Upcoming Homilies
Jan. 20th St. Fabian
Jan. 20th St. Sebastian
Jan. 21st- St. Agnes
Jan. 22nd- Anniversary Roe vs Wade
Jan. 22nd Roe vs Wade - 2019
Jan. 22nd- Anniversary Roe vs Wade
Jan. 22nd The Pill Kills Unborn Babies Roe vs. Wade
Jan. 23rd St. Vincent, the deacon
Jan. 23rd St. Marianne Cope
Jan. 24th St. Francis de Sales
Jan. 17th St. Anthony of the Desert
1st Week Saturday
2nd Sunday Ordinary Time 2020
2nd Sunday Ordinary Time (Lamb of God)
In the Gospel today, when John the Baptist saw Jesus coming he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!”
What does John the Baptist mean by Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world?
In the Old Testament, there was a time when priests would lay hands on a lamb or a goat in order to transfer the sins of the people to the lamb. Lambs were also offered as a sacrifice in order to atone for sins. Before the Hebrew people were freed from the slavery of the Egyptians, they were to kill a first born unblemished lamb and put its blood on the door posts. That night they were to eat the lamb and the angel of death would pass over the houses with the blood on the door posts, while the Egyptian first born sons and animals would die. This allowed the Hebrews to go to the Promised Land. Later, after the temple was built, the priests offered the sacrifice of the lambs to God on the altar. In the temple was the Holy of Holies containing the Ark of the Covenant containing the 10 Commandments, the rod of Aaron and manna from the desert.
Jesus is the sacrificial lamb, who takes away the sins of the world. The sins of all people in every generation are placed upon Jesus, the lamb, as He carries the Cross to Calvary. Rather, than blood on doorposts, Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, offers His blood on the wood posts of the Cross. He is the firstborn, unblemished lamb (who never sinned), who passes over from death to life, that all may pass from death to life in heaven.
The Holy Mass is the fulfillment of these prefigurements. Every Catholic Church is a temple, has an altar and the Holy of Holies, which is the tabernacle. In every Catholic Church we are in the presence of the new and everlasting covenant, the Eucharist. Jesus in the Eucharist is not manna, but the true bread from heaven. He is the shepherd who leads His flock with a rod to feed His flock. He brings about the new law and helps us to keep the 10 Commandments.
In every Catholic Church, at Mass, the priest offers the Sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrificial lamb-- to the Father-- in atonement for our sins. At Mass, we don’t eat the roasted flesh of a lamb. Rather, we eat the flesh of Jesus, the Lamb of God. The Holy Mass is the Passover meal, as we recall the words of Jesus who said, “If you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you will live forever.” If we eat the Eucharist, we will pass over death and life forever in the promised land of heaven.
This is why at Mass, we repeat the words of John the Baptist, three times, “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.” This is why the priest elevates the Sacred Host saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, Behold Him, who takes away the sins of the world.” And then adding, “Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb”.
Every Catholic is offer their pain, their suffering, their works, their daily duties and their life on the altar. When we give our self as a sacrifice and all our pain and suffering on the altar with the bread and wine, Jesus accepts these gifts and offers them with His sacrifice and the gift of Himself to God the Father in atonement for our sins.
Today for those who are at Mass, give yourself to God with the bread and wine. Give yourself to Jesus for a particular intention, for someone whom you know needs special graces and gifts. You will become a fountain of grace for someone who needs Jesus in their life. How powerful and precious is your pain and suffering!
And so we pray: O Blessed Virgin, you who offered everything to your Son at the foot of the Cross, help us O Mother to give and to love. Help us to point to Jesus in the Eucharist, like John the Baptist pointed to Him and cry out, “Behold the Lamb of God, Behold Him, who takes away the sins of the world.”
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Year A, 2020
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Since Jesus is God and never had original sin, nor did He ever sin, why did He want John to baptize Him?
He wanted to give approval of John’s baptism. He did it as an example for us so that we would be baptized. He wanted to reveal the Blessed Trinity: the Father spoke about His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove. When He was baptized, He made holy all water due to His sacred body being immersed. He did it as an example of humility for us and to show us, He was like us in all things, but sin.
