Voting Is A Grave Moral Choice These Days
Homily 29th Sun - Dcn D Gannon
Jesus teaches us today: “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
A servant is one who is a good steward of the gifts entrusted to Him by God.
Of the gifts we have received from God – the greatest of these is the gift of precious human life, created from nothing by the hand of God.
Another gift from God we must steward … is the sanctity of marriage and family – which reflects the great mystery of the One and Triune God. JPII called it the “domestic church”, where children first learn they are loved by God, their parents and siblings, and their calling to follow Christ and learn the meaning of life and true happiness.
Finally, we must steward our God-given right to freedom. We receive these gifts and rights from God, not human beings and not government. The right to freedom is not absolute liberty, but certainly the freedom to support a family and practice one’s religion and live according to one’s rightly formed conscience, formed by Faith – as Catholics, our consciences are informed by the teaching of the Church.
Life – marriage – liberty … these fundamental human rights, bestowed by God and entrusted to us to steward … are under attack as never before with the evils of:
· abortion,
· the attempt to redefine marriage to include same gender relations
· the more recent assault on religious liberty through the health care mandate requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs
The Church teaches, as you know, that abortion is murder, the taking of an innocent human life and is therefore intrinsically evil. Abortion is never justifiable for any reason and is serious sin, which can cut one off from friendship with God and eternal life.
The Church uses the phrase “intrinsically evil” to describe actions that are always and everywhere gravely immoral – they are mortal sins, which deprives us of eternal life.
The Church teaches that there is no such thing as same gender marriage, [since marriage - as established by God in the very nature of the human person- is the sacred union between man and woman which is ordered to loving union and procreation - a fruitful, participating with God in the awesome creation of new human life to be nurtured in a loving family, within the permanence and indissolubility of Christian marriage.] and so, any same-gender impure acts are also intrinsically evil – gravely immoral acts which are never permissible.
Finally, the Church has rejected as a grave affront to human rights, the assault on religious liberty – specifically, requiring Catholics to act against their faith and consciences. We have read the unanimous statement of the USCCB on this and put several articles in the bulletin this year. Religious liberty flows from our dignity as free human persons, which are inalienable, God given rights no human person or government can take away or trample.
The Church’s teaching on faith and morals is infallibly protected by the Holy Spirit to never be in error. This is a necessary belief we are bound to hold as Catholics. The Church’s teaching on these truths has never changed, and never will. The Church’s teaching authority is given through the Holy Father, the Pope and the bishops of the Church, the successors to the Apostles. Christ’s will and teaching continues to this very day through His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. So we owe the Church complete submission and assent of our minds and wills, in loving obedience to God who has given us the Church as His bride on earth to lead us to authentic TRUTH and LOVE, which is not the way of the world, but rather is persecuted and hated, as Christ was.
So here is the point: As Catholics, our actions must be consistent with our faith –this includes voting. Voting is a moral act – and must be consistent with the Church’s teaching, especially its teaching on intrinsic evils such as abortion and same gender marriage and deprivation of religious liberty.
In his most recent column, our beloved Bishop Callahan pointed out (as did our last bulletin) the Democratic platform “strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade, including abortion, regardless of ability to pay”. The same platform supports “equal treatment under the law for same sex couples…and the full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.” Finally, the same party tramples religious liberty as the Catholic Church itself is suing the current administration for what will amount to the dismantling of the largest private health care network in the world – the Catholic health care system and other Catholic charitable organizations.
The focus of this homily is not political, it is moral. The Church has a duty to ensure the faithful are aware of the moral issues at stake in our society which are the subject of our choices in the voting booth. Voting is a moral act. In fact, these days it has become a very grave moral act.
While the Church does not endorse candidates, it DOES endorse or condemn moral issues, in this case, the Church is addressing those moral issues involving intrinsic moral evil.
Pope Benedict says in his encyclical, “God is Love”: “…the Church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly.”
Bishop Callahan, quoting his good friend Bishop John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, IL continued: “As a Catholic you need to think and pray very carefully about your vote, because a vote for a candidate who promotes actions or behaviors that are intrinsically evil and gravely sinful (abortion, same gender marriage, denying religious freedom) makes you morally complicit (accountable)… and places the eternal salvation of your own soul in serious jeopardy.”
Some object that they may vote for a candidate supporting intrinsically evil laws/actions because they like their policies on the poor or the economy. We can have debate about economic policies, how we care for the poor, the extent of government intervention in our lives – these are prudential discussions and reasonable minds can differ somewhat, but they by no means outweigh the gravity of supporting the intrinsic evils of abortion, same gender marriage, and the mandate to provide contraceptive and sterilization coverage – which are all grave sins against human dignity and God.
One can negotiate various economic, budget and welfare policies… but there is no negotiating the questions of the right to life and the dignity of marriage and the human person.
Let us pray that God will give us the wisdom and guidance to make the morally right choices when we cast our votes in November.
Peace and Grace to you + Dcn Dan Gannon
Jesus teaches us today: “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
A servant is one who is a good steward of the gifts entrusted to Him by God.
Of the gifts we have received from God – the greatest of these is the gift of precious human life, created from nothing by the hand of God.
