September 4th Homily Preparation Video

-The homily video from August 28th (kind of ) is below
-The scriptures are at usccb.org >
-I am presiding at the 5:30pm Saturday and the 8:00am Sunday Masses

Homily from Sunday, August 28th (kind of)

This is a work in progress.  Bear with me.

Preparing for August 28th Homily

-Last week's homily is below in the video format
-The scriptures are at usccb.org>
-I am preaching at the 4:00pm on Saturday and the 9:30am on Sunday

Here's the seeds of thought for your consideration:

The August 21st Homily: Wait til you "see" this!

August 21, 2011 - 21st Sunday of the Year

-The audio of last week's homily is availabel by emailing me frete@saint-albert.org
-The scriptures for this Sunday are at usccb.org >
-I am preaching at the 11:00am Mass only

Hope the video thing works!

August 14, 2011

-last week's audio homily will be emailed to the "list". Get on it if you like
-scriptures for this Sunday are at USCCB.org >
-I am preaching at the 5:30 Sat Mass and the 11am and 12:30pm Masses on Sunday

What Faith!

The caananite woman is a great instrument for revealing (even to Jesus' closest associates: read "us") what the Lord is looking for regarding faith. I see five features of her encounter with Jesus that tell me something about "great faith"!
-she sees as reality is rather than as she is: "Son of David"
-she is courageous about what she sees: "cried out"
-she is tenacious about what she believes:(in the face of negative response)
-she is beautifully humble: (help me!)
-she gets "into" Jesus' way of thinking: (engages in the Kingdom..."even the dogs...")

I could work on all of those, eh? How about you?

August 7, 2011 - 19th Sunday of the Year

-I can email you an audio of last Sunday's homily
-this week's scriptures are at USCCB.org->
-We have a missionary preacher this Sunday at all Masses

Transfigured!

On Saturday we celebrate the Transfiguration. It is the summer call to allow ourselves to be changed into the brilliance of Jesus' life and light. What does that feel like? Something between liberation and birth pangs. Hmmm. Ugh. We have to die of something.

..."Stay with me and then I will begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from you; none of it will be mine. It will be you, shining on others through me.   Let me thus praise you in the way which you love best, by shining on those around me." (Card. Newmann)

18th Sunday of the Year - July 31, 2011

-my homily from 7/24 is available by sending me an email at: frete@saint-albert.org
-the scriptures for this Sunday are available at USCCB.org
-I am preaching at the 8:00am and 9:30am masses this weekend

Can't get away from it!

St. Paul's wondering "what can separate us....?" is answered...nothing! He reminds us that truly we cannot get away from the love of God in Christ Jesus. How reassuring.

This seems so far from much of contemporary Catholic rhetoric...that I hear so often from so many: everyone is going to hell (separation from the love of God). It seems so easy to "go to hell" as if it is part of God's plan to have us get away from him.

Jesus' revelation and accomplishment is that nothing can separate us..nothing of course but our choice to reject Him. Like the abundance of the bread (12 baskets left over), Jesus seems to say to us that "he is the very 'stuff' of life" - that you just cannot get away from.

Do you feel that overwhelming presence, abundance, unavoidability of the kingdom? Why not? What has you distrusting of it's availability?

17th Sunday - July 24, 2011

-if you are interested in The audio of last week's homily please send me your email and I will put you on the distribution list.
-the readings for the coming Sunday are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at the 5:30pm and the 11am Masses

Change your mind, change reality!

St. Paul's iconic statement about "For those who love God" is at the core of this week's scripture and my religious life. It reminds us that nothing can separate us from our destiny of eternal life if we in fact love God. To set our hearts on living with and loving God is the transformation of not only our inner life but "in effect" reality.

The love of God (an inner project) has the power to change what we call reality(the real world - outside project). The parables of this Sunday remind us of what that love of God feels like and how it operates within us. We call it "metanoia" - a change of mind. I know we think of love as a matter of the heart but it works through our minds.

To change our minds inwardly is to recast the priority of our daily operation outwardly. To "fall in love" with something is an operation of the heart but it works its way into reality..."s/he changed my world", one might say. Like a massive freeway "interchange" alters the route and direction we are traveling, so this "inner-change" makes all the difference, alters everything (inside and out).

In fact to change the priority of one's mind through conversion to the kingdom of God is to change the way life in the world is perceived. Therefore, suddenly "all things work now together for the good of those who love God"! Wow! That is changing all the stuff of outward reality. Just by an inner-change of the mind for the love of God.

Great system. Great God. Let's work the system for the love of God and change the world (one mind at a time)

16th Sunday - July 17, 2011

-no more homilies to listen to. Email me at frete@saint-albert.org if you want one mailed
-readings for this Sunday are at USCCB.org
-I am presiding at 4:00pm and 12:30pm Mass

Hang in there!

The gesture of para-bole (parable) is what I hear in the Word this week and I see in the church. The church is sacrament of the kingdom and it's gesture is para-bole "alongside of". What I mean is that if we are the sign of the kingdom we show that nature by our relating...being next to each other/para-bole.

This "being cast together" is not only the key to our being the sacrament and sign of the kingdom, it is the hardest thing in the world. Like the weeds and the wheat our goodness and evil has to dwell together while we await the kingdom just as we are expressing the kingdom.

Aren't you discouraged at the level of dysfunction in the church? Can't we get rid of the problem people? No, cause they are part of our story, para-bole. In fact, we are alternately their weeds...ouch.

Wadayathink?

Set the Word of God Free!

-There are no audio homilies anymore. If you would like me to email you a .wma version of the homily from June 27th, simply email me at
-Readings for this coming Sunday are at usccb.org ->
-I am preaching at 5:30pm, 8:00 and 9:30am Masses

Be effective!

I am thinking that the prophecy from Isaiah 55 tells us something about our call to be not only honest, true, loving - but effective. God's Word has "mission" and "Purpose". The Word is put forth or brought out in order to accomplish something.

The experts tell us that this Isaiah passage concludes what is called "Second Isaiah" and it carries the theme of the Exodus. The Exodus event is a "coming out" of bondage event. In the Exodus event Israel was set free from bondage (like shackles), discovered their identity, and understood their mission.

The Word can be held captive within us, within the Church, within the world if its purpose is not accomplished. The purpose of the Word is to be effective - God said...it was. God's Word effects reality.

What is God's Word for you, the church, and the world today? Is it in bondage or is it brought out into effective freedom? What is keeping the Word of God bound?

I think our lack of faith is the answer. Just a guess... What do you think?

Sunday, July 3, 2011

The Matador is taking a "siesta" far away in the sunshine. Hasta la semana que viene!

Trinity Sunday Homily

Double click on title above and be patient

Body and Blood of Christ

-Last week's homily is not available yet
-Scriptures for this week are at the usual spot ->
-I am presiding at 4:00pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday

Fed or Feeding

Is your sharing in the Eucharist more of your being fed OR is your participation in the Eucharist an act of feeding? I think there's a big difference. Do you?

Trinity Sunday - June 19, 2011

-the homily from last weekend was not recorded. I am looking for a host site for my recorded homilies. In the meantime, the recordings can be heard (after a long download) by double clicking on the title of the talk (not the library as before).
-the scriptures for Trinity Sunday are at USCCB.org->
-I am presiding at the 11:00am Mass on Sunday

Template!

Paul's second letter to the Corinthians very clearly describes what the church relationships "ought" to be: "Brothers and sisters, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another,agree with one another, live in peace,". Tall order, yes?

However, St. Paul is not inventing this arrangement, imagining this set up, creating some new utopia out of nothing. No, he is encouraging the Church to be that which it was created to be: imago Dei (image of God)

On Trinity Sunday we usually talk about the inner life of God: a communion of life, love, and truth. But today maybe we should be seeing that inner life as a template for our inner life as the church. We were created in the image and likeness of God. We are to be as God is...we ought to see, in the patterns of our relating, the template of God's inner life (love, life, and truth).

Do you expect Christians to love one another, rejoice in each other, mending our ways, dwelling in peace because we are morally superior to others? I think we ought to witness such communion because it is who we are - Imago Dei

Ascension Homily - June 5, 2011

This "farewell" homily for Fr. Bona and Fr. Stock is now available for audio listening. Double click on the title "Ascension Homily"

Third Thursday Theology Lecture -June 16

This recording is about 1 hour long and its topic is Chaps 7, 8, and 9 of the US Cathechism for Adults. Double clcik on the title "Third Thursday Theology"

Come, Holy Spirit!