Due to original sin, Adam and Eve, our first parents were driven out of paradise. They lost sanctifying grace, heaven was closed and they would suffer and sickness and death would enter into the world. But God promised a redeemer, who would crush the head of Satan restore mankind’s relationship. Thanks to Our Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection, when one is baptized, original sin and personal sin is washed away, our relationship with God is restored and we enter into the divine life of the Blessed Trinity. We become a child of God and member of the Church. God comes to dwell within our heart. We receive sanctifying grace.
Through baptism, we become a disciple of Jesus. He mandated the disciples baptize, “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Today, some Catholics have fallen into the Protestant notion, a child should make up his or her own mind about baptism. However, because we want what’s best for our child’s soul and the best way to obtain salvation, we want to raise our child Catholic and be sure the child is baptized soon after baptism. Jesus gave His Church all that is necessary for salvation. So those who are members of the Church find it easier to obtain heaven.
The Church in the Catechism encourages parents to baptize infants: “All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of Holy Baptism.” The Catechism also tells us baptism of infants is an immemorial tradition, and there is explicit testimony from the 2nd century. St. Augustine about the year 400 indicates infant baptism came from the apostles. He said, "The custom of Mother Church in baptizing infants is certainly not to be scorned . . . nor is it to be believed that its tradition is anything except apostolic.”
What if someone says, “It’s up to my child whether or not to be baptized? He can make up his own mind”? Suppose 8 year old Johnny fell off his bike and broke his arm. Would we say to him, “You can decide for yourself if you want to go to the emergency room.” Or would we say to 15 year old Susie, “You can decide for yourself if you want to stay out all night with your boyfriend.” Would we tell our child, “You can decide for yourself if you want to be Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Catholic any other religion”? A child does not have the intellectual capacity to make these kinds of choices. If we make medical and moral decisions for children, shouldn’t we make the decision for them to be Christian, to come to know and believe in Jesus? We should want to share the beauty of our faith because we want what’s best for the child’s soul. We believe not all religions are the same and believe Jesus is the only Lord and Savior and not Buddha or Muhammad.
In an emergency situation when a priest or chaplain is not available, anyone (as long as they have the intention of doing what the Church desires) can baptize by pouring water three times on the head and using the words of Jesus. Say the name of the baby and “I baptize you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them.” Matthew 19:14. St. Peter said: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to Him" (Acts 2:38-39). A document called The Apostolic Tradition written about the year 215AD states, “Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them."
Today, if a child is in danger of death, we should explain to the parents the beauty baptism: God will come to dwell within the heart of the baby, original sin will be washed away, the child will become a child of God, etc…
God the Father wants to say every person, no matter how small: “This is my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Let us ask the Virgin Mary, to help us to live out our promises of baptism and make disciples of all nations.
And since baptism is the door to the other sacraments and the gateway to heaven, we should not be afraid to help others to receive it, so that they too can have a deep and personal relationship with Jesus, who longs to dwell within their heart and help them to go to heaven.
EPIPHANY- Worship and Adore Each Particle of the Sacred Host
Today is the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. The three wise men, Melchior, Balthazar and Gasper come from pagan countries following the star that leads them to the newborn King of the Jews. The Gospel states, “They prostrated themselves and did Him homage.” To prostrate means they laid flat on the ground in adoration, worship and reverence. They were Gentiles, yet God inspired them to worship the newborn king in adoration.
If Jesus would stand before us right now in front of the altar, in all His glory, we would most likely be compelled to show our deepest respect and we may even prostrate ourselves face down in adoration on the ground.
Today, the real physical Jesus, who walked the earth, who rose from the dead will come to us. First, He will come down upon the altar when the bread and wine are changed into His body and blood, then through the hands of the priest, we are able to receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
When we come into the church or leave the church, we are to show reverence to Jesus by genuflecting or bowing if we are unable to genuflect toward His true presence in the tabernacle. We kneel in adoration during the Consecration and when the Host is elevated above the altar. To genuflect or to kneel is a sign of adoration, which gives homage due to Jesus, who is God and King.