Another gift from God we must steward … is the sanctity of marriage and family – which reflects the great mystery of the One and Triune God. JPII called it the “domestic church”, where children first learn they are loved by God, their parents and siblings, and their calling to follow Christ and learn the meaning of life and true happiness.
Finally, we must steward our God-given right to freedom. We receive these gifts and rights from God, not human beings and not government. The right to freedom is not absolute liberty, but certainly the freedom to support a family and practice one’s religion and live according to one’s rightly formed conscience, formed by Faith – as Catholics, our consciences are informed by the teaching of the Church.
Life – marriage – liberty … these fundamental human rights, bestowed by God and entrusted to us to steward … are under attack as never before with the evils of:
· abortion,
· the attempt to redefine marriage to include same gender relations
· the more recent assault on religious liberty through the health care mandate requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs
The Church teaches, as you know, that abortion is murder, the taking of an innocent human life and is therefore intrinsically evil. Abortion is never justifiable for any reason and is serious sin, which can cut one off from friendship with God and eternal life.
The Church uses the phrase “intrinsically evil” to describe actions that are always and everywhere gravely immoral – they are mortal sins, which deprives us of eternal life.
The Church teaches that there is no such thing as same gender marriage, [since marriage - as established by God in the very nature of the human person- is the sacred union between man and woman which is ordered to loving union and procreation - a fruitful, participating with God in the awesome creation of new human life to be nurtured in a loving family, within the permanence and indissolubility of Christian marriage.] and so, any same-gender impure acts are also intrinsically evil – gravely immoral acts which are never permissible.
Finally, the Church has rejected as a grave affront to human rights, the assault on religious liberty – specifically, requiring Catholics to act against their faith and consciences. We have read the unanimous statement of the USCCB on this and put several articles in the bulletin this year. Religious liberty flows from our dignity as free human persons, which are inalienable, God given rights no human person or government can take away or trample.
The Church’s teaching on faith and morals is infallibly protected by the Holy Spirit to never be in error. This is a necessary belief we are bound to hold as Catholics. The Church’s teaching on these truths has never changed, and never will. The Church’s teaching authority is given through the Holy Father, the Pope and the bishops of the Church, the successors to the Apostles. Christ’s will and teaching continues to this very day through His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. So we owe the Church complete submission and assent of our minds and wills, in loving obedience to God who has given us the Church as His bride on earth to lead us to authentic TRUTH and LOVE, which is not the way of the world, but rather is persecuted and hated, as Christ was.
So here is the point: As Catholics, our actions must be consistent with our faith –this includes voting. Voting is a moral act – and must be consistent with the Church’s teaching, especially its teaching on intrinsic evils such as abortion and same gender marriage and deprivation of religious liberty.
In his most recent column, our beloved Bishop Callahan pointed out (as did our last bulletin) the Democratic platform “strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade, including abortion, regardless of ability to pay”. The same platform supports “equal treatment under the law for same sex couples…and the full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.” Finally, the same party tramples religious liberty as the Catholic Church itself is suing the current administration for what will amount to the dismantling of the largest private health care network in the world – the Catholic health care system and other Catholic charitable organizations.
The focus of this homily is not political, it is moral. The Church has a duty to ensure the faithful are aware of the moral issues at stake in our society which are the subject of our choices in the voting booth. Voting is a moral act. In fact, these days it has become a very grave moral act.
While the Church does not endorse candidates, it DOES endorse or condemn moral issues, in this case, the Church is addressing those moral issues involving intrinsic moral evil.
Pope Benedict says in his encyclical, “God is Love”: “…the Church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly.”
Bishop Callahan, quoting his good friend Bishop John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, IL continued: “As a Catholic you need to think and pray very carefully about your vote, because a vote for a candidate who promotes actions or behaviors that are intrinsically evil and gravely sinful (abortion, same gender marriage, denying religious freedom) makes you morally complicit (accountable)… and places the eternal salvation of your own soul in serious jeopardy.”
Some object that they may vote for a candidate supporting intrinsically evil laws/actions because they like their policies on the poor or the economy. We can have debate about economic policies, how we care for the poor, the extent of government intervention in our lives – these are prudential discussions and reasonable minds can differ somewhat, but they by no means outweigh the gravity of supporting the intrinsic evils of abortion, same gender marriage, and the mandate to provide contraceptive and sterilization coverage – which are all grave sins against human dignity and God.
One can negotiate various economic, budget and welfare policies… but there is no negotiating the questions of the right to life and the dignity of marriage and the human person.
Let us pray that God will give us the wisdom and guidance to make the morally right choices when we cast our votes in November.
Peace and Grace to you + Dcn Dan Gannon
What NOW???
Our country has voted and Barack Hussein Obama remains, by narrow margins, president of our country.
This is an appropriate time to turn to the life and example of Our Lord Jesus Christ, recalling his prayer at the Last Supper... that we be IN but not OF the world. He also warned us that if the world persecuted Him, it will persecute us also. Jesus did not live his life relying on a "successful" outcome, by worldly standards. He did what he did every day because it was the right thing to do... because it was the will of His Heavenly Father. This was what he called "his bread".
