Homily
Thursday of the 3rd Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor
28 January 2010
For daily readings, click here
Jesus is clear. If we are a customer, but not a salesman, our faith is worthless. We must fulfill the promise of our Confirmation in the faith. If we are only trying to work God's will into the plans we have for our lives, then what little we know of God's will shall be taken away from us. If we are sharing the faith, hope and love that have been poured into our hearts, if we are magnifying the Lord by the way in which we live our lives, then our lives will get bigger and bigger and bigger. If we are confessing our sins, and flooding our lives with the light of the Gospel, then our sins will surely lose their power over us. If we are trying to place our lives within the mystery of God's will for us, then we will arrive at the self-forgetfulness that characterizes true love. But if we measure what we give, we will receive less and less. If our lives are controlled by fear and not by love, what little love we have will grow cold. We know deep down if we are living a measured life, a life of fear, a life of secrecy, a life that is getting smaller. Let us beg the Lord to move us through today's Eucharist to give without counting the cost, to love beyond reason, to bring light to those areas of our lives shrouded in darkness, and to allow our lives to get bigger and bigger and bigger, until they arrive at the promise of eternal life. +m
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Homily
Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Ordinary Time
27 January 2010
Holy Spirit Parish
Year for Priests
For daily readings, click here
David wants to do more for the Lord than the Lord commanded him to do. He wants to build a temple for the ark of the covenant, and for the Lord who has done great things for David. It is an honorable intention, except for one thing. David forgets to ask the Lord if this is what he desires. David does not ask the Lord for permission. Part of being obedient to the Lord is always asking before someone does something. There is no way for David to surprise the Lord, who sees everything. He should have asked, and since he didn't, the Lord has to chastise David for being disobedient. David's intentions are good, except that they take him outside of God's will for him. David should know that what the Lord desires is better and more fruitful than what David desires, for it the by the power of the Lord that David had won all his many victories. David, remembering this, should have praised God for his past mighty deeds, and asked for his permission to build a temple, rather than presuming the Lord's will. Like us, David is a disciple, a follower. Followers must always stay behind their leaders.
Jesus points out to his closest disciples that they are the privileged ones to whom he is explaining the mysteries of the kingdom of God. For everyone else, there will be no shortcuts, because shortcuts are not good for them. If the Lord had been with his apostles longer, he could have spoken to them in parables as well, drawing out from them over time the understanding of the Kingdom. Yet time is of some importance. Jesus must ready those closest apostles for the paschal mystery to be accomplished in Jerusalem. They must have the interpretive keys for what is about to take place, so that they can hand on the Gospel to others. For everyone else, Jesus speaks to them in parables. He does this because the things we most value in life, are the things we have to work for. A PhD is more valuable than a gold star on our first spelling test. Winning a great upset against a formidable foe is more valuable than beating up on someone inferior to you. So too with the mysteries of the kingdom, which we are to value and to pursue above all things. There are no shortcuts to understanding God, whose thoughts are so far above our thoughts. There are no cliff's notes for knowing his ways, which are so far above our ways. We will be rewarded insofar as we become good soil, in which the mysteries of the kingdom can take root and bear fruit. +m
Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Ordinary Time
27 January 2010
Holy Spirit Parish
Year for Priests
For daily readings, click here
David wants to do more for the Lord than the Lord commanded him to do. He wants to build a temple for the ark of the covenant, and for the Lord who has done great things for David. It is an honorable intention, except for one thing. David forgets to ask the Lord if this is what he desires. David does not ask the Lord for permission. Part of being obedient to the Lord is always asking before someone does something. There is no way for David to surprise the Lord, who sees everything. He should have asked, and since he didn't, the Lord has to chastise David for being disobedient. David's intentions are good, except that they take him outside of God's will for him. David should know that what the Lord desires is better and more fruitful than what David desires, for it the by the power of the Lord that David had won all his many victories. David, remembering this, should have praised God for his past mighty deeds, and asked for his permission to build a temple, rather than presuming the Lord's will. Like us, David is a disciple, a follower. Followers must always stay behind their leaders.