The Church requires we make a sign of reverence before receiving Holy Communion. Most bow, but we can genuflect if we want and some kneel before receiving Holy Communion. Churches used to have altar rails and people would kneel and then receive Communion on the tongue.
For many centuries Communion was never permitted on the hand. And even today, the ordinary way the Church intends for us to receive Communion is on the tongue. Each bishop can decide if permission is granted on the hand. In our diocese, we have the permission. But some diocese in the world do not allow it on the hand.
More and more churches are re-installing altar rails and more and more dioceses no longer give the permission. This is because when the Eucharist, is treated like ordinary food, by receiving on the hand, it negatively affects the faith of the people. Today, there is a severe lack of faith in the Eucharist. Many people no longer believe in the true presence.
Some think we are required to receive Communion on the hand, but this is false. The opposite is true, we are asked by the Church to receive on the tongue, but we have permission to receive on the hand. And if we receive on the hand, we should look for particles and consume them.
I strongly suggest you receive Jesus on the tongue. Because when Hosts are distributed at Mass, there are tiny particles that fall to the ground. This bag contains unconsecrated hosts, but when I put my hand in it, there are like particles, that remain on the hand. The Council of Trent taught each particle, no matter how small is the whole and entire person of Jesus. We are to give full adoration, worship, respect and homage to every particle, as God, no matter how small.
After the priest is finished distributing Communion, he pours water on his fingers over the chalice to remove particles. After an extra ordinary minister of Holy Communion gives out Communion, they wash the particles off their fingers in the little bowl called an ablution bowl. Do you wash the particles off of your fingers when you receive on the hand and touch the Host with your fingers? Why not?
When our judgement comes, the Lord will show each of us how many times we dropped Him on the ground because we received Communion in the hand. On this special day the three wise men prostrated themselves in adoration before the Divine Infant, ask your guardian angel, how to receive Holy Communion. Maybe your guardian angel will inspire you to love and worship every particle no matter how small, for truly each particle is our Savior, who is Christ the Lord. O Come Let us Adore Him. O Come Let us Adore Him- in the Sacred Host.
SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY-
The journey the wise men made to Bethlehem was not the only journey they made. They also made a journey from paganism to worshipping the Savior. Even after their death, their bodies made a journey to a new place. And today, our journey is from within our heart to allow our Savior and God to rule our lives as king and we worship Him in the Eucharist at every Holy Mass.
Although Matthew does not tell us the names of the wise men, in the West they have traditionally been given the names Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
Balthasar was from Ethiopia in Africa. He brought myrrh. A bitter perfume used in burial practices of Jews. It symbolizes the death of Jesus, and His body being anointed with myrrh for burial. Melchior, was from Persia, which is modern day, Iran. He brought Frankincense, which comes from aromatic oil, used by Jews to offer sacrifice. It is a symbol of prayer and sacrifice. Casper was from Tarsus. He was European, whose gift was gold. Gold is for a king, and symbolizes the Divinity of the Child Jesus, the newborn King. It is believed all three, although from different countries, providentially met on their journey to Bethlehem.
The wise men were not Jews, they were Gentiles, just as we are Gentiles. It is interesting God revealed the birth of the “newborn king of the Jews” to men who were not Jews. We might have expected God to reveal the birth of Jesus to his own Jewish people, but no, it was to people of a different religion and race God revealed the birth of Jesus. As our opening prayer today states, “Father, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star.” Because Jesus came to save the whole world and not just his own Jewish Chosen People, God in his mercy chose to reveal the birth of Jesus “to the nations.”
The journey the wise made to Bethlehem was not the only journey they made. They also made a journey in their hearts from paganism to worshipping Jesus. They were not Jews; scholars tell us they were priests of an Eastern religion who consulted the stars (Zoroastrian priests).
Therefore we could say they were followers of some kind of pagan religion. Before they set out on their journey to Bethlehem to worship Jesus they were star-readers but they went on an interior journey from reading stars to worshipping Jesus as Savior. Their old way of life as astrologers when they consulted the stars before they came to belief in Jesus reminds us of those who look to horoscopes for guidance.
