August 1, 2010 - 18th Sunday of the Year

Last week's homily is in the library>>>

This Sunday's readings are available at usccb.org >>>

I am presiding on Saturday July 31st at 4:00pm, and on Sunday August 1st at 11:00am and 12:30pm

Let's be real.

The very strong message of the scriptures this weekend has to do with "being real" as people like to say these days. What I am intending by using that phrase is "let's get down to the reality of things." As I have said before "it takes real eyes to realize where the real lies." (I stole that, actually)

What is real is that "this life is short and it is humanly and materially to a great extent, emptiness and pain." Wow! That's pretty real. Most human beings, however, don't want to believe that. Most want to believe that life is meant to provide us with pleasure, power, success, wealth, and self-fulfillment. But that's NOT real.

We are invited to hear the gospel and to turn away from the "unreal" pursuits of this world's values and to cling to the Truth, which is Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead....the things of heaven. In this "turn" we will find the fullness of life, the freedom to love, and the joy of living.

The Franciscan Richard Rohr has done a bunch of work with primative people's and their initiation rituals. He claims that these rituals are meant to communicate five messages to the initiate (usually a young man). He also claims that these five truths of initiation are at the crux of the Christian message as well. Here they are

-Life is difficult (Christian message - suffering/the cross is part of life)
-You are going to die (and eternal life is the goal)
-You are not important ( God is the center of the universe)
-You are not in control (You must die to self and live God's plan)
-Your life is not about you (Your life is about your salvation)

How happy are you about this real message. Maybe you prefer a little "unreality". Don't we all.

Four Laws of Prayer Homily - July 25th

This Sunday's homily is in the library>>>

Oops...mass time change.

Made a mistake on the mass time for Sunday 7/25. I am having 9:30am only today.

July 25, 2010 - 17th Sunday of the Year

• Last week's homily is in the library>>>

• This week's Sunday readings are available at usccb.org>>>

• I will be presiding and preaching at the 5:30 Mass on 7/24 and the 12:30 Mass on 7/25

I'm thinking.....

This week's readings are all about prayer or better...praying. One theologian has listened to the Lord's Prayer and to the wider scriptures and suggested what I think are four great "laws" about prayer.

The four laws are :

1. Faith - you must have a relationship with God in faith before you can pray

2. Forgiveness - you cannot enter into communion with God (a good definition of prayer) Who is Love if you are not loving and reconciled with others

3. Persistence - part of prayerfulness is the ability to practice it without "it" being satisfied. Praying is part of the answer to prayers

4. In the Name of Jesus - It is through Jesus that we make every prayer. In the Name of Jesus guarantees that our prayer is rightly ordered.

My preaching will begin with the last "law" first. I am thinking that the role of "asking in the name of Jesus" might hold the answer to our most troubling questions about praying. What is your most troubling question about praying?

Let me know.

Martha and Mary - Get in the picture!

Just thought you'd like to know that the Martha and Mary homily is in the library now.

Peace to all!

July 18, 2010 - 16th Sunday of the Year

The homily from last week is in the library>>>
The readings for this Sunday are found at www.usccb.org>>>
I am presiding at the 11:00am and 12:30pm Masses on Sunday 7/18

Y'all come,now! Y'hear?

The story of Martha and Mary is so famous that most adult Catholics will use their names on occasion to indicate two "different but complementary" personalities or people.

There are traditional and ancient interpretations of this Sunday's scene but the one that captured my attention was that which reflects upon the astounding position that Mary has assumed in this picture and that Jesus has permitted her.

In Jesus' time we know that he was not a man of convention,especially as it relates to foreigners, sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, the unclean, the leper, the dead, and women. Jesus broke convention for the sake of the kingddom of God. All are called to and have access to the Kingdom as disciples of Jesus the master.

This universal discipleship is no better portrayed than Mary, a woman whose place is in the kitchen, taking the disciple's place at the feet of the Master, Jesus. Not only does Mary dare to do it and Jesus "permits" it - Jesus refutes Martha's criticism and says, "she has chosen it and it shall not be denied her" - he defends it.

Mary's premier place at Jesus' feet was reserved for the scholars, siciples (read men)that would customarily gather with Jesus in the "parlor" while dinner was being prepared(by the women). Not just any men but only those who had been accepted into his tutelage, his circle of learning.

I am suspecting that most adult Catholics (that would include young adults) do not see themselves as called, welcomed, or entitled to the role of disciple. Members, maybe. Servants, possibly. Spectators or casual observers, probably. But disciples in the inner circle of the Master Jesus - that is for someone else.

This Gospel text and the scene from the book of Genesis in the first reading are repeating the message to all of us that God is accessible and that we are called to intimacy "at his feet." We cannot excuse ourseles from or criticize others for assuming that intimate posture within the circle of God's love and life.

This time of renewal of our parish ministries is a perfect time for us to re-evaluate where we are in the picture? Are we comfortable with the role of disciple, sitting close to the heart of God? Are we a reluctant observer of religion - it's just not for me? Are we jealous of others thinking that somehow we are not welcomed?