We too, as Catholics, must stand fast ... indeed, redouble our efforts to become saints. We must resolve to deepen our prayer lives, our dedication to the service of charity, of evangelization and proclaiming the Gospel of Life BOLDLY to a "twisted and depraved generation", as St. Paul called his age. We must realize, however, that we are going the route of persecution because we are engaging a "culture of death" which has grown exponentially stronger with the current administration and will continue to grow stronger the next four years. Our country has elected a president who is pro-abortion, pro-infanticide (also called partial-birth abortion), tramples religious liberty (after assuring Catholics their consciences will be respected) compelling Catholics to participate in intrinsic evils, pro-embryonic stem cell procedures, pro-"gay marriage", pro-government funding of Planned Parenthood/abortion... I could go on.
What will happen the next 4 years with "nothing to lose" for Obama? I shudder to think about it, but make no mistake - the Catholic Church will be there as a firewall of protection for the unborn, the elderly, the sanctity of marriage and religious liberty. In other words, we will defend, even unto fines and imprisonment, the natural law God has inscribed in the very nature of the human person, made in His image and likeness.
Let us recall our Lord's words, "In the world you will find tribulation, but take courage I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."
Peace+ DD
This is an appropriate time to turn to the life and example of Our Lord Jesus Christ, recalling his prayer at the Last Supper... that we be IN but not OF the world. He also warned us that if the world persecuted Him, it will persecute us also. Jesus did not live his life relying on a "successful" outcome, by worldly standards. He did what he did every day because it was the right thing to do... because it was the will of His Heavenly Father. This was what he called "his bread".
We too, as Catholics, must stand fast ... indeed, redouble our efforts to become saints. We must resolve to deepen our prayer lives, our dedication to the service of charity, of evangelization and proclaiming the Gospel of Life BOLDLY to a "twisted and depraved generation", as St. Paul called his age. We must realize, however, that we are going the route of persecution because we are engaging a "culture of death" which has grown exponentially stronger with the current administration and will continue to grow stronger the next four years. Our country has elected a president who is pro-abortion, pro-infanticide (also called partial-birth abortion), tramples religious liberty (after assuring Catholics their consciences will be respected) compelling Catholics to participate in intrinsic evils, pro-embryonic stem cell procedures, pro-"gay marriage", pro-government funding of Planned Parenthood/abortion... I could go on.
What will happen the next 4 years with "nothing to lose" for Obama? I shudder to think about it, but make no mistake - the Catholic Church will be there as a firewall of protection for the unborn, the elderly, the sanctity of marriage and religious liberty. In other words, we will defend, even unto fines and imprisonment, the natural law God has inscribed in the very nature of the human person, made in His image and likeness.
Let us recall our Lord's words, "In the world you will find tribulation, but take courage I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."
Peace+ DD
Christ the King
Homily - Feast of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
There is but one King only – Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man. He is the sovereign, all powerful King of the universe. “I am the Alpha and the Omega. Says the Lord God, the one who is, who was and who is to come, the almighty.” His Kingship is forever and in eternity … but is also a reality experienced here and now. His Kingship transforms our lives!
We serve only one master – to serve any other is to worship false kings, false idols. The Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ is absolute and perfect – and completely unlike any notion of kingship which the world recognizes. Why?
Jesus Kingship is manifested in both his divine and human natures. He is King firstly because he is God – at the beginning of John’s Gospel we read of Christ the King as the Word, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race…”
St. Paul describes his reign over the angels and all of creation: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him* were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent.” This King created His Kingdom out of pure goodness and love – there is no other. He is head over all in heaven and on earth, drawing us to Him in Love.
Because the Majesty of Christ the King is inextricably linked (paradoxically/mysteriously) to His sacred human nature … which is the instrument of His divinity, in his humanity… Christ the King was willing and able to suffer His passion for the salvation of souls – because as St. Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, “… he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Here we see an unheard of paradox – the King takes on the identity of a pauper to win them over to His love -- proving it by emptying self.
So Christ freed us from sin and death through his death… as our second reading today from Revelation exhorts us to give glory… “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father…”
Christ renounced earthly notions of kingship when the people wanted to carry him off as a “bread king”. He confessed his kingship only before Pilate, amidst his passion and humiliation; He declared His “kingdom is not of this world”.
Mounting His worldly throne of the cross, IRNI – “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”; He ascended to His glorious heavenly throne forever, as our first reading says, receiving “dominion, glory and kingship; all peoples and nations and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. (Daniel) “Behold, he is coming amid the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.” (Rev.)
Agony/death in exchange for eternal life and glory for all who are willing to follow the King into spiritual warfare – to overcome self, pride and attachments to things not of the Kingdom of God. The King demonstrates the way to Heavenly Kingdom.
Christ is King and yet infinitely more – the Way Truth Life
His is the Kingdom of Heaven. This kingdom begins and is possessed in the souls Christ the King claims as his dominion! He establishes his kingship in baptism by giving us the gift of sanctifying grace – His very life in our souls, which elevates us, divinizes us and makes us adopted sons and daughters of the King. We share in His Kingship.
As St. Paul says in his second letter to Timothy: “This saying is trustworthy: if we have died with Him; we shall also live with Him. If we persevere we shall also reign with Him.”