Horoscope readers need to ask themselves who is in charge of their life, the stars OR God? Believing the stars control our lives contradicts believing God is in charge of our lives. Remember the first commandment asks us not to have any strange gods. The fact God sometimes revealed the future to prophets or saints (Catechism of the Catholic Church §2115) shows that it is God and not the stars that control our destiny.
It is sinful to believe the stars control our destiny. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate power. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.” (§2116)
The wise men journeyed from that kind of life to worshiping Jesus as the Savior. The wise men’s journey of a thousand miles or more could have taken three months is really a symbol of the inward journey they made in their hearts, a journey from paganism to belief in Jesus as the Savior of the world. Not just the wise men but all of us are on a journey to get closer to Jesus our Savior. Our journey may not be from reading stars and consulting horoscopes but we each are called to allow Jesus be Lord of each part of our lives, not just when it suits us. We each have a journey to make to Jesus because none of us is yet fully converted and each of us has corners in our hearts and lives in need of Jesus’ healing and redemption. Like the wise men we too are relying on the grace of God to lead us to the light of Jesus our Savior.
If you ever visit Cologne Cathedral in Germany you can walk around the sanctuary and behind the main altar there is a large reliquary said to contain the bones or at least the skulls of the three wise men. “How did they get to Cologne?” The wise men’s bones are said to have been located in Persia and then brought to Constantinople by St. Helena. St. Helena was the mother of the emperor Constantine who was the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity. The bones were transferred from Constantinople to Milan in the fifth century and to Cologne in 1163. So not only did the wise men journey during the lives but even after deaths their relics went on a journey.
Jesus came to save all people, Gentiles as well as the Jews. We pray all nations may come to know Jesus is the one Savior, that all nations may fall prostrate before Jesus.
Our Psalm today, which we may see as a prophecy of Jesus, describes the whole world adoring God, “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” It refers to kings all over the world offering gifts and the Lord’s kingdom stretching from sea to sea, covering the whole world.
Today people of every nation on earth have the opportunity of adoring Jesus during the Holy Mass. When the gifts of bread and wine are brought up in procession during the offertory, we have something more precious than gold, frankincense and myrrh to offer as gifts to the Lord. We can give our prayers, our sacrifices and the total gift of our self at Mass.
Something to consider is that the Magi and also the shepherds prostrated themselves before the Divine Infant. The Child Jesus, would have looked like any other child, but the shepherds came to know through the angels, Jesus is the Messiah and Savior. Likewise, the magi also came to know Jesus is King and is God, which is why they bowed down and worshipped Him.
At every Mass we bow down and worship God. It would have taken faith on the part of the shepherds and the magi, to give homage to Jesus, the newborn King. And it takes faith to believe Jesus, who is God, is really and truly present in the Eucharist. Though He appears to be bread, we believe the Sacred Host is really Jesus. That is why we adore the Eucharist. At Mass we kneel before the altar because we believe God Himself becomes present on the altar. When the Host is elevated above the altar, we gaze in adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist. This is also why we genuflect when we come inside the church and when we leave church, because almighty God is truly present in the tabernacle. This is also why we bow our heads or make the sign of the Cross before we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. This why incense is sometimes used at Mass to remind us we are worshipping God. These are external signs of adoration and worship of God that comes from within our heart.
Today, let us give our gifts to the Lord on the altar and bow down and worship Him in the Eucharist and may we ask Our Heavenly Mother to help us on our journey to the greatest and most beautiful star, the star of our heavenly homeland.
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY 2019
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. When I was an associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi parish, there was a cute family with 5 children ages 5 to 13. The family was very involved in the parish. The children, who were old enough, were altar servers. The brothers and sisters always seemed to get along. They were respectful to their parents and obeyed whatever they said. The spouses always deferred to other out love and there was no observable selfishness. The children were always happy and courteous towards others. They attended Catholic school and received good grades. They were involved in sports and school activities. The altar servers enjoyed helping the priests. The family regularly prayed the Rosary together, at meals together, seldom watched television and enjoyed playing games together. Even the smallest child paid attention at Mass. In my opinion they were a holy family.