The truth is that we are all not only welcomed but called - universal discipleship and we need to get into the picture.

End of Life - The Third Thursday "Chat" at St. Albert

This "Third Thursday's Conversations in Faith" from St. Albert parish has been recorded and is available in the Estok Homily Library>>> (July 15, 2010)

The topic was "The End of Your Life" and the teaching of the Church on euthanasia. Some Catholics are overly concerned with the burden of their final illness. Finding meaning and value in the suffering death of loved ones is not easy. The Church comes to our "rescue".

I'm Baaaack. Sunday Week 15

The readings for this coming Sunday(7/11) are at USCCB.org>>>

I am presiding at the 4:00pm (7/10) and the 8:00 & 9:30am (7/11).

The Good Samaritan has been read for ages in two ways. The first is to read it literally as Jesus' answer to what mercy, compassion or "neighborliness" looks like. The second way is in an allegorical sense as a description of what God has done for the human race in and through Jesus Christ.

I am leaning toward the second way this week. Humanity has "fallen in with robbers" through sin and is existing "half dead" or better only half alive off on the side of the path to life.

Sin-affected religion(which is half dead itself) can't save humanity, it can't get close enough(cfr the priest and the levite). Only Jesus in the person of the church can, through the remedy/means of the sacraments(wine and oil) get close enough to heal us and carry us to life.

Are we living life as the half alive human being dead in our attachment to sin and life in this world? Is our spiritual/religious life the half dead religious life that just keeps walking through life not in contact with Jesus who can fully save us? Are we not called to a new and fuller life as the Body of Christ that can connect with the totality of our humanity and bring that humanity, that life in the world to the fullness of life in Christ? I think so. What do you think?

13th Sunday Homily is in Library>>>

I will be on vacation. No preaching on July 4. See you later.

June 27, 2010 - Sunday 13

Last Sunday's homily is in the library>>>

This Sunday's readings are at the USCCB.org>>>

I am preaching and presiding at 4:00pm Mass on June 26 and 11:00am Mass on June 27th. See you there!

Free for what?

I had an old friend who, when asked, "are you free" would always say, "I'm cheap, but not free." Rather risque for this blog on preaching, but it always comes to my mind when I think or preach about freedom.

Fr. Robert Barron has a great reflection on today's readings and he reminds us that freedom is about vocation - doing God's will. And freedom, in the biblical sense, is the freedom from attachments and a freedom for doing God's will - vocation!

I think people in today's world cannot hear this call realistically. They hear "leave everything and follow me" and they think they have to either become a hermit or a monk or they're doomed to deny Jesus. As if "having stuff" is the opposite to following Jesus.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The truth is that having stuff, having relationships, having responsibilities in the world is not a lack of freedom. When your stuff, your relationships or your responsibilities HAVE you - that's a lack of freedom to follow Jesus.

How can we be in the world but not of it. How can you raise your family, love your spouse, do your job, take your vacation, and enjoy your life in a way that it doesn't keep you from loving your neighbor as yourself - Jesus' will for you?

Good question. No easy answer. What do you think?

The Vision Thing

Well, after twelve months of ministry, conversation, and reflection I dared to stand before the people and report what I have seen and heard. I double dared to lay out a vision for the future. See what you think. See the June 21 Homily in the archive>>>

12th Sunday of the Year - June 20

Last Sunday's homily is in the library>>>

This Sunday's readings are at USCCB.org>>>

I will be praching at all of the Sunday Masses this weekend in recognition of my first anniversary as pastor of the "great" parish of St. Albert.
I am presiding at the 8:00 and 9:30am Masses on Sunday 6/20.

How? I have been on this question theme for a few weeks now. It started with where, then who, and thirdly what. In today's gospel Jesus asks his disciples such a question. And while it sounds like he's interested in "who" I am hearing him go on to answer the "how"!

That of course fits perfectly into my plans to share with the parish some ideas about what I have seen and heard in my first year of growing as pastor.

What I basically have found is that this is a great parish(who do people say that "we" are?). What I believe we are called to is to be Holy. But how? How can St. Albert be great in holiness for the future? I think they are six aspects of church life that we could build upon to become great in all the ways that God is calling us to be.

Ultimately I will invite folks to a town hall meeting in August to begin the conversation and the work in earnest. Pray for us.

homily

11th Sunday of the Year

The readings for this week are at USCCB>>>

I am not preaching this week due to our missionary preacher being here at all Masses.

June 6 Corpus Christi Homily

The June 6 Homily (What are you?) is in the library>>>

On June 12/13 we have a missionary preacher. No homily til the 20th!

The readings for Sunday are available at USCCB>>>

June 6, 2010 - Corpus Christi, The Body and Blood of Christ

The readings for this week's feast are available at USCCB>>>

I will be presiding at Mass at 5:30pm on Saturday, June 5, 11:00 and 12:30 on Sunday June 6.