-Still no solution to homily tapes. My host site (archive.org) is not functioning so I need a new solution to posting audio files
-the scriptures for Pentecost are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at the 8am and the 12:30pm on Sunday

The Spirit is only Communication

I was always fond of saying that "pneumatology (understanding of the Spirit) was ecclesiology (understanding of the Church).". That is something to ponder if one hasn't before. However, I am growing in my understanding of the Church and, thus, I must reconsider my opinion about the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, which we celebrate today, is more than ecclesiology. It is clearly the life-force, or as St. Augustine says, "the soul of the Body of Christ" - the Church. But that's the point...the body of Christ is more than the Church. The Church and the Body of Christ are the effect of the Spirit, they are One Communion.

We only know of the Holy Spirit because of divine Communion. The Spirit is the communion of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the relationship between the Father and the Son. Holy Spirit is the Divine Communication. In creation, in redemption, in salvation, in incarnation, in church building, in preaching, in sacraments, Holy Spirit is what's happening - divine sharing of Self, Communication.

If we could think about communication as something beyond the modern concept of "idea sending" and see it as "self-sacrificing communion" I think we'd be closer to God and God's Kingdom.

Any examples out there of a great communication in life? Holy Spirit!

Dorothy of Oz

-Techno problems has 5/29 homily lost in space
-Scriptures for Ascension are at usccb.org
-I am preaching at 4:00pm and 12:30pm

Coming and Going!

In the classic movie the Wizard of Oz, one finds many repeatable statements that might be considered "classics" themselves. This is so true, in my opinion, that I have dubbed the protagonist as "Dorothy the Great of Kansas".

The line of Dorothy's that strikes at the heart of this week's Ascension Mystery is " My, people certainly come and go quickly around here!". Yes, indeed, "coming and going" is a phrase that describes a kind of dynamic interchange. You might see this most vividly If you ever "people watch" at an airport. What you see is the unending chain of farewell and hello, in fact that is the whole point of an airport...coming and going.

The Acts of the Apostles today locates the life of the nascent church in the context of this coming and going. It says that "This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Going and coming - an intersection in reality - a rendezvous in communion.

Coming and going might be understood theologically as the Paschal Mystery, which we describe as dying and rising. It seems that this mode of interchange is fundamental to the life of God, the communion of the church, and the discipleship we embrace. Check this out.

God comes to us in creation and goes away from us in banishment from the garden. God comes to us in the Exodus and goes away in the wandering of the desert. God comes to us in the Law at Sinai and goes away in idol worship. God comes to us in the promised land and goes away in the exile. God Gomes to us in the Annunciation and goes away in the Passion. God comes to us in the Resurrection and goes away in the Ascension, God comes to us in Pentecost and goes away into the persecuted life of the Church. God comes to us in the Sacraments/Eucharist and goes away through the death to self.

Call me crazy but I see a pattern here. The arrival, the "hello" of God and grace in our lives is purely prelude and preparation for a departure, a loss, an exit, a farewell. Likewise, the perceived farewells in life with God are likewise prelude and preparation for hello, arrival, an entrance, a new and deeper communion in the life of heaven.

At 12:30 Mass we will celebrate this dynamic. The farewell of our two priests. The priesthood is one of these dynamic interchanges by which God comes to us so richly, in the unique presence of "another Christ". All the while (but especially in their departure from us) the priesthood is also an "usher" or an attendant for the household of heaven, leading us in the "farewell" that is this life and entering us into the life with Christ.

How has God come into your life? Beware...it is the first step in the divine dance which is looking for an exit. How has God gone away in your life? Don't despair, you are invited to take the step, enter, welcome!

May 29 Homily

Trouble in cyberspace

I cannot get my homilies uploaded to the archive.org. we'll work on it.

May 29 -Easter VI

-The homily from last Sunday is in the library->
-The scriptures for this week are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at 9:30am only

Power for What!

The Spirit, called the Paraclete, is in name and in fact a power for the sake of something. The Holy Spirit, from the beginning and always, is given or present for the sake that something else might take place. From creation, at the annunciation, at Pentecost....given so that something else would happen.

What are you suppose to be doing under the power of the Spirit that's been given to you?

Homilies

I think May 15 and 22 Homilies are in the library now..

May 22, 2011 - Easter 5

-still working on last week's homily upload
-scriptures for this week are at USCCB.org
-I am preaching at the 8am Mass

Key word - "structure"

I am thinking that this week's homily is page two of last week's. Last week I said that Jesus is the encounter space, the opening into which we are called to dwell. Jesus is the place where we will intersect with the life of heaven, communion. To be alive in God is to live in Christ.

We as Catholics do nothing as individuals and so this week's encouragement is to dwell in Christ with others to form the full stature who is Jesus Christ. Our faith, our salvation is experienced fully in our communion with God, THROUGH Christ, in the Church.

To be a stone "in the structure" and to be "living" stone through our life in Christ. We are just a part. None of us is whole apart from Christ in the Church.

This theme is old and over used for me, but it is continuously "given" to me to reflect upon. How do I experience the Kingdom of God? Only through the opening which is Jesus Christ and the communion that is His body, the Church. Anything less is "dead".

May 15th - Good Shepherd Sunday

-last week's homily is not easily found by some. Here is the link http://www.archive.org/details/May82011-Easter3
-the Scriptures for Sunday are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at 4:00, 8:00, and 9:30 Masses

The Gate

On a Sunday which is typically celebrated as "priesthood Sunday" or World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the image of Jesus as the gate captured my attention. The most revolutionary thought I might have is that Jesus is NOT gate or door as we imagine these barriers. Even the Pearly Gate is imagined as a barrier.

Jesus is gate or door in the sense of "way" - thus "gateway" or "doorway". This is in contrast to the Pharisees who, in just the previous scene, have "barred" the man born blind from the synagogue. Rather than gateway or shepherd, the Pharisee is barrier and bouncer.

So, as was the sheep guarding practice of ancient palestine, Jesus lies in the gateway, making himself the principal path, the way, the conduit, the viaduct between sheepfold and green pastures of life (read: ourselves and the life-giving springs of communion).

Jesus Christ as sheep gate, priest, and lamb of sacrifice has placed himself between (mediatrix) God and humanity, reconciling us to the Father IN Himself. Priesthood is mediation! His priesthood lasts forever and he shares that priestly mission with the baptized, but in a special way with our consecrated priests. It is a noble goal and a humbling privilege to lay down one's life in the church as the gateway of grace, salvation, and reconciliation so that others (Jesus and souls) might traverse upon us - ecclesial doormats. The priesthood is encounter place, the way, the rendezvous for Jesus and souls. Thank God for priests.

It is of course a sad and serious temptation to assume that priestly position as pathway and usher of grace and then turn it into a barrier or become a bouncer in an material human reality called church! Ouch, Pharisee. Have mercy on us.

So, passing through the gate of grace and reconciliation is not a one-time event...it is a perpetual care plan. Priesthood( of Jesus and in the ordained office) is the role and function of mediation. For our souls must constantly and continuously enter into unity with Jesus as a way of walking through the gate. Be united with Christ and in Him pass through to communion in eternal life! There is no other way!

May 8, 2011 - Third Sunday of Easter

-Homily from May 1 is in the library->
-Sunday scriptures are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at 5:30 on Saturday and 11:00 and 12:30 Mass on Sunday

Stay with us....

The concept of "remaining" is a fundamental reality at the root of our Catholicism. It speaks to the sacramental relationship that Christ has established in and through his Church. It is not intellectual, but relational.

Most of us Catholics are preoccupied with the "whatness" of the Blessed Sacrament rather than the relationship to the Person of Jesus. Do we think of God's Word and Sacrament as an offer of intimacy or rather some divine fact or data that is to be simply understood and affirmed with the mind?

Pope JPII and Benedict XVI favor one over the other and they cry out with the church...stay with us!

Homily from Divine Mercy Sunday

May 1st Homily

The homily for May 1 is in the library->

May 1, 2011 - Mercy Sunday

-The Easter homily is in the library ->
-The Scriptures for May 1st are at USCCB.org
-I will be preaching at 4:00 Mass on Saturday and 12:30 on Sunday

Who's Doing What?

"....the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." The newborn Church of Acts of the Apostles seems to be the Body of Jesus Christ, doing what Jesus does, saving others. The church is not a highly efficient or necessarily effective organization with a mission. The Church is the incarnate Body of Christ reaching out, often clumsily, for souls. Jesus said, "when I am lifted up I will draw all people to myself."