Now 13 years later, just a few weeks ago, when I visited babies in NICU, I recognized the father of one the babies, as one of the altar servers. He was now married and he and his wife had their first baby. Their child was in NICU because the baby would occasionally stop breathing. The young man and his wife, were now in their 30’s. The couple was glad to see me and to get reacquainted after 13 years. They both expressed a desire to receive Holy Communion, because they could not attend Mass while their baby was in ICU.
During this same time, while visiting patients at St. Teresa’s hospital, I met the young man’s mother, who told me her dad was in ICU and not doing well. I went to his room and anointed him. She said her father was most likely not going to live much longer. She also said her brother was on hospice at his home. And so, the mother of the family had a grandchild in ICU, her father was about to die and her brother was in the dying process all at the same time. She shared with me the anxiety and fears she was facing. Yet, she said she trusted God was in control.
In the midst of all of this suffering the family was holding steady as a rock. They were still the holy family I knew 13 years ago. They trusted Jesus was in their midst and helping them in their trials. They believed Our Lord was preparing the grandfather and her brother for eternity and helping the Infant to get better. The family was held together by their Catholic faith. The young couple believed Jesus was in their midst.
The grandmother of the infant, said she still attended daily Mass and daily prayed the Rosary, which she said was her strength. When the young parents found out the child stopped breathing due to seizures, they said they trusted all would be fine, because his younger brother 13 years ago also had seizures. It was what helped the family to grow closer together.
What made this family so likeable and so loveable was they shared everything together: suffering, prayer, faith and love. They were a true image of the Holy Family.
The Holy Family suffered greatly. Recall when Mary conceived Jesus, Joseph thought about divorcing Her quietly. They had no place to stay in Bethlehem and endured poverty and cold when Jesus was born in a cave. They had to flee to Egypt to escape Herod, who wanted to kill the Infant, and slaughter children in Bethlehem. When the Child Jesus was 12 years old, He stayed in the Jerusalem causing Mary and Joseph anxiety not knowing where Jesus was, because to them, He was lost. The Holy Family suffered the death of St. Joseph. Mary heard people reject Jesus-- accusing Him of being the devil and out of His mind. She met Her Son while He carried His Cross and for three hours stood with Him until He died.
Every family has troubles, but if they live out their Catholic faith, and look to the example of the Holy Family, then their suffering, sacrifice, prayer, faith and love, will help give them to have peace in the midst of their trials. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, help every family to be a holy family.
MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, JAN 1ST, 2019
Mary, Mother of God, Did You Know? Not Born a Saint to become a Saint, but Concieved a Saint and grew as the Greatest of All Saints!
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. There is a popular Protestant Christmas Song called “Mary Did You Know?” It has a beautiful rhythm and words to the song. It ponders if Mary knew what Jesus would later do. It is written by Mark Lowry and the music is by Buddy Greene. Here are the lyrics:
Mary did you know that your baby boy will someday walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.
Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.
Oh Mary did you know
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.
This popular song, calls into question whether or not Mary knew She was the Mother of God, the Mother of the Messiah, the Mother of our Savior, the Mother of all creation. How much did Mary really know?
Because Mary was Immaculately Conceived (at the first moment of Her Conception, preserved from original sin). And never once sinned Her entire life, She was far superior in intelligence and obtained knowledge in a manner greater than any human being. As a good Jewish woman, She knew Sacred Scripture and because Her intellect was untainted by sin, She could comprehend mysteries in a way no other human could. Her intimate relationship with the Blessed Trinity would have caused Her to penetrate the deep mysteries of God. She is the daughter of the Father, the Mother of the Son, and the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel for today’s Mass speaks about how Mary kept the things of Jesus’ life reflecting on them in Her Heart. So what could have Mary known?
