February Trip Letter @ St. Apollinaris School

LETTER TO FAMILIES
JANUARY 31, 2018
TRIP TO MICHIGAN


Dear Friends,
I know it’s only been three months, but I will be heading out for a couple of weeks to visit my family in Michigan. I figure if I don’t do it now, I won’t be able to visit until the summer. This way, I got to be at the School Gala  and I will be back in time for Ash Wednesday. Can I tell you a bit about Michigan? If you use your imagination, it looks like a mitten. Which is sort of appropriate, since theweather forecast says the temperature  will be below freezing! The part of Michigan above the mitten is called the Upper Peninsula, or the U.P. for short. The people who live there are called Yoopers. While the people in the mitten part are called Trolls  since we live under the bridge that connects  the two peninsulas. My parents live on the  Saint Clair River, which right now is full of ice. Canada is  right across the river. The Saint Clair River is part of the  St. Lawrence Seaway that flows from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to Chicago. Maybe you can trace it on a map. Michigan is surrounded by 4 of the 5 Great Lakes. Do you know the names of all 5 of the Great Lakes? Study hard and be good while I’m away. I’ll see you soon!
—Fr. David

4th Sunday OT @ St. Apollinaris Parish

HOMILY - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
JANUARY 28, 2017
7:30 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES

Born in 1864, Maximilian Karl Emil Weber – or just “Max” Weber – was a German sociologist and philosopher. He was a mover and shaker in the field of methodological antipositivism – which means (as best as I can break it down) that when studying social settings, you don’t know what you think you know because you think you know what you see but it may not be what you think you’re seeing because of what you’re thinking.

I know. Somewhere, there is a very . . . very . . . long . . . single German compound word for that.

Another area he wrote on is authority. 

Weber described three types of authority. 

1. Charismatic Authority – this would be what we might call the “popularity contest.” 
2. Traditional Authority – this would be something like an “hereditary monarchy.” 
3. Rational-Legal Authority – this would be a “rule of law” as set down in a constitution.

He indicates that what distinguishes authority from coercion,  force and power on the one hand, and leadership, persuasion and influence on the other hand, is legitimacy – which is more of a “nesting” of these three types of authority. 

So, for example, no matter how reasonable someone may be, people don’t vote for someone they do not like. And sometimes voters have been known to vote on name recognition alone.

I suppose we can agree with Weber that authority, while apparently a simple concept, is multi-layered, and not always easy to explain.

Today is the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today’s Gospel, we hear that

The people were astonished at [Jesus’] teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority . . .

And after Jesus drives out the demon,

All were amazed and asked one another,
"What is this?
A new teaching with authority.

But in a way very different from the authority people were used to: that is, the coercive authority of the Romans; or the traditional authority of the Scribes and Pharisees.

And although the Gospel writer goes on to tell us that

His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region,

Jesus’ authority is more than just based on popularity.

If you examine the word “authority” you see that the first six letters spell “author.”

And as the Son of God, Jesus’ authority comes not from learning or from hearsay – but when He speaks, it is because He is directly connected to the Author of all creation. 

Jesus doesn’t just know the truth. Jesus is the Truth – as He says elsewhere in Scripture:

I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.

And so while Jesus has gained renown among the people – that is, charisma; and while He holds the title “Son of David” – in a sense having claim to the traditional throne of Israel. His authority is deeper and more intense than any sort of human authority.

What we may miss in regards to the entire Gospel message is that God has come to rule his people – that is, set up the Kingdom of God – with an authority that transcends our own understanding of authority – in a way that we are just not able to explain, define, or realize fully.

St. Paul continues to explain the difficult task we hold as citizens of the Kingdom of God who still are living in the world. And I think he’s having trouble getting it into words.

Even Moses tries to tell the people that God will rule over the People of Israel – respecting their fear of direct contact with the Almighty – through a prophet. But, if we look through Scripture, it is clear that Israel struggled with how to apply God’s rule in their own midst and did not listen to the prophets.

For ourselves, God desires to reign in our hearts, in our lives, and in everything we do. The challenge for us – as it has been for all people of all times – is to not fear God’s authority, but to realize that the Gospel brings us true freedom: a freedom from sin; a freedom from fear; and a freedom from death. But only God holds the authority in this; and He has set things up for us to succeed, if only we would let Him in.

We hold the key in that we have to choose to be for or against God. We belong to heaven, but live in the world. We have a sort of dual citizenship – heaven and earth – and God is not only a respecter of persons . . . He respects our choices – even if that choice means eternal separation from Him.

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 open to the authority of God . . . allowing ourselves to truly live as citizens of His Kingdom. Let us surrender ourselves – heart and mind, body and soul – to the author of all things … letting go, and letting God – so that He, and He alone might truly reign in us.

3rd Sunday OT @ St. Apollinaris Parish

HOMILY - THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
JANUARY 21, 2017
4:30 PM (SAT), 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES



The NBA season started back in October, and will continue into June. Our own school league and CYO leagues are either in or almost done with playoffs. And so, whether you’re just clicking through the channels, or if you have a son or daughter in a league … basketball is in the air.