Church, let's wake up to the role we are to play, in the person of Jesus, to reconcile all people into Communion with God who loves us. It is Jesus acting. We are the access point, the instrument, by which God is reconciling the world through Jesus Christ...adding to their number. We call it Mercy.

Can we let Him do what He does? That's the challenge.

Easter Sunday Preaching

The homily from Easter Sunday, April 24th, is in the library. Blessed Easter to all!

Easter Sunday -April 24

-Homily for Palm Sunday is in the library
-Easter readings are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at the 11am Mass in church.

What time is it?

Time Keepers

Every major sporting event has a time keeper. What inning, quarter, period is it? How much time is on the clock? The question of time is pertinent this Easter!

Our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus can be understood and experienced in one of two ways....as hard time or God's time. Too many of us have heard the Good News of Easter Joy "he is risen" and we have believed that resurrected life is simply something for Jesus, somthing that happens only in heaven, something out there, something future, - promised land at last.  In the meantime, however, we have to do the "hard time" of life without heaven, imprisoned, locked up, without eternity, without light, joy, peace, and love.  That would not be faith in the Risen Lord at all. That's hard time even for religious people who claim to believe and live free.
 
The other choice, the recommended choice today, the choice that we can make as people of Faith is to know and believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to live it by faith now and unto eternity.  Jesus has not simply risen unto heaven but by his death and resurrection "heaven has been born in our hearts."  By faith and baptism we can step into God's time, God's eternity, God's mercy and peace, God's love and life - here, now!

What time are you keeping?

April 17, 2011 - Palm Sunday "Homilette"

The brief introductry remarks to Holy Week from this Sunday are in the library

Bible Study April 14th in the Library

The lecture for our LRSS Bible Study April 14th in the Library. It is 57 minutes long and includes a practice of Lectio Divina.

Palm Sunday-April 17

-Last week's homily I in the library(as well as scripture study lecture from 4/14)
-scriptures for Sunday are at USCCB.org
-I will be preaching at 11:00am Mass

Lay down Your Cloak

One of my favorite scriptures in all of the bible is from chapter 3 of the Letter to the Colossians(former translation): "Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy...."

A friend reminded me that this Holy Week, the passion will invite us to throw our cloaks and palms before the Lord. One of the fathers of the church encouraged us to see our lives, our virtues, our selves down in sacrifice and support of Jesus.

In fact, what aspect of your life and mine does Jesus require that we lay down? This Holy Week would be the time to lay down that article of clothing, that garment, as we approach the Lord's Passion.

Lent - April 10th Homily

The Homily from Sunday April 10th - Lent V - is in the Library ->

Oops! Guess I mis-spoke

The April 3/Lent IV Homily was NOT in the Library. It is NOW!

Apil 7 Bible Study Lecture

The 45 minute lecture concerning the April 7th Little Rock Scripture Study is in the library. It is entitled "April 7 Bible Study 5 - MtAndMk Resurr"

April 10th - Lent V

-The homily from April 3 is in the library->
-the scriptures for Lent V are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at the 8:00am and 9:30am Masses on Sunday 4/10

Now!

In the years that I served as an emcee for the bishop I was always training young servers for big liturgies. Somewhere in that instruction I would say "today we are going to use the first definition of the word 'now'. When I say "now" to you about some task I mean now, immediately, right away, this moment.".

The instruction generally would make them smile but it alerted them to the mode of operating for the task at hand. Jesus' conversation with Martha outside the tomb of her very dead brother is missing the word "now" but the definition of "now" is implied and essential to the mystery of who Jesus is and what faith is all about.

Martha says " Yes, Lord, I know he will rise...in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus then gives her the "now" instructions..."I AM the resurrection". NOW!

There's obviously at least two ways to believe in the resurrection: for then or NOW. I am thinking that this is the heart of St. Paul's instruction to the Romans...living in the flesh or in the Spirit. There must be disciples of Jesus living in the flesh (delayed resurrection) and those living in the Spirit (NOW).

In theology class we refer to some of this as "already but not yet" meaning that, while something is real for us, it is not yet complete. I think I and too many disciples of Jesus are straddling the time divide: thinking that we are living His life already with and in the Spirit, but really we are walking dead men in the "not yet" attitudes of the flesh.

What is a not yet attitude of the flesh? Yep, fear, sadness, and anger(see "Martha"). How many disciples spend how much energy and religious capital justifying sadness, fear, and anger. When we do that, we are if you will, dead in the water (baptismal water, that is). We really don't believe in the Jesus who is resurrection and life NOW. Or do we?

March 31, 2011 Bible Study 4 - John's Passion

The 45 minute lecture from St Albert Lenten Bible Study on 3/31 is in the library->

Lent IV - April 3, 2011

-The homily from 3/27 is in the library->
-The scriptures for this Sunday are at USCCB.org
-I am preaching at 5:30 Mass on Saturday and 12:30 Mass on Sunday

Bias!

That's not a nice word. It certainly isn't meant as a compliment. It is used in it's most benign way in reference to research or scientific methodology. Frequently, the best researchers are desperate to identify their biases in regards to the subject to be studied. The doggoned thing about bias is that you don't readily see them.

If one wants to be free of bias, which is nearly impossible, one must be constantly vigilant and interested in seeing them. The reason it's hard to see your own bias is because bias is part of the way you see. So, can you see the way you see? Rarely does one have the courage to see one's bias. And often the best we can do is to admit our bias and try to compensate for it. You really are never free from your bias.

The scriptures this week and the art of believing is imaged as seeing. Grace, in fact, may be define as to "see as God sees." Most of us suffer from our biases regarding religion. Jesus is presented in Johns gospel as the Truth... that must be seen. The religiously trained and engaged people in today's story of the blind man were especially blinded to Jesus' Truth and Jesus as the Truth. Their bias was messianic expectation. They were so certain about what and who and how the messiah would be that they couldn't acknowledge or see the Real Thing as He came. Bias!

I think too many Catholics have a broken/deadly bias regarding God and eternal life. It is sad because it blinds them to the Real God they think they see. How might that bias be affecting you? Fear? Self-doubt? Anger or resentment? Many things are blinding us to seeing as God sees or even seeing God as He desires to be seen.

Lent 3 - Homily in Library

This Sunday's homily is in the library->

Sunday, March 27th, Lent III

-The homily from March 20/Lent II is in the Library ->
-The Scriptures for Lent III are at USCCB.org ->
-I am preaching at the 4:00pm Saturday Mass and the 11:00am Sunday Mass

"We are not in Kansas anymore!"

This week's scriptures and the scrutiny we celebrate with the Elect for Baptism remind us that being saved is a new "place" out of which we live. The grace of salvation is a new orientation for our lives and a new arena or operation that IS our lives "in Christ Jesus."

Do we sense and interact with the grace in whch we now stand? Do we realize that our old self was crucified with Christ and that the life we now live is a life of faith hidden with Christ in God?

I hope so because if not we could be missing, not having access, to that all-important "grace", which is, partcipation in the life of God. The life of the Trinity is a new reality, new stuff, a new place out of which we can live with power and light.

By faith, let's open our eyes and see, or renew our sight, that where we are standing isn't in "kansas anymore"

Lent II Homily

The homily from the Second Sunday of Lent, March 20th, is in the library ->

March 20 - Lent II, the Transfiguration

Pain at the heart of glory!
-The homily from last Sunday is in the Library->
-The scriptures for this week are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at the Saturday 5:30 Mass and the Sunday 11:00am Mass

I am most encouraged and captured by Paul's words to Timothy from this week's second reading: "Beloved: Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God." Enduring suffering for the sake of the gospel opens or gives the apostle access to the power of salvation, grace.

We see this similar truth taught in the Gospel of St. Matthew this Sunday. The transfiguration of Ch 17 is  a remedy to the scandal of the cross that has been revealed to the disciples at the end of Ch 16. Together with Paul's admonition to Timothy this says that bearing the suffering for the gospel (the cross) is necessary portion of bearing the glory of the Kingdom. in fact there is no glory of salvation and eternal life but through the "access code" of the cross/suffering.

My continuing reflection upon the Mass Lent leads me to see that the gift of the Eucharist similarly preceded, anticipated, and interpreted for the apostles the agony of the cross. The scandal of the cross is made meaningful and useful for all the disciples of Jesus unto today. The grace of the Eucharist is precisely the power to bear with or see through life's hardships from the position or reality of the joy and glory of Jesus' triumph over death and the gift of eternal life. 