But how do WE reign with Him? By imitating Christ the King. He died to himself through sacrificial love for us, putting the will of His Heavenly Father above all else as his “bread”, before even dying for us on the cross for our induction into His Kingdom. So too, we must renounce our own wills for the sake of God’s, as He did: in prayer, service and love of our neighbor, even those most difficult to love.
We are in His heavenly court even now! The seed of glory – grace – is eternal life begun here and now. The “Kingdom of Heaven has come upon you” – in your midst … in your own soul where God desires to dwell! We can imitate the King and reign with him only through the power of His grace given. The good Shepherd King provides for all the needs of His little ones who trust in Him.
We pray “thy kingdom come” every day in the Lord’s perfect prayer – we ask for him to establish His kingship over our soul, over our entire life. What areas in our souls are still not yet handed over to this King, who also happens to desire to be our spouse, an intimate lover? This is a King who does not take possession of our souls by force, by violence… though we come from and belong to Him. But the divine King will and must help us to overthrow those other, worldly kings, those attachments to darkness and sin in our souls, so as to be transformed into light and joy and peace within.
Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of love – if Christ as King of heaven is within us, then the WORLD too becomes a foreshadowing of the Kingdom of heaven – by the love we give to one another sacrificially. What would the kingdom of this world be without the grace of the King dwelling in His people? What could it be if we became saints? We therefore transform the world more and more into a kingdom where the dignity of each human person is upheld, recognized and even fought for.
Let us make this day a rededication to Christ, our Eternal King and our God … as we say with the heavenly host: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing… To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”
… I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come… The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
There is but one King only – Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man. He is the sovereign, all powerful King of the universe. “I am the Alpha and the Omega. Says the Lord God, the one who is, who was and who is to come, the almighty.” His Kingship is forever and in eternity … but is also a reality experienced here and now. His Kingship transforms our lives!
We serve only one master – to serve any other is to worship false kings, false idols. The Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ is absolute and perfect – and completely unlike any notion of kingship which the world recognizes. Why?
Jesus Kingship is manifested in both his divine and human natures. He is King firstly because he is God – at the beginning of John’s Gospel we read of Christ the King as the Word, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race…”
St. Paul describes his reign over the angels and all of creation: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him* were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent.” This King created His Kingdom out of pure goodness and love – there is no other. He is head over all in heaven and on earth, drawing us to Him in Love.
Because the Majesty of Christ the King is inextricably linked (paradoxically/mysteriously) to His sacred human nature … which is the instrument of His divinity, in his humanity… Christ the King was willing and able to suffer His passion for the salvation of souls – because as St. Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, “… he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Here we see an unheard of paradox – the King takes on the identity of a pauper to win them over to His love -- proving it by emptying self.
So Christ freed us from sin and death through his death… as our second reading today from Revelation exhorts us to give glory… “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father…”
Christ renounced earthly notions of kingship when the people wanted to carry him off as a “bread king”. He confessed his kingship only before Pilate, amidst his passion and humiliation; He declared His “kingdom is not of this world”.
Mounting His worldly throne of the cross, IRNI – “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”; He ascended to His glorious heavenly throne forever, as our first reading says, receiving “dominion, glory and kingship; all peoples and nations and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. (Daniel) “Behold, he is coming amid the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.” (Rev.)
Agony/death in exchange for eternal life and glory for all who are willing to follow the King into spiritual warfare – to overcome self, pride and attachments to things not of the Kingdom of God. The King demonstrates the way to Heavenly Kingdom.
Christ is King and yet infinitely more – the Way Truth Life
His is the Kingdom of Heaven. This kingdom begins and is possessed in the souls Christ the King claims as his dominion! He establishes his kingship in baptism by giving us the gift of sanctifying grace – His very life in our souls, which elevates us, divinizes us and makes us adopted sons and daughters of the King. We share in His Kingship.
As St. Paul says in his second letter to Timothy: “This saying is trustworthy: if we have died with Him; we shall also live with Him. If we persevere we shall also reign with Him.”
But how do WE reign with Him? By imitating Christ the King. He died to himself through sacrificial love for us, putting the will of His Heavenly Father above all else as his “bread”, before even dying for us on the cross for our induction into His Kingdom. So too, we must renounce our own wills for the sake of God’s, as He did: in prayer, service and love of our neighbor, even those most difficult to love.
We are in His heavenly court even now! The seed of glory – grace – is eternal life begun here and now. The “Kingdom of Heaven has come upon you” – in your midst … in your own soul where God desires to dwell! We can imitate the King and reign with him only through the power of His grace given. The good Shepherd King provides for all the needs of His little ones who trust in Him.
We pray “thy kingdom come” every day in the Lord’s perfect prayer – we ask for him to establish His kingship over our soul, over our entire life. What areas in our souls are still not yet handed over to this King, who also happens to desire to be our spouse, an intimate lover? This is a King who does not take possession of our souls by force, by violence… though we come from and belong to Him. But the divine King will and must help us to overthrow those other, worldly kings, those attachments to darkness and sin in our souls, so as to be transformed into light and joy and peace within.
Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of love – if Christ as King of heaven is within us, then the WORLD too becomes a foreshadowing of the Kingdom of heaven – by the love we give to one another sacrificially. What would the kingdom of this world be without the grace of the King dwelling in His people? What could it be if we became saints? We therefore transform the world more and more into a kingdom where the dignity of each human person is upheld, recognized and even fought for.
Let us make this day a rededication to Christ, our Eternal King and our God … as we say with the heavenly host: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing… To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”
… I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come… The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
Homily - 4th Sunday of Advent
Are you in the Christmas spirit? How has Advent gone? Most say it seems to have passed quickly and it is hard to believe that Christmas is upon us.
Well, even Mary is in a hurry in our Gospel today… with many things to do… only the Mother of God for a few hours or days now … she “set out… in haste” to visit Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. To “set out” suggests this is a determined mission with a specific purpose. (In other places Luke uses the phrase “set out”: Jesus from synagogue to heal Peter’s mother; the Prodigal Son for his father’s house; Peter to the tomb of Jesus; disciples on road to Emmaus to Jerusalem) For Mary, the Visitation mission is about announcement, service and blessing.
There is a sense of urgency in her mission, as she proceeds “in haste”… Mary would show the same urgency in eventually sending her Divine Son on His public ministry by asking him at Cana to work his first miracle, saying “they have no wine left” and “do whatever he tells you”…. Today, the Visitation narrative reveals our Christmas call – to bring Christ within us … Emmanuel, God with us… to bless others as Mary did.
The visitation narrative reveals to us that the indwelling of the Son of God, the Savior (Jesus) was already dynamic and effective in Mary. Why?
“Blessed are you who believed…” says Elizabeth to Mary. Mary’s “YES” in faith to the will of God in the message of Gabriel … put her at the very epicenter of God’s fulfillment of the plan of salvation for the world. We must set out now to celebrate Christmas with the heart/mind of Mary.
Whenever we imitate Mary’s act of faith in God … God causes us to bear good fruit like she did. St. Ambrose again explains this reality, saying, “Happy are you also who have heard and believed, for whatever soul has believed both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and knows his works.” The incarnation at Christmas is for one reason only – our salvation … to bring us eternal life and for us to participate in Christ’s bringing others to salvation. “Now this is eternal life,c that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ”. God offers us, as he did Mary, the grace to say “yes” believing in the coming of Christ Jesus in our hearts and minds through grace… with our whole being, offering God all that we have and are, making our act of faith, our “yes” effective and dynamic in the world as Mary did.
So the question for us at the brink of the feast of Christmas is … do we believe like Mary – that God desires to be born in us this Christmas to transform our lives into the image of Jesus and his Mother? Or, are we too distracted by the materialism and consumerism around us?
Elizabeth responded to Mary’s word recognizing the blessing of God; John responded to the Word made flesh within Mary, leaping for JOY. As St. Ambrose notes, “Elizabeth first heard the word but John first experienced the grace. She heard by the order of nature, he leapt by reason of the mystery.” This is no ordinary visit, but a Visitation by a high personage – the highest, in fact… causes John to leap for joy in reaction to God Incarnate who has “lifted up the lowly”, just as David once leapt and danced before the Ark of the Covenant (Sm).
Not to make Christmas anti-climactic … but we must acknowledge that the Word is already flesh within the womb of the Virgin Mary in our reading today. Before his miraculous virgin birth at Christmas … from deep within her womb, Jesus the Son of God is already using Mary as His perfect instrument to bless and sanctify John the Baptist for His ministry. Jesus, dwelling within His Mother is already at work through her.
Is this not what the Incarnation is all about? “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”! Indeed! The visitation reveals the blessedness and effectiveness of all who receive the Word of God into their very souls – into our innermost being, such that we allow God to transform us and change our lives more and more into the image of Christ. Keeping his commandments of love in service, obedience and humility.
Is there anything more consoling than realizing that “God is with us”? Not only that but WITHIN US? That our Lord is true God and true man… come among us in the flesh simply out of love for us and the desire to unite us again with the family of the Holy Trinity?
Christmas, God is with us – Emmanuel … is our ENCOUNTER with God that transforms us… as it did Mary, even within the womb.
Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord – her response to Elizabeth’s greeting is her Magnificat. It is Mary’s explanation of the Incarnation. She says the Lord looks with favor on his lowly servant; he has done great things for her; he has cast down the might from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty… These are expressions of JOY! As John leapt!
Our acts of faith continue to give birth to Christ in the world so others may say “yes”. This is the meaning of Christmas – that the Christ child born into the humiliation of a cave, might also come to the humble abode of our sinful souls to bring JOY, where Mary prepares a place in us to receive Jesus, the savior … so he might dwell with us and in us … to heal our wounded souls and restore us to true joy, peace and happiness in God.