Knowing that the nuances of success in any sport are multi-faceted, I would suggest that there are four factors that contribute to winning in basketball.



First is practice. Whether its free throws or layups or three-pointers … it takes a lot of practice to be able to be consistent under pressure.



Second is coaching. A good coach is important to build on strengths, but also to work on weaknesses.



Third is focus. This is the mental game. But if every sideline movement becomes a distraction to a player, that player’s performance is going to suffer.



Finally, league play means joining a team. While there are countless opportunities for pick-up games or one-on-one play … in order to play in the big leagues – or any league for that matter – requires being part of a team.

Practice. Coaching. Focus. Teamwork. Four pillars of success in sports, and possibly success in just about anything.

Today is the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In the book of Jonah, we hear a summarized version of the story. I think most of us know the entire story – Jonah is called, Jonah runs the other way, Jonah is swallowed by a fish, Jonah repents, and Jonah follows his call.



In other words, Jonah struggles – like most of us, I was guess – to put into practice his beliefs. He believes in God, and is fine applying his faith to himself. But when God nudges him toward sharing his belief, he hops the first boat elsewhere.



Practicing our faith in a public way is difficult at first. But our faith demands a response – more than just 45 minutes a week. And whether you know it or not, God is calling you to practice your faith more deeply.



The Psalm response we recited said: “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” It is important that we realize that God is the source of our Faith. This isn’t a do-it-yourself sort of thing.



Our faith has been handed down over thousands of years, and we need to constantly learn – or be coached – by the Holy Spirit, or perhaps another person, or through books and media – to fully grasp the depth, breadth, and height of the Faith.



In the reading from first Corinthians, St. Paul admonishes his listeners – and us – to not be distracted by the things of this world. Rather we are to focus on the things of God … and our eternal future.



Too often we lose our focus on God and are inundated by what is going on around us … and it is important to work on preserving that focus on God and God alone.




In the Gospel we hear the call of the fishermen. Jesus tells them “Follow me.” And for ourselves, every day, God is calling us to follow Him. And every time, we have that choice to follow or wander off.



So, similar to the four pillars of success in basketball: Practice. Coaching. Focus. Teamwork. Today’s readings admonish and encourage us to Practice our Faith, Learn from God the things of God. Focus on our relationship with God and keeping God at the center of our life. And finally, being part of God’s team – that is, not only “the” Church, but a local community of believers as well.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us listen to His call on our lives … and respond in a way that will guarantee our spiritual success. As members of His body, let us serve God as a team, remaining focused on Him, deepening our knowledge and love of Him, and practicing our Faith in everything we do throughout the week.

Special thanks to St. Apollinaris CYO players, coaches, and parents 

for your support of the CYO Mass on Saturday evening. God bless you!

Epiphany @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 

JANURAY 6, 7, 2018

SATURDAY 4:30 PM, SUNDAY 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord – the great feast celebrating the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

In the Epiphany, we close the Christmas Season, and next week we will be back in Green Vestments, corresponding to what is called Ordinary Time.

It was November when we were last in Ordinary Time – and here, the word ordinary does not mean ‘routine,’ but perhaps would be better called ‘ordinal’ or ‘numbered’ – we left Ordinary time just after Thanksgiving, and pick it up in a week.

So, what has transpired?

We spent four weeks in Advent, preparing for the Three Comings of Christ: (1) His coming in the flesh at Christmas, (2) His coming to us in Word and Sacrament – most especially in the Eucharist, and (3) His coming at the end of time.

And for the past couple of weeks, we have celebrated Christmas.

The rest of the world, it would seem, is “out of order.” They began celebrating Christmas sometime around Hallowe’en, and for the past two weeks have been getting ready for President’s Day and perhaps Valentine’s Day.

The Epiphany brings to mind images of the Three Wise Men and their three gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. We see their statues now surrounding our Nativity scene. 

Certain scholars dispute the actual number of wise men, whether they were kings, or wise, or even men; and many other sorts of minutiae … perhaps seeking to introduce some of the worldly ‘disorder’ into us.

But whoever they were, they represent the first time that non-Jews recognized that Jesus was the Messiah – the Christ – and the three gifts reflect a recognition of who the Messiah truly is.

Gold acknowledges that He is a king, even though He is born in a stable and lives a humble life.

Frankincense acknowledges that He is God – the rising of sweet-smelling smoke represents our prayers rising to God.

And Myrrh acknowledges that He has come to die – His sacrifice bringing order back to Creation after the disorder brought by the sin of our First Parents in the Garden of Eden.

Today’s feast has an even greater breadth in the Eastern Churches.

Not only is Christ’s coming in the Flesh to the Gentiles – that is not only the Three Magi, but also ourselves as well – commemorated, but also His Baptism in the Jordan, and His First Miracle at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee.

This miracle – or what St. John calls “the beginning of His signs” … the first of seven signs enumerated in St. John’s Gospel. In this reading, Jesus is revealed as the divine Bridegroom, and Our Lady admonishes us to “Do whatever He tells you.”

This is a call to heed the Voice of Christ in the Person of the Word made Flesh, and in the Word of God – that is, in Sacred Scripture.