Jesus Last Supper (eucharisitic) advice to his apostles and all of us: Don't be scandalize (torn away from God), do not misunderstand the agony of human hatred, sin, and death(the crucifixion). See through it as a door to real life, joy, and peace of the Kingdom.

Does this make sense to your faith journey in life?

Bible Studay Lecture

The third lecture in this LRSS bible study has been recorded and posted in the Estok Library. It is entitled "March 17, 2011 - Bible Study 3" ->
It is 42 minutes long.

Lent I Homily

The homily from Sunday, March 13th (Lent I) is in the library ->

March 13 - Lent I

-The Homily for March 6th is in the Library ->
-The scriptures for Sunday March 13th are at USCCB.org ->
-I am preaching at the 4:00pm Mass on Saturday and the 8:00am Mass on Sunday

Ally Ally in Free!

The scriptures on this first week of Lent 2011 hold up two "characters" for us to examine. One is "autonomous" and the Other is "free". In the first case I am speaking, of course, of the woman in the garden who uses her freedom to detach herself from God = autonomy. In the second case I am speaking of Jesus who execises his freedom to reject the self and embrace the hand of God.

This comparison between license and true freedom is something that affects every Christian life everyday. The temptation is to mis-read one's identity, one's purpose, and one's circumstance AND then to exercize the great gift of freedom by choosing God or self.

The witness of Eve reminds all of us of the innate tendency of our broken human condition (to defend and build up the false self at every moment in every circumstance). The witness and ministry of Jesus shows us and helps us to enter into the "Pattern of salvation". What I mean by the pattern of salvation is that we have to see that there is a system at work and then we must work the system.

The false self always reads every situation from the perspective of how threatened it is. It always presents us with a very reasonable motivation for "taking care of ourselves (even religious, but always emotional reasons)." That's the system that is built into us from sin. It's called death. In fact, even though it is death we think it's really "living". Our sharing in the liberation that Jesus has instituted into our human condition by His resurrection and the Holy Spirit is to buck the system.

By His grace we can, ever so slightly, begin to cause and see some light between our circumstances and our false self demanding autonomy. By His grace, we can 'starve' the false self through the logic of the cross(I have to die) and we can cling to God, abandoning the falsehood. We have to start small (like curbing the hunger for bread) and thereby allowing the distance between our hardened selfish hearts and everyday choices to widen. More and more kingdom can get in.

Only a heart, a true self, that is pacticed in true freedom, self-denial, can ultimately embrace God and His Kingdom." Before we judge 'ol Eve, we need to ask "are we free enough to conquer our own bellies? If not, how will we ever resist the cunning devil himself? That will be the test.

March 6th Homily

The homily from Sunday March 6th is in the Library->

March 6, 2011- 9th Sunday of The Year

Last week's homily is in the library ->
-The scriptures for this Sunday are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at the 12:30pm Mass on Sunday only

Shaky Ground

I don't know where you were in 1986 when the earthquake hit Cleveland, but I had the unhappy experience of being at my buddy's apartment near Lake Erie.  It was terrifying.  I know it was nothing like the Haiti or the New Zealand quakes of late -but it was my only experience.

Having the earth under you become unstable is frightening. We could say the same about our life of faith in the church.  Maybe some of you have had an earth-shaking experience within the church as well. That is terrifying too. When the church, the rock of our salvation, the barque of Peter, becomes for us unstable it is terrifying.

This Sundays scriptures encourage us to push through our perceptions of the world and our experience of the church and to rest our faith on the rock who is Jesus.  I didn't say separate from our life in the world or our practice in the church - push through it with faith in Jesus - who never waivers.

As the Lenten season begins, I would like to call us to be rooted in the love of God and centered in the Eucharist....our rock.  Let's make this the Year of the Mass.  As we prepare to implement the new Roman Missal, how could we renew our life resting upon the rock of the Eucharist?  It is our Catholic foundation.

February 27th Homily

The homily from Mass on February 27th is now in the Library ->

February 27th - Don't Forget!

-the Scriptures for this coming Sunday are at USCCB.org->
-I will be preaching at the Sat. 4pm and the Sun. 12:30pm Masses

Don't forget!

When I was in college I remember my Grandmother( who lived out of town) saying to me that she really would just like a phone call once in awhile to let me know that I remembered her. How could I forget her? How did I demonstrate that remembrance?

Today, God reminds us that He never forgets us....even if we forget Him and one another. What does it mean to be forgotten by someone that you love?

Today's Catholic Charities Appeal has the theme "I will never forget you" from our first reading and it is a reminder to all of us that we ought not forget the least among us - the needy.

The poor are just one of the people we need to work at remembering. Do we forget God? Even though the heart of the Eucharist is "remembering", we can even weekly celebrate Mass and still forget God. Too often our lives and even our worship can become about us, our problems, our needs, our hurts and resentments. That is to forget God.

The gospel says it another way..."seek first the kingdom of God" . We could say today, "remember God's Kingdom and call FIRST and everything else will fit together."

How do you know that someone is remembering you? How do we indicate to God, others, the poor that we have not forgotten them?

February 6 Homily

The homily from last Sunday's Mass is in the Library->

Special Note: I will not be preaching on the weekends of 2/13 or 2/20. Stay in the ring!

2/13

On this World Marriage Day we celebrate the gift of marriage in our community.  Our parish priests have prayerfully decided to use this occasion to speak about the gift of Holy Matrimony and to focus upon one of the greatest opponents of marriage in our culture: co-habitation.  Co-habitation is a prevalent "social arrangement or choice" that brings together all of the major vices that our world promotes: instability rather than fidelity, relativism rather than truth, radical independence rather than community, practical materialism rather than virtuous spirituality, absolute freedom of choice rather than obedience to the will of God, lack of discipline, and right to privacy rather than the sacredness of life every life. That's what encourages co-habitation.

Co-habitation is "sold" to our young people as "trial marriage".  As a matter of fact, we are often told that only a fool would get stuck in "a relationship" that they haven't tested.  This sounds so reasonable that often innocent couples can falsely believe that if they "like" living together or if it "works" they will be good at being married. An even more corrupt message is at the root of this and that is that our "sexual compatibility" is something that smart people test prior to marriage.  These fundamental tenents of co-habitation are bits of wisdom from the world and they are all mistaken,half-truths, and intentional deceptions (lies), The fact is that co-habitating couples who go on to legally marry get divorced at a rate of 87%!

The truth that we proclaim and believe is that matrimony is a sacred calling that is BEGUN by the GIVING OF SELF completely in the sacrament and the SEALING OF LOVE in the marriage bed.  One cannot practice or prepare for such a graced state in life by living the "lie of co-habitation."  Co-habitation is essentially a falsehood lived everyday in the body. It is a conscious choice NOT to make a permanent commitment, it is an open refusal to live the virtue of chastity, it is a sinful decision NOT to live in communion with Christ and the Church. THAT is what co-habition is. It is not a help to the engaged but a toxic choice for the married. The effect of this practice on marital success is obvious.

 As Catholics we ought not be persuaded by the salesmanship of our co-habitating culture.  "Living together"  or "co-habiting" is not a substitute for marriage, a help to or practice for marriage.  It is marriage's enemy. And we are not seeing it. Let's celebrate God's gift to humankind: commitment, communion, self-sacrifice, life,and love. Matrimony!

 



2/20
This week our local Catholic community is beginning in earnest the 2011 Catholic Charities appeal.  As the bulletin has noted over the past few weeks, the "in pew" portion of this annual appeal will take place on the weekend of February 27th (next week).  I don't think anyone really likes the "in pew" process that we have been using now for four years but it is a proven method for gaining the needed support for the important work of Catholic Charities. I am especially uncomfortable taking time out of the Mass to perform the rudimentary tasks of filling out pledge envelopes.  But we have to do it in obedience to our bishop trusting that it is worth it.  But why do the appeal at all?
 
This year's appeal is focusing upon the individual lives that are changed, not just helped, by the good works of Catholic Charities in our Diocese.  The Cleveland Catholic Charities operation is the largest such diocesan catholic charity in the world.  We assist over 600,000 individuals throughout our eight counties each year with head start, end-of-life and nursing care, youth and mentally disabled residential care and services, ministry to families, youth, job training, hunger centers and so much more.  Those are not just great numbers, they are individual lives being changed for the better.  This is God's work and we are sharing in it by our support of Catholic Charities. 
 