Jesus points out to his closest disciples that they are the privileged ones to whom he is explaining the mysteries of the kingdom of God. For everyone else, there will be no shortcuts, because shortcuts are not good for them. If the Lord had been with his apostles longer, he could have spoken to them in parables as well, drawing out from them over time the understanding of the Kingdom. Yet time is of some importance. Jesus must ready those closest apostles for the paschal mystery to be accomplished in Jerusalem. They must have the interpretive keys for what is about to take place, so that they can hand on the Gospel to others. For everyone else, Jesus speaks to them in parables. He does this because the things we most value in life, are the things we have to work for. A PhD is more valuable than a gold star on our first spelling test. Winning a great upset against a formidable foe is more valuable than beating up on someone inferior to you. So too with the mysteries of the kingdom, which we are to value and to pursue above all things. There are no shortcuts to understanding God, whose thoughts are so far above our thoughts. There are no cliff's notes for knowing his ways, which are so far above our ways. We will be rewarded insofar as we become good soil, in which the mysteries of the kingdom can take root and bear fruit. +m
rooting for the jets?
- for some reason I'm pulling hard for the jets in this afternoon's playoff game against the Colts. I didn't know I would feel this way when I started watching the game, but it would be a pretty improbable win, and I guess I'm starting to pull for the underdog. I know a lot of people dislike Peyton Manning a lot more than I do. He gets on my nerves, but he's quite a player. He just scored before half in two plays. It's a good game. Glad I can watch this game and the next one. Next Sunday I am preaching lots of Masses for the Archbishop's Call to Share and am celebrating a couple at KU as well, so it is nice that this Sunday is a little slower.
- Go Saints! Go Saints! Go Saints! Drew Brees is easier to root for than Bret Favre.
- had a really good time at Holy Spirit parish in Overland Park this morning. The 10:30 Mass was really full, and the energy was palpable. The Mass participation was great. I preached without notes and rambled on quite a bit about Confirmation being the least understood and least utilized sacrament. I sounded convinced but am not sure I said much.
- Should be able to finish my appointments tomorrow night in time to settle in to watch KU vs. Missouri. let's hope the fieldhouse is rockin' for that one, and KU takes Mizzou to the woodshed. It should work out that way, but you never know. I thought the crowd was great Wednesday versus Baylor, but I expect it to be twice as loud against our Archrival. I don't have a ticket . .. . yet! It will be great to welcome Big Monday back to Allen Fieldhouse.
- Congrats to KSU for being good enough fans to entice College Gameday to come to Allen Fieldhouse west on Saturday. That should be fun. KState needs to beat Baylor Tuesday or they are really in trouble in the Big 12 race.
- Here's hoping to good weather for the next couple of years for Haiti. I don't want to even think about a hurricane or anything like it hitting that nation in the coming year. Lord, have mercy.
- John Paul II rumored beatification in Rome - October 10th! Please God, let it be so!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Jesus gives a peculiar compliment!
Homily
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of Timothy and Titus, bishops
26 January 2010
Holy Spirit Parish
Year for Priests
For daily readings, click here
Jesus' mom was checking up on him. Mark tells us that Jesus was working all day. Teaching and healing. The people wouldn't let him sleep. They wouldn't let him eat. People just kept coming and coming and coming. We hear in many places in the Gospels that his family thinks Jesus is out of his mind. There will be no end to to his popularity or to the demands people will make on him. No person could do what people were beginning to expect Jesus to do. So Mary comes with Jesus' extended family to check on him. And they don't even get close to him. They remain outside. Jesus didn't even give his mom the time of day.
Simeon predicted to Mary at Jesus' presentation that a sword would pierce her heart. We see it happening in today's Gospel when she is ignored by her son, at least on the surface. In today's Gospel, Mary had to give her son into the hands of people. That was his mission. She wanted to check on him, to do something for him, to give him some rest and the love of family to restore him. But he ignored her. Kind of. Without even taking the time to see her, Jesus gives his mom a compliment. Who is my mother? The one who does the will of God. Well, if anything, this matches Jesus' mother perfectly. Mary did exactly what was asked of her. She is first in Jesus' heart, not only because she is his biological mother, but also because she is the very best and knowing and doing the will of God. Mary was chosen of all women because she was most ready to do the will of God, so Mary is not only the mother of Jesus, but becomes the mother of all those who seek to do the will of God. She is the mother of our vocations, and Jesus points her out as such in today's Gospel. In saying that those who do the will of God are his mother and brothers and sisters, Jesus gives his mom the mysterious compliment of being his spiritual mother in addition to being his biological mother, and even as he does not take the time to greet her personally, he calls all those around him to imitate her perfect example. +m
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of Timothy and Titus, bishops
26 January 2010
Holy Spirit Parish
Year for Priests
For daily readings, click here
Jesus' mom was checking up on him. Mark tells us that Jesus was working all day. Teaching and healing. The people wouldn't let him sleep. They wouldn't let him eat. People just kept coming and coming and coming. We hear in many places in the Gospels that his family thinks Jesus is out of his mind. There will be no end to to his popularity or to the demands people will make on him. No person could do what people were beginning to expect Jesus to do. So Mary comes with Jesus' extended family to check on him. And they don't even get close to him. They remain outside. Jesus didn't even give his mom the time of day.