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Three Wise Men. 

This is a call to heed Christ manifested in human Flesh – which elevates human to a higher dignity – for ourselves, for each other, for our neighbor, and in a special way for the poor and needy.

And tomorrow, we will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. 

This is a call to heed Christ manifested in the Sacraments. Our participation in any of the Sacraments is only possible through Baptism. The highest point of our Sacramental life being seen in our participation in the Holy Eucharist – where we commune with God.

And so, with the East, we reflect upon the manifestations of Jesus Christ: in the Flesh, in the Word, and in the Sacraments.

As we approach this altar to receive the Most Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ; let us pray for the grace to truly recognize Christ in one another, in Sacred Scripture, and in Sacraments we receive.

May we submit our hearts, and our minds, and our souls to Jesus Christ – our King, our God, and our Sacrifice – and knowing that He alone can order our disordered world and bring order to any disorder in our own lives. May we call out to Him to save us – as our own Savior … and as the Savior of the world!

Feast of the Holy Family @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
DECEMBER 30,31, 2017
SATURDAY 4:30 PM, SUNDAY 10:30 AM ORDINARY FORM MASSES



We are less than a week into the Christmas season. Although the world has already wrapped up Christmas and is moving on toward President’s Day and Valentine’s Day.



For Catholics, at least from a liturgical perspective, Christmas began on Christmas Eve, and will continue until the Epiphany, which this year is January 7.



Today is the feast of the Holy Family.



So, what can be said about families?

If we examine the family from a sociological perspective, we can talk about nuclear families, extended families, blended families, and even families of choice.



From a genealogical perspective, we all know what parents, grandparents, and siblings are; but we may wonder about just what is a first cousin or a second cousin – and what does it mean to be once or twice removed.



Nonetheless, these designations and analyses of what a family is are about as helpful as trying to delineate the difference between a house and a home.

Both family and home are not easily defined, because both family and home are defined in the heart and not in the head.



The Feast of the Holy Family should give us pause as to what makes a family “Holy?”

And without going into all sorts of theological extrapolations, I was propose a short and simple answer. A Holy Family is a family that has God at its heart.

This can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, too: particular devotions and prayers, customs and traditions.



But with God at its center, a family can truly become holy.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us reflect on our own situations … and in aspiring at personal holiness – with God at the center of our lives – let us strive to keep God at the center of our families as well.

Christmas @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
DECEMBER 24, 25, 2017
SUNDAY 5:00 PM, MONDAY 8:00 AM ORDINARY FORM MASSES



Just a little over 50 years ago on CBS television, A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time.



From a Hollywood perspective, it was destined to fail.



The actors were all actual children, and not adult voice actors.



Some of the children were so young that they couldn’t even read – and had to have their lines read to them so that they could repeat them for the recording.



Charles Schulz refused to allow the network to insert a laugh track. After all, it was the ‘60s, and every show had fake laughter and fake applause inserted throughout.



At its initial screening, the network executives thought it was terrible. Only one – slightly inebriated – animator in the back of the studio stood up and said, “It’s going to run for a hundred years,” before falling back down into his chair. Everybody thought he was nuts.

Well, we’re halfway through that century; and it seems that the experts were wrong.



In the show, with only five minutes left, Charlie Brown throws his hands up and shouts:

Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? 

At which time, Linus takes center stage and proclaims the very same Gospel we all just heard proclaimed at Mass – taken from St. Luke’s Gospel chapter two.



And at the moment that Linus quotes the words of the angel:

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

He drops his blanket.

You know what I’m talking about – Linus’ constant companion – that blue security blanket.



There are countless Peanuts comic strips dedicated to Linus and his security blanket. Wrestling with Snoopy who wants to play tug-of-war … arguing with Lucy about giving it up … even phone calls with his grandmother who tries to bribe him to let it go.

But only here – at the message of an angel – does he drop his blanket.

For ourselves, if you watch the news for even a few minutes … it would seem that there’s an awful lot of bad news out there.

And you can’t blame a person for hanging onto something … anything … for security.

The good news of Jesus Christ – the Gospel – can help us to let go of those fears … to “Fear not.” And that may be fine for a time, but then we still have to go back out into the same world we just left.

And so, in the show, only one short minute later, Linus finishes his soliloquy and picks up his blanket, and walks off stage.



Charlie Brown ends up abandoning his pathetic little tree, and with less than two minutes remaining, Linus finds the tree and this time he surrenders his blanket … wrapping it around the base of that little rejected tree, saying:

Maybe it just needs a little love.

Because, you see, Jesus came into the world to die for our sins. An no matter how scary the world is, if we put our faith 100% in Him – we too can leave our concerns and fears and worries at the foot of His Cross … that Glorious Tree on which He died for our salvation.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us open ourselves to that saving grace poured out for us. Let us drop whatever false security we may be holding onto, and leave our fears and concerns at the foot of His Cross. Knowing that in the end, maybe all we need is a little love … God’s love … in our lives.

Because … this Baby, this Child, born in Bethlehem – “. . . is Christ and Lord.”

And “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”