Thank you for what you did in last year's appeal.  We surpassed our goal and broke our record.  Thank you again for what you are able to do this year.  We at St. Albert do many good things for the poor; we serve meals downtown, offer medical care in Latin America, provide food and assistance to North Royalton families in need, visit the sick, bury the dead, console the bereaved, etc.  We also contribute to national and international collections throughout the year, especially the annual missionary appeal (remember Fr. Don's African Orphans?).  But there is even greater work to be done in our own local community that we cannot do on our own. The Bishop of Cleveland and the good services of Catholic Charities can do it on our behalf - if they have our support.

Ooops! Mass Time Mistake

I am having the 5:30 Mass this evening. sorry for the inconvenience.

February 6, 2011 - Fifth Sunday of Year

-The homily from January 30 is in the library->
-The Scriptures for this Sunday are at USCCB.org ->
-I am preaching this week at 4:00(Sat), 9:30, and 11:00am(Sun)

Light is seen, not heard!

I am reading Matt Kelly's "Rediscovering Catholicism" and at one place he tells the story of Abraham Lincoln in which a man tells the President that he "is willing to die for our cause". The President said in reply, " I have 25,000 troops willing to die for the cause, I need one who will live for the cause."

To live one's life for "the cause". That is what I hear in Jesus' invitation to let our light shine before others. Too often faith is seen as something personal or private between God and the believer. Even an overly religious life, if you will, can be seen as one lived within religion ( kind of inner circle type of faith).

What we need to hear in this call to be light is that light of Christmas...the Word made his dwelling among us, a light in the darkness, that the darkness could not overcome.". The light of faith is not intended to light up our hearts only. The light of faith is not like a fire at the center of the church to keep us all warm and together. The light is intended for the darkness - out there! Faith LOOKS like something.

Where are the dark spots in your world? Personally, in work, in family, in church? Can your faith and communion with Jesus Christ shine out through your love, in the way you live for the kingdom, in those places so that others will know that there is an alternative to the
darkness...it is light ithe Lord.

Two Homilies

I guess the Januar 23rd homily never made it to the library. Now IT and the January 30th homily are available. Thanks for listening.

January 30, 2011 - Fourth of the Year

-Last Sunday's homily is in the library->
-This Sunday's scriptures are at USCCB.org->
-I am preaching at the 9:30am Mass on Sunday

State of the (comm)Union

St. Paul reminds us that we are "in Christ". In fact, throughout the corpus of Pauline scriptures he uses that expression 166 times. How is that working out for you? That's my question.

In a talk on the Eucharist (available in the library 'January 18, 2011') I was discussing the Communion procession as one of the four processions of the Mass(entrance, Gospel, Offertory, Communion). I asked the folks if they knew they were in a procession at Communion time and if so how did it feel, how was it made a procession for them. I suggested that for most they are thinking that they are "just in the communion line". Just waiting in line to get Communion rather than "a procession of the faithful in Communion moving together as one body, in song, in unison, in love, in one direction, with one purpose within the Communion Rite". In Christ.

Is Christ in You through your sharing in the Sacrament, Holy Communion? Are you in Christ as a sharer in the Sacrament of the Church, the Body of Christ? This is what makes us Catholic - not simply that we RECEIVE Communion but that we ARE Communion in Christ. I am afraid this lack of understanding and appreciation of it is why so many of us don't feel our salvation. Could our experience of God be transformed by the conversion of our minds and hearts to the fuller understanding of what is Real? I think so.

Third Sunday of the Year - January 23, 2011

-The homily for last Sunday is in the library
-The scriptures for this Sunday are at USCCB.org
-I am preaching at the 4pm on Saturday and the 11:00 and 12:30 on Sunday

Why are you so sad?
This past week I had my annual physical, actually I skipped last year so it wasn't exactly annual. Physicals are funny things because you go see a doctor when you are not feeling sick. You have no symptoms (that you're aware of) and the doctor looks for them. And you know, in this day and at my age, they can usually find something to give you a pill for. Thank goodness

Symptomology is a great thing: by careful observation and study we have become familiar with the signs that one is sick. Depending upon the symptoms of one's discomfort, we can diagnose the illness within. The external manifestations or symptoms, reveal the hidden innner reality.

The symptom of our salvation is joy and peace. Too many ostensibly religious people manifest neither symptom. There is so much sadness in the Body of Christ. Why are you sad, down, flat, depressed, disappointed, given up? The absence of the symptoms of peace and joy seem to call into question whether or not one is truly saved.

Have you had a check up lately. Ask your best friend, your spouse, your kids, or co-workers...am I redeemed by Jesus Christ and enjoying everlasting salvation? I'll bet they will tell you how sad or how joyful you are.

Third Thursday Theololgy

This month's offering of the Third Thursday Theology is in the Estok Homily Library (->). The topic was Divine Revelation and the US Catechism Chps 1-3. It is a 66min recording. It is titled "January202011-ThirdThursTheology-Catechism1-3"

"Understanding the Mass" Lecture January 18, 2011

The Theology and Spirituality of the Catholic Mass is presented in a 90-minute lecture by Fr. Estok of St. Albert the Great parish. This talk is in the library ->

Homily Uploaded

The homily from Sunday, January 16th, is in the library->

January 16 - Second Sunday of the Year

-the homily from the baptism of the Lord is in the library ->
-the Scriptures for this Sunday are at USCCB.org ->
-I am presiding at the 5:30 Mass on Sat and the 8am Mass on Sunday.

The Apostle

There was a movie out a few years ago about an evangelical preacher who struggled with many personal and family demons called The Apostle. If that movie is an indication of what our society thinks an apostle is then its no wonder faith and participation in the church are dwindling.

This last week I had the privilege to offer a retreat for six young men about to be ordained priests. We spent a great deal of time reflecting upon things "apostolic". While the first definition of the word is "one sent", the deeper meaning is "the one who bears the presence of another" - maybe ambassador. The apostle or ambassador must be emptied of his own "baggage", his own credentials, if you will, and transparently make present or bear that of the one who sends him.

That is St. Paul. That is Israel in our first reading. That is the priesthood of the Church. That is your life baptized in Christ Jesus: to set aside yourself and make room for the one you bear to the world.

Does your Christian character bear the image of Christ crucified and risen? Do they see no longer you but him whom you bear? The world needs to see him in us. God's purpose for our lives is to bear His light and life to a darkened world dying from sinful self-aggrandizement.
Apostolic!

It's Personal - The Baptism Homily

The homily from this Sunday's feast of the Baptism of the Lord is in the Library ->

Baptism of the Lord -January 9

The homily from the Epiphany, Jan 2, is in the library
-The scriptures for the Jan 9 Baptism are at USCCB.org
-I will be preaching at 5:30 Mass on Saturfay evening and 11:00 and 12:30 on Sunday

How shall we do this.

I believe that the radiated hearts of those who have received the message of the manger are challenged now by the Baptism of the Lord to make that message known to others in an "equally personal fashion" as was the baby in swaddling clothes.

The world will never understand or receive the Good News of Jesus Christ unless we each become a humanity like his...humble, vulnerable, cared for and about. You know what I mean?

January 2 - Epiphany

The homily from January 2, the Epiphany, is in the library ->

The Epiphany January 2, 2011

The homilies of Christmas and Holy Family Sunday are in the library. ->
The readings for this Sunday are at USCCB.org->
I am presiding and preaching at the Sat. 4pm Mass and Sun. 12:30pm Mass

Radiation

My Junior High School back in the 70's was an old building and down in the basement level there were a bunch of these yellow warning signs. They had a nuclear symbol on them and they were designating the area as a bomb shelter in the event of a nuclear attack. I notice in our parish school building that we don't have any such warning signs.

Maybe though we ought to have them on the church building...or better yet over our hearts. We are radiant at what we see. In beholding the message of the manger our hearts are transformed but not just for us. A radiant heart is a light or beacon for all the world to see.

With what does your heart radiate? Like the star of Bethlehem, to whom or what would your heart lead others? Would others notice your Christian heart and seek the source of it's light?

That's our call and our mission: to be radiated by the message of the manger so much so that our hearts might glow. Thus in following that light others might find Jesus the Christ, the Light of the world.

Holy Family Sunday December 26

The Message of the Manger or the Mania of Mankind?

I am preaching at 12:30 Mass.

Christmas Homily

The homily from Christmas Eve Mass is in the library ->

The message of the manger is not some historical religious INFORMATION that has changed the destination of our individual lives. Rather the manger's message is TRANSFORMATION of our humanIty. It is revelation that God has made human life the place of divine encounter, the fullness of the plan. Live the Truth and truly love and there in your human life be transformed ...Emmanuel!