Mary was the first to come to know there is a Blessed Trinity, (three persons in one God) because the angel Gabriel revealed it to Her. Saying, Jesus was “the Son of God, the Holy Spirit would come upon Her and the power of the Most High would overshadow Her”. (Lk 1:35) She knew Jesus was the Savior. The angel said, He was to have the “name Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins”, (Lk 1:31) and Mary knew Jesus, Her Son, would save Her from sinning as well.
Mary knew Her baby boy was the Lord of all creation and would someday rule the nations, as the angel told Mary, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Lk 1:32)
Did Mary know Jesus would work miracles? She certainly knew God worked miracles in the Old Testament, the miracles in Egypt, the manna in the desert and how God divided the Red Sea. The Jewish people of Jesus’ day looked forward to the coming of the kingdom of God, when all would be set right. The oppressed would be liberated, the blind would see, (Isaiah 35:5) the dead would live again, and the Lord would rule over all the nations (Ezekiel 37:24), which would turn from their idols to serve the God of Israel (Isaiah 2:18). Since She knew Jesus was God and She was His Mother, She believed Jesus could work miracles and so She asked Her Son to work His first miracle changing water into wine at Cana (John 2).
Did She know what kind of death, Jesus would die? Mary heard the prophecy of Simeon that Her Heart would be pierced (Lk 2:35) and so She undoubtedly pondered the words of Isaiah, “He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Like a lamb led to the slaughter.” (Isaiah 53:3-5) And Psalm 22, “They have pierced my hands and feet and I can count all of my bones”. She would have known Ezekiel, the prophet, predicted the resurrection of the dead (Ezekiel 37:10) and would have been familiar with Elisha, who raised a dead child to life (2 Kings 4:32-37). If Elisha by God’s grace could raise the dead, She knew Her Son, who is God could do the same. She was the first to come to know and believe Jesus would rise from the dead and as tradition tells us, Jesus appeared to Her first, when He rose from the dead.
Mary knew She kissed the face of God, because She knew Jesus was God and came from God, where the angels tread especially since the angel Gabriel was sent from God to tell Her, “Child to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Lk 1:35) And because He is God, He is the great “I AM”. As the Mother of God, Mary is greater than all the angels and saints combined in holiness, in knowledge of God and especially in Her love of God, Her Son. She knew She was our spiritual Mother because Jesus gave Her to us at the foot of the Cross, when He said, “Behold thy Mother.”
It’s a doctrinal error to say, “Mary was not born a saint and had to become one, like everyone else”. This is an error because Mary was conceived a saint, as She was full of grace (Lk 1:26) and never lost any grace, but only increased in grace-- Her entire life because She never sinned and like Jesus “grew in wisdom and grace with God and men.”. (Lk 2:52) She was human just like us, but She was a saint the moment She was conceived and continued to become a greater and greater saint until She would be assumed into heaven. She grew in virtue and holiness every moment of Her life, because She always perfectly did the will of God. Saints are sinners, who have offended God, but overcame their sins by turning to God for forgiveness and mercy. But Mary was not a sinner. She was free of original sin and never sinned and so never needed to ask for forgiveness. She was therefore the greatest of all saints because She always chose to not offend God when tempted to sin. Mary was a sinless saint from the moment of Her conception until assumed into heaven. Because She was sinless and because She knew She was without sin, Her sinlessness was a source of Her unfathomable humility. She did not become proud because of it, because She knew God had done great things for Her.
There is nothing wrong with asking rhetorical questions which persuade the listener to ponder what the answer to the questions would be. But to not give the answer to these questions about what Mary knew casts doubt on the beauty of who Mary really is and what She really knew. If we want to make the popular song something truly worthy of pondering, we would answer the questions with truth. And we would say this:
O Mary you knew your baby boy would someday work miracles like walking on water and calming the storm. Mary you knew your baby boy will save our sons and daughters. Mary you knew your baby boy would come to make all things new. The child you've delivered, will deliver you.
