnation of wealth, but rather is a condemnation of the worship of it.

In the Gospel from St. Luke, we hear the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. In this world, the rich man, like the Pharisees, gave lip-service to God, but in his heart placed his trust in wealth and possessions. Lazarus, on the other hand, had nothing to distract his heart from God, and considering that he only received kindness from the local canine population, came to rely on God.
In the afterlife, Lazarus receives the benefits of his spiritual investments. Faith in God has eternal rewards, while faith in the world leaves one not only bankrupt in the next life, but also in a world of hurt.

St. Paul provides some guidance in the Epistle from the First Letter to Saint Timothy.

One phrase, however, is excised from our reading. Timothy is admonished not only to pursue deeds of righteousness, but is admonished to “avoid” worldliness and materialism. In some translations this is rendered as “flee” … that is: run away!

Paul acknowledges that this is not always possible, but that we must “compete” … or in some translations “fight” with our own inclinations to choose the right thing and orient our hearts and minds on the things of heaven.

And we are to do this by our “pursuit” of righteousness – that is, a right relationship based in justice with God and neighbor. Again, “pursue” can also be translated as “follow,” which gives us the three-part formula: flee, fight, and follow.

Of course, if we read just beyond where today’s reading ended, there is a fourth part which is to be faithful,

to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share,/ thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.

Indeed, it is difficult to live in the world but not of the world, but death comes, in many cases, too soon. We must be flee the inclinations, fight the temptations, follow Christ, and be faithful to the Gospel. And in this we can be assured of an eternal reward.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray for clarity of mind and heart, so that we might always be in right relationship with both God and neighbor. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the source and summit of our Faith … with the firm intention and knowledge that we are made, not for this place … but for eternity.

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Saturday 25th Week in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - SATURDAY 25TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS

Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is credited with having written 66 books during his life. Even after his death, his talks have been transcribed into book form as well.

One such book is titled, Your Life Is Worth Living: The Christian Philosophy of Life, where in 50 chapters and 375 pages, Sheen covers just about every topic under the sun.

At the beginning of the book he states:

There are two ways of waking up in the morning. One is to say, “Good morning, God,” and the other is to say,“Good God, [it’s] morning!”

And here we are on another beautiful Napa Saturday morning, honoring our Blessed Mother and joining our lives at the altar of sacrifice.

Today’s first reading is long. It’s from the end of Ecclesiastes, part of the Hebrew Bible known as the Wisdom Books. The title comes from the word “Qohal” which means “assembly.” This got translated into Greek as “Ecclesiastes” which in the New Testament is translated as “church.”

In this particular book, the author examines life and asks, “Is it really worth living?”

And indeed it is.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples:

“Pay attention to what I am telling you. / The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” /But they did not understand this saying; / its meaning was hidden from them / so that they should not understand it, / and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

So much seems outside of our grasp. Perhaps not for want of understanding, but in our own day and age, perhaps from lack of time.

At the end of Sheen’s book, he says:

It will not be hard to save your soul; however, being a Catholic will never prevent you from sinning, but it will take all the fun out of it because once you have loved, you know what love is. Sin in the scriptures is always called adultery because it is a false love. I know you will find people who cut corners, play loose, cheat, commit adultery, avoid paying their taxes, and ruin their neighbor’s reputation.They do not seem to have any bumps on their consciences, but they have no peace. If we are to love, we have to have the cross of Christ.We cannot escape it though we try.

And so, the answer to the question posed in the Old Testament wisdom reading, Is live worth living? is quite simply, “Yes.” It’s not hard, but it certainly means being counter-cultural.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray for the grace to “understand.” We cannot escape the cross, but in embracing it, we will have peace and we will know love.

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St. Andrew Kim @ St. Apollinaris School

HOMILY GRAPHICS - SS. ANDREW KIM AND PAUL HASANG 
SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
8:45 AM ORDINARY FORM MASS


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