Sunday, December 26 - Holy Family

I am preaching at 12:30 Mass on Sunday. Blessed Christmas to all!

Christmas 2010

"The rest of the story"

I will be preaching at the 4pm Christmas eve and the 11am on the day. Blessed feast to all!

Advent 4 Homily

The homily from December 19th, Advent 4, is in the library->

December 19, 2010 - Advent 4

• The homily from Advent 3 is in the library ->
• The scriptures for this Sunday are at usccb.org ->
• I will be preaching at the 4:00pm Saturday 12/18 Mass and 8:00am and 9:30am Masses 12/19

The Grinch who stole Christmas

Remember...? The Grinch's heart was too small. The message and invitation of this fourth Sunday of Advent is whether or not our hearts, our faith is big enough. Can we dream God's dream of ourselves and our world?

Ahaz in the first reading and Joseph in the Gospel are both good men, but too small of heart. They are righteous, having done everything according to the law of the Lord - but they are short on the love of the Lord, God's love that can imagine the whole truth of our lives with Him. God's heart. That's us, too. Righteous but small of heart.

This seems to be a natural conclusion to our Advent reflection on "heart".

1. God wants our hearts,

2. We have the power and skill to "set our hearts" o something (or Someone),

3. We are paralyzed or by grief of the past and fear of the future thus being hardened of heart to the presence of God, Emmanuel.

And now..... we see the task is to expand our hearts by the Good News, the Word of Truth announced to us and born among us. Emmanuel!

Have a heart, get some "heart" dream the dream that God has for you which is bigger than your limited imagination and your pusilanimous heart....tiny heart. Grow your heart by being loved by God. Grow your heart by loving according to God's Word.

Have a heart - the size of God's dream for you!

Third Thursday Theology - Catechism on Prayer

This adult education event at St. Albert on the Catechism teaching on Prayer is available in the library ->

Advent # Homily

The homily from December 12th, Advent 3, is in the Library. Rejoice!

Guadete, Rejoice! Third Sunday of Advent

• A summary of last week's homily is in the library ->
• The scriptures for this coming Sunday are at usccb.org ->
• I will be preaching at the Sunday, Dec.12th 9:30am Mass

Be strong, fear not! Here is your God!

Hardening of hearts is a definite danger throughout the history of God's people in the Old Testament. It is exile....to be carried off apart from God. In fact, Jesus has come precisely to soften hearts and his tactic is to "be here". Emmanuel is the Advent word that is translated to "God-with-us". The predicament of the human condition is that we have hardened our hearts so much so that we are not "here" where God dwells. Our hearts are hardened in another place and time - where God is not.

The heart, as I have been preaching this Advent, is the center of our faith life, it is the object of God's desire. God wants "all" of us - he wants our heart where He is. Last week I spoke about the possibility of our "setting our hearts", onto the Kingdom of God. But we have to do it here where God is.

This week I am reflecting upon our hardness of heart, our teflon hearts, our hearts hardened and separated from "here". In that condition they cannot grasp the presence of God which is "here". When the heart is hardened the eyes are turned backward and forward, the mind is resistent to what's real. Hardened hearts cannot "feel" or "perceive" what is, they are stuck in what was or what isn't yet. And God is not in either of those places. That hardness feels....sad.

Gaudete Sunday calls us to rejoice, give up this sadness, the gloom of a prison that hardness of heart is. Come alive to what is ....and what is is the Lord is near, the Lord is now, the Lord is here. This living in here and now is not something we should think about doing, it is now!

Jesus said and says, "no, God dwells here and now and we have got to come alive to what is. God is real and God is reaching out to us. Make "firm" (not hard) your hearts by grasping God present here, now.

December 5th Homily

The homily from last Sunday, Dec. 5th, is in the library. Well...actually it's a summary because "mr. technology" pushed the wrong button at Mass.

December 5th - Advent II

-The homily from last weekend November 27 is in the library->
-The Scriptures for this coming Sunday are at usccb->
-I have the 5:30 PM Mass on Saturday, December 4 and the 11 AM Mass on Sunday, December 5.

I had my heart set on something!

Did you ever have your heart set on something.... like your mother's apple pie or an item on the menu at your favorite restaurant or an annual celebration or performance of a show? Every once in a while that expectation, that hope, or that longing is disappointed. They aren't making that dish this evening, that artist is not coming to town this Christmas, that dessert is not here this year because neither is grandma who made it.

Last Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, I was wondering, inquiring or suggesting that the purpose or the spiritual task of Advent is the surrendering of our hearts, giving our hearts over to God. The place or location of God, God's kingdom may very well be called "the heart". This Sunday I am wondering with John the Baptist as to what our hearts are set upon. I don't think I have noticed before that in that expression "my heart is set upon" raises the question of what substance is my heart resting on, relying upon, set?

The Scriptures this Sunday and the season of advent and particularly the character of St. John the Baptist offer us two options. The first option is that our hearts are set upon the kingdom of God. The second option is that our hearts are set up the personal ego, the self.

This is an important question and the answer to the question is in the fruit that is our lives. The heart is very truly seen as the root, the source or today the stump out of which the branches and the fruit of our lives grow. Therefore the quality and character of our hearts, the place in which our hearts are rooted, set, will be revealed orcevidenced by the fruit that is our living.

So, upon what is your heart set? Look at your living. The Kingdom of God? Or the center of the universe- you?

Advent I - Homily

The homily from Sunday, November 28th, Advent I is in the library.

Advent I - November 28, 2010

The homily from Nov. 21st is in the library ->
The readings for this Sunday, Nov. 28th are at usccb.org ->
I will be preaching at the 5:30pm Mass on Saturday and the 11:00am on Sunday

A Thief

I am struck by the violent nature of the advent of our God as described by Jesus in this week's gospel. Jesus suggests that the comning of the Son of Man will be like a thief into our house against whom we must protect ourselves....so that we would not let our house be broken into.

I think I have always thought that we were suppose to be welcoming of the coming of the Son of Man. "Come, Lord Jesus" we say. So that when He comes it won't be so violent, so intrusive, so painful.

But maybe that's the problem. When we are living our life, our truth or our way we are of necessity "unprepared" to welcome Him. Thus, we are like one whose house is under assault from an "unexpected" or "unwelcome" thief.

If we are living our way, our truth, and our life the coming of the Son of Man will indeed be a violation, a breaking in, a taking by storm.

So, I guess I need to wonder "how I am" in relationship to the Lord's way, His truth, and His life? Am I welcoming Him daily by dying to myself, laying down my life, learning His truth, and walking his way? If so, I would be like an athlete who is in shape who suddenly has to climb a big hill or walk a long distance....it does not shock his system, he does not ache the next day.

However, to the extent that I am clinging to my life in this world, obstinent about my truth and being rather undisciplined in the way of my Christian journey - my system is going to be significantly taxed by the big jolt and it's is going to be painful.

So, it's all about us and our attitude and posture in the Christian life. Our way or the Lord's way. One leaves us welcoming His intervention in our lives, the other leaves us defensive, under attack in the bunker of fear, selfishness, and darkness. Ouch!

What do you think?

November 21st - Christ the King Homily

Just to let you know....the homily from Nov. 21 is in the library ->

November 21, 2010- Christ the King

• The homily from last Sunday is in the library ->
• The Scriptures for this coming Sunday are at usccb.org ->
• I will be presiding and preaching at the 11:00 and 12:30 Masses on Sunday, Nov. 21

That Christ might be pre-eminent..


I like that word "pre-eminent" and I looked it up. It means to "rise above". That Christ might rise above all things in the priority of our lives! I got it. This week we celebrate Christ the King. There is something odd about putting those two concepts together in one phrase...Christ and Kingship.

I'm sure you saw that Prince William is engaged to Katherine. The press asked her how she felt about become "royalty" by this marriage, how was she going to handle it. She smiled and looked adoringly at the Prince and said, "he's a good teacher and will help me learn the ways of reigning."

Would that we would have such humble and open relationship to Christ our King. Jesus will teach us, his bride the Church, to reign as he reigns - but it's from the cross.

This crucified King reign and is pre-eminent in as much as we can allow his self-sacrificing love totake over our lves. Can we learn from him? Can we be worthy subjects of his? Do we desire to she in his kingship like dear Kathleen is longing to share in William's?