You knew, Your baby boy, who came down from heaven in your womb had trod with the angels who worshipped Him night and day before His throne. Mary you knew when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God, Oh Mary you knew, the blind would see, the deaf would hear, the dead would live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb. Mary you knew that your baby boy is Lord of all creation. You knew your baby boy would one day rule the nations, you’re your baby is the perfect Lamb, and that this sleeping child you're holding is the great I am. Mary, you knew, because You are the Mother of God, and our Mother. O Mary, pray for us and help us to turn to you in all our needs, protect us from sin, so someday we too will kiss the face of God, where angels tread and we will worship with them, the great I AM.
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY HOMILY
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. “And when they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The Child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him.”
When Jesus came into the world as our Savior, He wanted to start His redemptive task in an ordinary simple family. The first thing Jesus sanctified by His presence was the family. Nothing extra ordinary happened from His Childhood until He was 30 years old. He lived a silent life, unknown to the world, in the midst of a family. Yet, His active ministry was for only 3 years. What does that tell us, that God spent 90% of His life on earth in a family?
Joseph was the head of the family according to the law and he provided for the needs of the family by his carpentry work. Jesus too learned how to do carpentry from Joseph. Joseph, as head of the family was the protector & guardian of the family. The angel appeared to him to tell him to take his family to Egypt and later to return to Nazareth.
Mary taught Jesus to walk, to put on His clothes, to read and write and to pray. She spent every day of Her life, like millions of other women who look after their families, sewing, cleaning and cooking. Some wrongly think ordinary tasks of the home are unimportant and insignificant. Yet, when ordinary simple life is done out of love for God, it sanctifies the family.
The Holy Family prayed together, went to synagogue together and to the temple feasts together. They followed the Jewish rituals and customs and were obedient to all the laws.
Between Jesus, Mary and Joseph there existed a holy affection, a spirit of service, and a mutual desire for the happiness of each other forgetting about their own needs. The Holy Family is a model for families, in virtues and in doing God’s will.
Every Christian family is to imitate the house of Nazareth, a place where God is first, so that God can be at the center of love that members of the family have for each other. God must be first in every family, by making attending Sunday Mass the most important family event of the week. God must also be first at home, especially by praying together every night. Parents can decide the kind of prayer and manner of prayer. For example, each person can mention something they are thankful and pray one petition, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be or pray the Rosary together. Or read a short passage from one of the Gospels. The father of the family as the spiritual leader of the family should lead his family at night in prayer and prayer before meals and bring the children to confession monthly. Remember, “The family that prays together stays together.” Children should be encouraged to practice virtue and sacrificial love in the family.
Today, school activities and sports are being placed above God. Some games and tournaments are on Sunday, and children are not able to attend church or church activities. Once a little boy came up to me and apologized. He said, “Father I wanted to come to the Christmas play practice, but I couldn’t, I had basketball practice. I would rather have been at Christmas play practice”. On a different occasion, a boy told me he went to watch a K-state football game. I told him, how wonderful, that he was able to go, but with a sad look on his face, he said, “I was scheduled to be an altar server, and I would rather have been here serving at Mass.” His response certainly surprised me, and also his parents who overheard our conversation. I had no idea he was scheduled that weekend to serve.
Sometimes, children have different desires then their parents. And the parents’ motivation as to why they do what they do, may be even unknown to themselves and how it effects their children.
Have you ever wondered why so many parents place a great emphasis on sports and school activities? I would suspect they want to be proud of their children and to watch them succeed. Some will use it as an opportunity, to brag about their children. When a child is successful, he or she begins to think their life is important and he or she has value & dignity. School activities can teach children self-discipline, team work and respect.
However, public schools, can’t mention Jesus. Children can’t pray together. Schools are unable to openly bring Jesus into the life of the youth. As a result, the true reason for their dignity is either lost or not discovered. Our dignity comes from the fact, that we are children of God and created in His image and likeness. Our dignity is independent of our accomplishments. And so children can think their dignity is the result of usefulness. A down syndrome child or child with a disability has equal dignity before God as other children. Their value is not measured in what they can or cannot do.
There is another kind of success that is most important, which is to succeed in virtue. The success of becoming a saint.
I know of several high school graduates who turned down scholarships. One had a baseball scholarship and the other had a football scholarship. I asked each of them if they are going to play their particular sport in college and both told me the same thing. Independent of each other they said, “There is more to life than sports.” Each one wanted to attend a school in their own particular field they wanted to enter.