God is indeed with us … but he comes only to the humble heart… only to the humble stable, the cave of our hearts …
Let us ask her motherly help to become like her - a Theotokos, a God bearer thru this Eucharist. The purpose of Christmas is for us to be saved by saying “yes” to Jesus and becoming God-bearers of the Holy Trinity in our souls in order to transform others one person at a time. Then, with the help of Mary, we will be prepared to celebrate his Incarnation worthily. Peace+ Dcn D
Well, even Mary is in a hurry in our Gospel today… with many things to do… only the Mother of God for a few hours or days now … she “set out… in haste” to visit Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. To “set out” suggests this is a determined mission with a specific purpose. (In other places Luke uses the phrase “set out”: Jesus from synagogue to heal Peter’s mother; the Prodigal Son for his father’s house; Peter to the tomb of Jesus; disciples on road to Emmaus to Jerusalem) For Mary, the Visitation mission is about announcement, service and blessing.
There is a sense of urgency in her mission, as she proceeds “in haste”… Mary would show the same urgency in eventually sending her Divine Son on His public ministry by asking him at Cana to work his first miracle, saying “they have no wine left” and “do whatever he tells you”…. Today, the Visitation narrative reveals our Christmas call – to bring Christ within us … Emmanuel, God with us… to bless others as Mary did.
The visitation narrative reveals to us that the indwelling of the Son of God, the Savior (Jesus) was already dynamic and effective in Mary. Why?
“Blessed are you who believed…” says Elizabeth to Mary. Mary’s “YES” in faith to the will of God in the message of Gabriel … put her at the very epicenter of God’s fulfillment of the plan of salvation for the world. We must set out now to celebrate Christmas with the heart/mind of Mary.
Whenever we imitate Mary’s act of faith in God … God causes us to bear good fruit like she did. St. Ambrose again explains this reality, saying, “Happy are you also who have heard and believed, for whatever soul has believed both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and knows his works.” The incarnation at Christmas is for one reason only – our salvation … to bring us eternal life and for us to participate in Christ’s bringing others to salvation. “Now this is eternal life,c that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ”. God offers us, as he did Mary, the grace to say “yes” believing in the coming of Christ Jesus in our hearts and minds through grace… with our whole being, offering God all that we have and are, making our act of faith, our “yes” effective and dynamic in the world as Mary did.
So the question for us at the brink of the feast of Christmas is … do we believe like Mary – that God desires to be born in us this Christmas to transform our lives into the image of Jesus and his Mother? Or, are we too distracted by the materialism and consumerism around us?
Elizabeth responded to Mary’s word recognizing the blessing of God; John responded to the Word made flesh within Mary, leaping for JOY. As St. Ambrose notes, “Elizabeth first heard the word but John first experienced the grace. She heard by the order of nature, he leapt by reason of the mystery.” This is no ordinary visit, but a Visitation by a high personage – the highest, in fact… causes John to leap for joy in reaction to God Incarnate who has “lifted up the lowly”, just as David once leapt and danced before the Ark of the Covenant (Sm).
Not to make Christmas anti-climactic … but we must acknowledge that the Word is already flesh within the womb of the Virgin Mary in our reading today. Before his miraculous virgin birth at Christmas … from deep within her womb, Jesus the Son of God is already using Mary as His perfect instrument to bless and sanctify John the Baptist for His ministry. Jesus, dwelling within His Mother is already at work through her.
Is this not what the Incarnation is all about? “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”! Indeed! The visitation reveals the blessedness and effectiveness of all who receive the Word of God into their very souls – into our innermost being, such that we allow God to transform us and change our lives more and more into the image of Christ. Keeping his commandments of love in service, obedience and humility.
Is there anything more consoling than realizing that “God is with us”? Not only that but WITHIN US? That our Lord is true God and true man… come among us in the flesh simply out of love for us and the desire to unite us again with the family of the Holy Trinity?
Christmas, God is with us – Emmanuel … is our ENCOUNTER with God that transforms us… as it did Mary, even within the womb.
Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord – her response to Elizabeth’s greeting is her Magnificat. It is Mary’s explanation of the Incarnation. She says the Lord looks with favor on his lowly servant; he has done great things for her; he has cast down the might from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty… These are expressions of JOY! As John leapt!
Our acts of faith continue to give birth to Christ in the world so others may say “yes”. This is the meaning of Christmas – that the Christ child born into the humiliation of a cave, might also come to the humble abode of our sinful souls to bring JOY, where Mary prepares a place in us to receive Jesus, the savior … so he might dwell with us and in us … to heal our wounded souls and restore us to true joy, peace and happiness in God.
God is indeed with us … but he comes only to the humble heart… only to the humble stable, the cave of our hearts …
Let us ask her motherly help to become like her - a Theotokos, a God bearer thru this Eucharist. The purpose of Christmas is for us to be saved by saying “yes” to Jesus and becoming God-bearers of the Holy Trinity in our souls in order to transform others one person at a time. Then, with the help of Mary, we will be prepared to celebrate his Incarnation worthily. Peace+ Dcn D
Homily - Feast of the Holy Innocents
Since Christmas we have been celebrating feast days of witnesses – Deacon Stephen, protomartyr (martyr by will, blood and love), St. John the Evangelist – the disciple Jesus loved (martyr by will and love), and today we remember the Holy Innocents – infants and toddlers butchered by Herod (martyrs by blood alone).
These Holy Innocents rival St. Stephen as truly the first martyrs for our Lord. They were unaware at the moment --- but crowned with their innocence and purity … they shed their blood in protection of the Word made flesh.