I don't know. Christ the King is not a king of power, wealth and prestige. Christ the King reign by self-sacrifice and love - even unto death. Wow, don't know if we're up to that!

Jesus is the good teacher who will teach those who are willing how to reign in this world by the power of the next.

Wadayathink?

Christ is unexpected "reign" not power to rule over others but freedom to give self away in love of others.

Third Thursday Theology Talk - It's Time!

I have posted the Nov 18th Adult Education presentation on Time in the Library ->

November 14th Homily

This homily given on the Feast of St. Albert the Great (Nov. 14th) is in the library ->

November 14, 2010 - The Patronal Feast of St. Albert/33rd Sunday of the Year

Last week's homily is in the library ->
The Scriptures for this Sunday are at usccb.org ->
I am preaching at the 4:00pm on Saturday 11/13 and 8:00 and 9:30am on Sunday 11/14

Deconstruction is Life

It appears to me that the Kingdom of God is being born in our midst, being built through our faith, and being raised up out of our human loving - but it will appear as destruction, deconstruction, demolition. So, don't be afraid or surprised.

I realize that in this day of the "prosperity gospel" people of faith are encouraged to expect the best, believe to win, allow God's prosperity to shower upon us. Thus, this insight about calamity and destruction isn't too attractive. I think I like that prosperity thing a little bit better myself.

But, the "birthing" of the Kingdom demands the deconstruction of all that is NOT of the Kingdom. That is the core message of the Christian God, Jesus, and his cross. Our human condition demands deconstruction of all the "structures" of believing, self-assurance, competition, etc if the freedom of the Kingdom of God is to be unleashed. Deconstruction can be seen as tiny as the letting go of the smallest attachment (deconstruction) in favor of taking the hand of God in the moment(building the Kingdom).

The eyes of faith can read the deconstruction as birthing. The eyes of faith can read the losses of life as the deconstruction phase of erecting the Kingdom. The eyes of faith can read the dying and rising. The eyes of faith can see the losing as winning for the sake of the kingdom.

Can you see it? Or has the beauty of the temple still "caught your eye"?

This Sunday (Nov 7) Homily

This week's homily on the Resurrection of Jesus is in the library ->

November 7, 2010 - 32nd Sunday of the Year

• There was no homily last Sunday
• The readings for this coming Sunday are at usccb.org->
• I will be presiding and preaching at 5:30 Saturday Mass and 12:30pm Sunday Mass

What are you hoping for?

The cause of our joy or the motivation behind our hope is what is lying at the heart of my reflection this week. St. Paul promotes 'encouragement' to the Thessalonians and he bases it upon a "good hope". "Good hope" was a mystery religion term for "afterlife". Paul is coopting the word and he means here "the coming of the Lord".

Resurrected Life is what Paul is pointing to - and it is not something for only those who have died. Rather, this Resurrected Life is a reality in which we now live - if we have died with Him.

As we come to the end of the liturgical year, it is typical that we would speak about the last things: heaven, hell, death, judgment. Heaven or Resurrected Life is something we ought to consider and see how it figures into our hope, our joy in daily life, our lack of anxiety, our peace.

Do you know the Resurrection from the dead? Does it impact your daily life?

In what are you hoping?

October 31, 2010 - 31st Sunday of the Year

Priesthood Sunday

-The homily for October 24 is in the library ->
-The Scriptures for this Sunday are at usccb.org ->
-Deacon Franz will be preaching for me at 8am Mass.

Jesus says to you, Zaccheus, come down quickly from your perch in your head and join me now in the house of your heart. I stand at the door and knock.

Sunday, October 24th Homily

The Dangerous Faith homily from Sunday is in the library ->

October 24, 2010 - 30th Sunday of the Year

• Homily from last Sunday is in the library ->
• The Scriptures for this Sunday are at usccb.org ->
• I am preaching at the 5:30pm on Saturday and 9:30am on Sunday

Dangerous Religion!

Just when I thought I didn't have anything more to say about faith, it appears God does. While last week's discussion about the nature of being faithful (remember the battle), this week's insight has to do with how one ought to think about the practice of the faith.

St. Paul's letter to Timothy is a beautiful reflection upon the state of his faith and the role or purpose that faith. He says, "I have kept the faith". He realizes that being faithful, running the race, fighting the fight of faith has resulted in himself being given away for the sake of God. "I am being poured out like a libation. What do you think your faith is suppose to be accomplishing in you?That question is answered in the Gospel text.

The pharisee in the gospel is a good religious man, he has done the good and honorable religious thing, but he has not allowed faith to accomplish its purpose - keeping him in communion with God. In contrast, the publican/tax collector is a bad guy, he does bad and terrible, sinful things. However Jesus endorses the tax collector because he is allowing faith to accomplish its purpose in his life - moving him into deeper communion with God. The purpose of believing is to be in communion with God.

I use the expression "cling to the hand of God" as my understanding of faith. It is the flip side of Jesus' promise to "be with you always." Faith, believing for me, is my being with God always...like that little kid walking down the street with his mom or dad...almost unconsciously clinging to that safe hand.

On the weekend of my ordination as a priest the church was celebrating the Baptism of the Lord. The reading from the prophet Isaiah said, "I the Lord have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand." I took that as the "motto" of my first Mass celebration (holy cards, etc). It is an image or a concept that has become much more important for me as I have grown into my faith and my priestly life....to be grasped by the hand of God. I love that. I live that (some of the time) and I preach that to others.

The danger with religion and religious people is that we become forgetful rather than faithful. We begin to see the practice of the faith as something we have done....as if it is about us. That's the pharisee. Sadly, in these cases our practice of the faith becomes the obstacle to "being full of faith". It's hard to see but it is deadly indeed. Self-satisfied feelings (Good thing I am not like other people) rather than God-appreciating thoughts (Lord, have mercy on me a sinner) is the danger of religion. The first separates us from God's loving embrace - the second draws us in.

Is faith accomplishing its purpose in you, namely, to keep your hand safely in the palm of God's hand? Or is your religious life and practice pulling your hand away from God's and pating you on the back? Dangerous Religion!

October 17th Homily

The homily from Sunday's Mass is in the library ->

October 17, 2010 - 29th Sunday of the Year

Whew!

• Last Sunday's "summary" of the homily is in the Library ->


• The Scriptures for this coming Sunday are at USCCB.org ->


• I am preaching at the 5:30pm Saturday Mass and 12:30pm Sunday Mass

I titled this "whew" because of my conclusion about these scriptures ...that is, that faith,believing is hard work! Please don't misunderstand - I know that faith is a gift but the living by faith takes a lot of work, effort, zeal, perseverance. The scriptures this week will not leave this topic of "faith" alone.

In the last two weeks I have been preaching on faith (because the scriptures demanded it). You may recall the first week it was "deficient, inefficient, sufficient and ultimately efficient faith". Then last week it was the "how" of growing in our faith with "humility, opportunity, obedience, and re-orientation of life." Well, this week it seems that the whole enterprise of "living in faith" is revealed as a lot of work. We are fighting an up hill battle in the world - which rejects faith (and God Himself)

The first reading clearly shows us that the effort of a community of faith is a battle and it'scomplicated. If we, like the people of God are to live our faith "efficiently" (meaning that it accomplishes through us what God desires in the world) then it is going to take the effort of all of us to win the battle. Some actually fight (soldiers) using the weapons of hope, love, justice, charity, kindness, mercy, compassion, generosity, etc. Some of us pray(Moses), supporting those in the daily battle. And then there are those who support those who pray (Aaron and Hur) by our social, material, enthusiastic support.

Prayer and the work of faith cannot be separated, but living faith in the world is a battle and it takes a lot of intention, a lot of effort, and a lot of cooperation among the members of the household of God. It is not about us individually - believing that we are lost. It is about us communally, organic interdependence, relying upon each person's role and gift (waon) to get the job done, win the battle, keep the faith. Whew!

October 10th Homily

The Homily (kind of) from October 10th is in the Library ->

October 10, 2010 - The 28th Sunday of the Year

• The Homily for October 3 is in the Library->
• The readings for this coming Sunday are at usccb.org ->
• I am presiding at 4:00pm (10/9) and 8:00am(10/10)

How do we get there from here?

Last week's homily concerned the quality or level of our faith (deficient, inefficient, sufficient) and the call to NOT be satisfied with our faith as it was but to grow our faith from an ember to a raging fire that it might be efficient for the mission - leading all people to the Kingdom.

After Mass someone asked me, "yes, but how?" I believe that the journey of the Samaritan and the Syrian lepers in our first and gospel readings shows us the steps necessary to "grow our faith".