Something I admire about Catholic schools, is that children are taught not only to excel in academics, sports and the arts, they are taught to excel in virtue. They are taught to be disciples of Jesus. They learn what it takes to become a saint. The mission statement for Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School is "to educate and form the total person in the image of Jesus Christ.” The mission statement for Bishop Carroll High School is: “To assist parents in forming disciples of Christ who enrich the culture as stewards of God's gifts.” In Catholic schools, they can openly pray together. They can do Christian activities and wear Christian symbols. They learn at a very young age the importance of discovering their talents and using their time talent as stewardship. In fact families who attend Catholic schools are required to practice stewardship in their parish.
When I was an associate at St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita, a young boy came up to me and told me that Wilbur elementary would not let him bring his skate board to school because on the bottom of the skateboard he had inscribed a cross. In many public schools children are no longer able to sing Christmas Carols. They can’t sing Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World, or even sing I wish you a Merry Christmas.
Catholic school children are able to attend weekday Masses, but the frequency varies. They have daily religion classes and learn about the history of the church, morality, the sacraments, scripture, vocations, etc…
Catholic schools are not exempt from problems and difficulties, because every school is like a person, each has its weaknesses. Yet there is a tremendous difference in sending a child to Catholic school verses public school, especially because a child who attends Catholic school is more apt to practice their faith better, to come to the sacraments more often, and to incorporate their faith into everything they do, because they are taught that a disciple of Jesus is most important, allowing one to greatly impact society.
I myself never attended Catholic school. I didn’t have the opportunity because the Catholic school I would have attended closed. For some families it’s practically not possible to send their children to Catholic school, perhaps due to work schedules or travel requirements. Sacrifices are magnified for families who send their children to Catholic schools, because we don’t have our own parish school, perhaps someday we will.
Some families are opting to homeschool their children. Homeschooling allows parents to follow a particular approved home-school curriculum and they can personally teach their children about the faith. They create their own schedule. Parents are able to teach their children behavior and morals, not leaving it to teachers who may have different morals & values. They are able to attend daily Mass with their children, so the children receive the most precious gift of Jesus in Holy Communion often. Jesus was home-schooled. During His life, there wasn’t public schools or private schools.
I would like to encourage parents to pray about sending your children to Catholic school. There is no tuition. Families who practice stewardship are able to send their children to Catholic school.
No matter if children attend public school or Catholic school or are homeschooled, the words of Pope John Paul II call parents to take their parenting role most seriously. JPII said, "Parents are the first and the most important educators of their own children…“By virtue of their ministry of educating, parents are through the witness of their lives the first heralds of the Gospel for their children. Furthermore, by praying with their children, by reading the word of God with them and “introducing them to the Eucharistic life of the church” --they become fully parents, in that they are begetters not only of bodily life but also of the life that through the Spirit's renewal flows from the cross and resurrection of Christ.”
Today, let us pray all families will become counter cultural, and return to the basics by imitating the Holy Family, in simplicity, in love, in prayer, and in service.
O Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us, that our families may be like your family!
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING HOMILIES
Dec. 20th of Advent, Annunciation, Contraception Should be Illegal
Contraception & Natural Family Planning -15th Sunday Year A
Contraception Dancing with the Devil -18th Sunday Year C
Pill, IUD, Norplant Cause Death of Baby - Palm Sunday*
Natural Family Planning - Sheep & Shepherds -16th Sunday Year B
Natural Family Planning - Pearl of Great Price - 17th Sunday Year A
Contraception - 27th Sunday Year B*
Natural Family Planning Week- 17th Sunday Year C
*Confession was offered after Masses with homilies with an *. There was an overwhelming large number of confessions.
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Helpful Homily Websites
Association of Catholic Priests - Sunday Homily Resources
Scott Hahn - Sunday Bible Reflections
Pope Saint John Paul II Homilies
Pope Benedict Homilies
Fr. Tommy Lane Homilies
General Intercessions - Priests for Life
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