The homily from Trinity Sunday is in the library>>>

The last two weeks have begun with a question in my mind: Where are you (in the flesh or in the spirit)? and Who are you (in the Image of God)? This week's homily and thoughts are also a question (let's keep this theme going), What are you?

The answer to the "What are You?" question comes to my mind from the first reading. There we hear that Abram offered the priest one tenth of what he had for a sacrifice to God. We know that behavior as "tithing" or giving one tenth.

The practice of giving one tenth came as a standard offering which indicated that all that we have is the Lord's. So, the symbolic offering of one tenth was the first tenth and the best tenth as a sign that 100% of everything we have comes from God and is marked by his possessing it.

The answer to the question "What are you?" is "A Portion". Each of us is called to recognize ourselves as a part, a piece, a portion. What that says about us is that we belong to a larger whole. In our case, we are a part of the Body of Christ - Corpus Christi.

This is important because too often religious people seek an intimate relationship with God or 'salvation' on their own - "Me and Jesus". Often these folks have rejected the Church and any role that the Body of Christ would have in their salvation.

It cannot be that way for us. In fact, we are only saved in as much as we are united with Jesus Christ, in His Body, the Church(love God and your neighbor as yourself). Communion, that spiritual and real relationship we have with God and others, is essential to our salvation. May we always remember that we are only a portion, a tenth if you will, a part of something much bigger and much more important than ourselves: the Body of Christ.

On a feast dedicated to the Body and Blood of Christ it would be helpful for us to see that our "piece" of Communion is just a portion of the "one loaf" which is Christ's Body. Individually we have great dignity - but alone we are nothing.

Wadayathink?

Holy Trinity Homily

The homily for this Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity is in the library now>>>

I was blessed to have a married couple's anniversary to bless. Who are you?

The Most Holy Trinity - May 30, 2010

The readings for this coming week are found at the USCCB>>>

My mass schedule for this coming Sunday is Saturday 5/29/10 at 4:00pm and Sunday 5/30/10 at 9:30am

Last week I asked the question "where are you?" and for those who heard that(see Library May 23, 2010) know that I meant, "in the flesh" or "in the spirit". This feast of the Trinity might prompt me to ask a similarly phrased question, "who are you?"

While the feast of the Blessed Trinity is about "Who" God is, I believe that ultimately it comes down to 'who' we are. You see, from the beginning we were created in the divine image. So, a feast that talks about the identity of God (Trinity) is going to have an answer in who we are as God's images (Imago Dei)

There is a new book out called "God is Not One". It is a comparative religion book by a theology professor from Boston College. He identifies the eight major religions of the world and says that these are NOT simply eight different "ways" to the same and single God. Rather, he says, these are eight different "solutions" to eight different "problems"...eight different gods, if you will.

Understanding who YOUR God is (and what the problem in life that you are solving), will determine what your religious life is all about. Since religion is the central mystery of our human lives, knowing the identity of our "god" will unravel the mystery of our lives.

Wadayathink?

Who is your God? Why do you pursue that God? Ours is Trinity - pure love.

Pentecost 2010

Pentecost Homily in the Library>>

Pentecost - the Spirit of Life!

Last week's Ascension Homily is in the library>>>

The scriptures for this Sunday are available at USCCB >>>

I am presiding at the 8:00 and 9:30am Masses on Sunday.

I titled this blog "the Spirit OF Life" and I did so for the reason that I am always vigilant to keep the purpose of our faith in the spotlight. What I am always concerned about is that our faith is "brought to life". Too much of the religious conversation that I hear removes our daily life from contact with God.

The purpose of the coming of the Spirit upon the Apostles is to weave divinity into our human experience. That is the purpose of our entire economy of salvation...that God might be united with our humanity that was lost through sin. Jesus is the accomplishment of this divine work. And the Holy Spirit is the agent of that work into our day.

The work of the Holy Spirit is to conform our hearts and lives to this divine work. Isn't it true that too often our prayer and desire is that God change our circumstance to fit our personal goals? Ha! God's purpose and work in the Holy Spirit is to fit us into the current circumstances the way God would fit in - changing us. It is only is this way that God's will can be accomplished. Divinity in communion with humanity.

Oh my!

Ascension of our Lord! - Letting go

Last week's homily is in the library >>>

The Scriptures for this Sunday, the Ascension are available at the USCCB>>>

I have presiding at the Saturday 4:00pm and the Sunday 12:30pm Masses

This Solemnity of the Ascension confronts the Christian and the community with the in between time and the patient virtue of "putting it down gently". I believe in our personal lives we might have the most vivid experience of this Christian virtue is what we call "anticipatory grief".

Although this feast shows Jesus rising up into the clouds, I am thinking of his agony in the garden...the long, slow, painful, process of getting used to the idea, a frightening idea.

Letting go of life as we have known it. That is the message of the Ascension, I think. It is something that the Church proposes but never gets used to. Letting go of this thing to make room for the next thing that life and reality have to present to you.

What do you think