The Holy Innocents were really the first group persecuted for the sake of Christ.
The Church has celebrated this feast since the 4th century. The Churches of St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major in Rome are believed to possess some bodies of the Holy Innocents as relics.
What can we learn from the Holy Innocents? Historians and scripture scholars debate the number of children murdered. Because Bethlehem was relatively small (about 1,000) – perhaps 20 were slaughtered.
Today, on average over 3,000 infants will be slaughtered in the womb in our country. Over 55 MILLION infants have been destroyed since Roe v Wade become the unjust law of the land. About 40 Million are killed worldwide every year. Since 1980 worldwide it is estimated well over one billion infants have been murdered via abortion.
This puts in context the gravity of our moral status in the world today!
As a culture and people, we put to death infants in the womb for the same reason Herod did – out of pride, self-love, putting desires of the flesh ahead of the dignity of the human person and God’s law “thou shalt not kill” and Christ’s commandment to “love one another”.
As a nation and worldwide … we are a people who still “walk in darkness” as John says in 1st reading. The sin of abortion is concealed in the lie of false freedom! Abortion advocates claim they have the right and they see. John says. “If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
While we here today realize this, we can renew our sense of … well, OUTRAGE at the destruction of innocent human life, our most precious gift. We can take steps to give of ourselves to promote and protect human life – speaking out in our families, political world, schools … but especially witnessing with a rededicated, more deeply converted life!
The slaughter of millions in the womb reminds us how insidious and evil sin is! This is cause for us to put to death those tendencies and sins in ourselves which place self and things before God. This requires us to be countercultural. People don’t want to hear it. You will be persecuted, but we have the Holy Innocents, Stephen and the throng of saints as encouragement for us to follow Christ to the cross so as to attain heaven.
In this octave of Christmastide … we recall God became man out of love for each and every human person, revealing beyond any doubt the infinite mystery of love God has for each individual he created from nothing.
Because of the Word made flesh this Christmas, although we are a people in darkness we can now “walk in the light” and be a light to the world! If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.”
The Holy Innocents are with God in glory – they inspire us to recall with John that, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world." Peace + DD
These Holy Innocents rival St. Stephen as truly the first martyrs for our Lord. They were unaware at the moment --- but crowned with their innocence and purity … they shed their blood in protection of the Word made flesh.
The Holy Innocents were really the first group persecuted for the sake of Christ.
The Church has celebrated this feast since the 4th century. The Churches of St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major in Rome are believed to possess some bodies of the Holy Innocents as relics.
What can we learn from the Holy Innocents? Historians and scripture scholars debate the number of children murdered. Because Bethlehem was relatively small (about 1,000) – perhaps 20 were slaughtered.
Today, on average over 3,000 infants will be slaughtered in the womb in our country. Over 55 MILLION infants have been destroyed since Roe v Wade become the unjust law of the land. About 40 Million are killed worldwide every year. Since 1980 worldwide it is estimated well over one billion infants have been murdered via abortion.
This puts in context the gravity of our moral status in the world today!
As a culture and people, we put to death infants in the womb for the same reason Herod did – out of pride, self-love, putting desires of the flesh ahead of the dignity of the human person and God’s law “thou shalt not kill” and Christ’s commandment to “love one another”.
As a nation and worldwide … we are a people who still “walk in darkness” as John says in 1st reading. The sin of abortion is concealed in the lie of false freedom! Abortion advocates claim they have the right and they see. John says. “If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
While we here today realize this, we can renew our sense of … well, OUTRAGE at the destruction of innocent human life, our most precious gift. We can take steps to give of ourselves to promote and protect human life – speaking out in our families, political world, schools … but especially witnessing with a rededicated, more deeply converted life!
The slaughter of millions in the womb reminds us how insidious and evil sin is! This is cause for us to put to death those tendencies and sins in ourselves which place self and things before God. This requires us to be countercultural. People don’t want to hear it. You will be persecuted, but we have the Holy Innocents, Stephen and the throng of saints as encouragement for us to follow Christ to the cross so as to attain heaven.
In this octave of Christmastide … we recall God became man out of love for each and every human person, revealing beyond any doubt the infinite mystery of love God has for each individual he created from nothing.
Because of the Word made flesh this Christmas, although we are a people in darkness we can now “walk in the light” and be a light to the world! If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.”
The Holy Innocents are with God in glory – they inspire us to recall with John that, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world." Peace + DD
Homily - Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord by Blessed John Paul II
Sistine Chapel
Sunday, 12 January 2003
1. "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near" (Is 55,6).
These words from the second part of the Book of Isaiah ring out on this Sunday that ends the Christmas season. They are an invitation to go more deeply into the meaning for us of today's Feast, the Baptism of the Lord.
In spirit let us return to the banks of the Jordan where John the Baptist administered a Baptism of repentance, exhorting to conversion. Coming up to the Precursor is Jesus, and with his presence he transformed that gesture of repentance into a solemn manifestation of his divinity. A voice suddenly comes from heaven: "You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased" (Mk 1,11) and, in the form of a dove, the Spirit descends upon Jesus.