The first step on the road to deeper faith is humility....one must know and acknowledge that something is wrong, broken, sick, incomplete, flawed. Like the leper we cannot deny and we cannot hide that we are afflicted.

The second step is that we must be teachable - we must desire the healing of our lack of faith. The slave girl in the first reading was the unsuspecting vehicle for leading her master to faith. Can we hear the Lord's Word or His invitation in the unlikely places (our children, our spouse, our enemy?)?

The third step is obedience to the instruction of those who can heal us, teach us, direct us, guide us....even when we don't understand or appreciate the instruction.

The fourth step is the re-orientation of our lives to the truth of our new-found faith - that is - the "true worship of God". Like the Syrian and the Samaritan, we have to go back to God "anew". This turn about demands a new level of commitment. This demand is probably what kept us away in the first place. So this fourth step is part of the next "first step" that we will eventually take. We are never done growing in faith!

If we want to increase our faith - we need to acknowledge our weakness, recognize the call from God, be obedient to those who can lead us, and be open to new levels of commitment to God in our lives. This will fan the flames of faith in our hearts into a raging fire to light up the world.

October 3rd Homily

The homily for this Sunday, Oct. 3, is in the library->

October 3, 2010 - 27th Sunday of the Year

-Sept. 26 Homily is in the library ->
-Scriptures for Oct. 3 are at USCCB.org ->
-I will celebrate Sunday Mass at 9:30 & 11:00

Rigor of the heart!

I can't think of anything more encouraging than St. Paul's words "stir into flame the gift ...". It is a common gesture to take a stick or piece of paper and turn the smoldering embers in a fireplace Into a living flame. Don't we need to do that with our faith?

Rusted gates, stroke victims' legs and hands, even our minds and hearts can be habituated into deadly posture. Simply over use in one direction with insufficient resources for healthy renewal causes us to static appearances. It is atrophy...hardens in position.

When this happens in our spiritual or religious life it can be so gradual that we neither know that we are dead or when it died. Suddenly we have dry, empty habits where we once had living gestures of faith. This can he the case for us as a Catholic community, as religious orders or ministries or as a parish. There's movement but no meaningful life.

Let us stir the embers of faith in our hearts, marriages, ministries, and church into a raging fire of life and love in the world!

Pleased to meet you!

This week's 9/26 homily is in the library ->

September 26, 2010 - 25th Sunday of the Year

• The September 19th homily is in the library ->
• The readings for this coming Sunday are at usccb.org ->
• I am presiding at the Sat 9/25 4:00pm and the Sun 9/26 9:30am Mass. I will also be celebrating in Spanish at Our Lady of Lourdes parish on e. 55th Street at 12:30pm

"Pleased to meet you"

Just as with last week's "how are you doing?" this Sunday the Scriptures challenge one of our social conventions or courtesies; "Pleased to meet you" as we say so often. "Pleased to meet you" is one of those things that we say when we meet someone and we can't think of anything else to say. It is too often an expression empty of meaning. Too often we are not pleased at all and in fact we are not really meeting "anyone".

What I mean is that the person being presented to us is not really "anyone" to us. Often we know we will never meet that person again so meeting them really doesn't even register with us. Even in the case of people we will have to spend a great deal of time with we often do not consider them to be very significant at this "meeting".

This "disregard" for the importance of another person is at the heart of the Gospel teaching today. The rich man's sin is not that he was rich or that he failed to give his wealth away - but rather that he did not regard Lazarus as a brother, a person with meaning, importance, as one for whom he was somehow responsible.

This disregard for the fundamental communion that we share with other human beings is what Jesus and the prophet Amos are teaching against. There is a warning here for all who disregard the bond of human dignity, the fellowship of the family of humanity, the responsibility that we have for the "human race" as manifest in each person.

The social teaching of the Catholic church encourages the virtue or principle of solidarity. Solidarity was made famous by Lech Walesa and Pope John Paul II and it is a call to act toward others as if you belong to one another. The other is NOT a burden, it is NOT a nuisance, he is NOT a possession, he is NOT disposable, she is not a servant. The other is a sharer in my human existence, my human life. The condition of the other ought to affect my sense of well being. We share a common life - we are called to a communion of life (in the image and likeness of divine life of God).

To what extent do I belong to all those I meet, especially those with whom I share church membership, neighborhood, workspace, citizenship? Should I not be sincerely "pleased" to make the acquaintance of my brother or sister, especially in the Lord? Solidarity calls me to take some responsibility for the quality of their living, their eternal salvation, their share in the bounty of the earth.

How about solidarity in our Catholic worship? Are you truly pleased to be met by all those people at Mass? Do you appreciate that you are entering into a communion of worshippers in order to receive Communion with the Lord? Without joining in the first communion, it is doubtful that we receive the second. Do we get this feature of our lives as God's children and brothers of the Lord?

Or do we just go through the required motions of "acting" like we're "pleased to meet you"?

Sunday Sepember 19th

The homily from September 19th is now in the library->

September 19th - 25th Sunday of the Year

• the homily for September 12th is in the library ->
• the readings for this Sunday, September 19th, in at usccb.org ->
• I will be presiding at the 4pm on 9/18 and the 11am on 9/19

How are you doing?

This quick greeting that most of us offer and respond to several times a day is at the heart of this week's Scriptures. In fact, more than a social convention, for those on the spiritual journey called to conversion of life this question is a perennial one; how are you doing? Really doing!

Our instinct is to answer the question by expressing our "feelings - "I am feeling fine, thank you." But the scriptures this weekend are not about our feelings or our state of mind but rather they inquire about our relationship to "what we are doing". The fuller expression of the scriptural question maybe "how are you doing what it is that you are doing?". It is a qualitative inquiry, meaning that it is aimed at discerning the quality of your presence in the activities of your daily life.

The Wily Manager (as we used to call him) is a tough parable to interpret because he seems to be commended for some pretty devious or self-centered behavior. Apparently, what the Lord is commending is not the activity that he was performing but his industriousness - his cleverness in using his daily activity for deeper purpose. Oh that we would be like him!

So the question comes to each of us as to "how" we are doing what we are doing? Are we using our daily activities, responsibilities, even burdens for a wider, deeper, Kingdom-oriented purpose? If not, even the ostensibly religious activities (see the first reading) are mis-directed.

For the children of the Kingdom of God, all things must work together for the sake of the Kingdom. Why? Because by God's grace and plan "they can". St. Paul says that for "those who love God all things work together for the good." He doesn't say "only good things will happen to those who love God," rather he says that every situation has the potential for being used to further the Kingdom of God. Wow, that's different.

So, how are you doing....the laundry, the yardwork, the marriage, the soccer team driving, or coaching, the daily mass, the serving the poor, your daily prayers....all of it? Are you alive to what you are doing? Are you consciously "using" your efforts in the world to build up the Kingdom within you and among you?

How are you doing?

Third Thursday Theology

For those who are interested in the theology/spirituality adult education process at St. Albert parish - the September edition of TT-n-T is in the library. It was another robust experience of the faith.

September 12th Homily

This Sunday's September 12th Homily is in the library ->

September 12, 2010 - 24th Sunday of the Year

• the homily from September 5th is in the library ->
• the scriptures for this coming Sunday are at usccb.org ->
• I will be presiding at the 8am and 9:30am Mass on Sunday Sept. 12th

Not What We're Used To....

The parables of Jesus in this week's gospel reveal to us the "mind" of God. And it's not what we're used to. In fact, the mind of God is a mind of Grace and our mind (corporately and personally) is so much the mind of the law - the law of the land!

The shepherd and the sheep, the woman and the coin, and the father and his sons are examples of "irrational" behavior based upon the "law of the land". God's way of grace and mercy, compassion and healing, doesn't make sense to the mind of man. Our minds are rooted in what's fair, what's the entitlement, what's my "just desserts". God's mind is "crazy" and irrational in love.

The gospel has to portray God as "over the top" in pursuit of his beloved. In the marriage preparation questionnaire we give identifies a "rose-colored glasses" effect in the engaged couples. No kidding...they are almost all guilty idealistic distortion. They're in love.

God's love and desire for us is this crazy, this irrational, this other-worldly, this "unlike" us. We really would like to create God in our own image, make God the "just and angry God" who is out to get vengence. Not so, says Jesus. He is so different than we are...He is Holy.

Does this impact your religious thinking?

September 5th Homily

The Homily for September 5th is in the library -->