In that extraordinary event, John saw realized what had been said about the Messiah born in Bethlehem, adored by the shepherds and the Magi. He was the very One foretold by the prophets, the beloved Son of the Father; we must seek him while he can be found and call upon him while he is at hand.
In Baptism every Christian personally meets him; he is inserted into the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection and receives a new life, which is the life of God. What a great gift and what a great responsibility!
2. The liturgy today invites us to draw water "with joy at the fountain of salvation" (Is 12,3); it exhorts us to relive our Baptism, giving thanks for the great gifts received.
With these sentiments, I prepare to administer the sacrament of Baptism to the newborn babies, as is now a tradition, in the stupendous Sistine Chapel, where the art of great artists has depicted essential moments of our faith. There are 22 infants, who come mainly from Italy, but also from Poland and Lebanon.
I greet you all, dear brothers and sisters who have wished to take part in this touching celebration. With special affection, I greet you, dear parents and godparents, called to be the first witnesses of the fundamental gift of the faith for these little ones. The Lord entrusts to you, as responsible guardians, the lives that are so precious in his eyes. Devote yourselves lovingly to them so that they may grow "in wisdom, age and grace"; help them to be faithful to their vocation.
In a little while, and in their name, you will renew the promise to fight against evil and to adhere fully to Christ. May your lives always be identified by this generous pledge!
3. You are likewise conscious that the Lord is asking you for a new and deeper collaboration: that is, he is entrusting you with the daily duty of accompanying them on the path of holiness. Make every effort to be holy yourselves in order to guide your children towards that high goal of Christian living. Do not forget that this training in holiness "calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer" (Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, n. 32).
May Mary, the Holy Mother of the Redeemer, who accepted God's plan without reservations, support you, nourishing your hope and desire to serve faithfully Christ and his Church. May our Lady help these little ones especially, so that they can fully realize the plan God has in store for each of them. May she help Christian families throughout the world to be authentic "schools of prayer" in which prayer together becomes more and more the heart and the source of every activity!
Sunday, 12 January 2003
1. "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near" (Is 55,6).
These words from the second part of the Book of Isaiah ring out on this Sunday that ends the Christmas season. They are an invitation to go more deeply into the meaning for us of today's Feast, the Baptism of the Lord.
In spirit let us return to the banks of the Jordan where John the Baptist administered a Baptism of repentance, exhorting to conversion. Coming up to the Precursor is Jesus, and with his presence he transformed that gesture of repentance into a solemn manifestation of his divinity. A voice suddenly comes from heaven: "You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased" (Mk 1,11) and, in the form of a dove, the Spirit descends upon Jesus.
In that extraordinary event, John saw realized what had been said about the Messiah born in Bethlehem, adored by the shepherds and the Magi. He was the very One foretold by the prophets, the beloved Son of the Father; we must seek him while he can be found and call upon him while he is at hand.
In Baptism every Christian personally meets him; he is inserted into the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection and receives a new life, which is the life of God. What a great gift and what a great responsibility!
2. The liturgy today invites us to draw water "with joy at the fountain of salvation" (Is 12,3); it exhorts us to relive our Baptism, giving thanks for the great gifts received.
With these sentiments, I prepare to administer the sacrament of Baptism to the newborn babies, as is now a tradition, in the stupendous Sistine Chapel, where the art of great artists has depicted essential moments of our faith. There are 22 infants, who come mainly from Italy, but also from Poland and Lebanon.
I greet you all, dear brothers and sisters who have wished to take part in this touching celebration. With special affection, I greet you, dear parents and godparents, called to be the first witnesses of the fundamental gift of the faith for these little ones. The Lord entrusts to you, as responsible guardians, the lives that are so precious in his eyes. Devote yourselves lovingly to them so that they may grow "in wisdom, age and grace"; help them to be faithful to their vocation.
In a little while, and in their name, you will renew the promise to fight against evil and to adhere fully to Christ. May your lives always be identified by this generous pledge!
3. You are likewise conscious that the Lord is asking you for a new and deeper collaboration: that is, he is entrusting you with the daily duty of accompanying them on the path of holiness. Make every effort to be holy yourselves in order to guide your children towards that high goal of Christian living. Do not forget that this training in holiness "calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer" (Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, n. 32).
May Mary, the Holy Mother of the Redeemer, who accepted God's plan without reservations, support you, nourishing your hope and desire to serve faithfully Christ and his Church. May our Lady help these little ones especially, so that they can fully realize the plan God has in store for each of them. May she help Christian families throughout the world to be authentic "schools of prayer" in which prayer together becomes more and more the heart and the source of every activity!
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Sunday Homilies
*NOTE: I have not updated this for awhile but will try to do so in near future. Just posting these per request of some folks at my parish. Peace+ DD 10.17.2010 The Fruit of Prayer is Service 11.14.2010 Unmasking the False Prophets 12.19.2010 God Is With Us 01.23.2011 Contraception Leads to Abortion 02.20.2011 Perfection and Sacrificial Love 03.20.2011 The Triumph of Failure 03.01.2011 We Are Lazarus 04.22.2011 Good Friday - No Greater Love 05.01.2011 Divine Mercy 07.03.2011 "I Am Meek and Humble of Heart" - The Sacred Heart of Jesus |