Simeon predicted to Mary at Jesus' presentation that a sword would pierce her heart. We see it happening in today's Gospel when she is ignored by her son, at least on the surface. In today's Gospel, Mary had to give her son into the hands of people. That was his mission. She wanted to check on him, to do something for him, to give him some rest and the love of family to restore him. But he ignored her. Kind of. Without even taking the time to see her, Jesus gives his mom a compliment. Who is my mother? The one who does the will of God. Well, if anything, this matches Jesus' mother perfectly. Mary did exactly what was asked of her. She is first in Jesus' heart, not only because she is his biological mother, but also because she is the very best and knowing and doing the will of God. Mary was chosen of all women because she was most ready to do the will of God, so Mary is not only the mother of Jesus, but becomes the mother of all those who seek to do the will of God. She is the mother of our vocations, and Jesus points her out as such in today's Gospel. In saying that those who do the will of God are his mother and brothers and sisters, Jesus gives his mom the mysterious compliment of being his spiritual mother in addition to being his biological mother, and even as he does not take the time to greet her personally, he calls all those around him to imitate her perfect example. +m
Paul and Mary
Homily
Conversion of Paul, apostle
25 Jan 2010
Year for Priests
St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center
For some reason, I was comparing Paul and Mary in my mind. They are bookends of discipleship and apostleship. Mary is the most ready to receive Jesus and to follow Him and to be sent by Him. She is the best disciple and the apostle of all apostles. Paul is the opposite. The only thing he has in common with Mary is his fidelity to Judaism. But his fidelity to Judaism, unlike Mary's, does not open him up to the law of love inauguarated by Jesus. No, unlike Mary, Paul was not ready to receive Jesus. He was not ready to follow Him. He was not originally chosen, as were Mary and the other 11 apostles, to be sent by Christ at Pentecost. No, Paul is the worst of disciples and the least likely of apostles. Paul was the greatest persecutor of Christ.
But the same Christ chose both Mary and Paul. He chose Mary because of her readiness. He chose Mary because of her lowliness. He chose Paul because Paul was least ready, and most proud. He chose one before his birth to be the apostle of the apostles, he chose another after his ascension. Both Mary and Paul were chosen before they had a chance to meet Christ face to face. Paul never had the chance, and yet he outdid in missionary zeal the apostles who saw Jesus risen from the dead. In choosing both, Christ shows that He can choose anyone. We can not excuse ourselves from being chosen because we are not as sinless as Mary. We can not excuse ourselves from being chosen because we are too sinful like Paul. Christ can and does choose us, and we must believe that He is choosing us whether we are most ready or not ready at all. There are no excuses for us. We cannot tell God to wait, but we must beg him to call us as He called Mary and as He called Paul. The two could not have been more different when God called them. They both became the greatest of saints, because they believed that what was promised them would be fulfilled!
Conversion of Paul, apostle
25 Jan 2010
Year for Priests
St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center
For some reason, I was comparing Paul and Mary in my mind. They are bookends of discipleship and apostleship. Mary is the most ready to receive Jesus and to follow Him and to be sent by Him. She is the best disciple and the apostle of all apostles. Paul is the opposite. The only thing he has in common with Mary is his fidelity to Judaism. But his fidelity to Judaism, unlike Mary's, does not open him up to the law of love inauguarated by Jesus. No, unlike Mary, Paul was not ready to receive Jesus. He was not ready to follow Him. He was not originally chosen, as were Mary and the other 11 apostles, to be sent by Christ at Pentecost. No, Paul is the worst of disciples and the least likely of apostles. Paul was the greatest persecutor of Christ.
But the same Christ chose both Mary and Paul. He chose Mary because of her readiness. He chose Mary because of her lowliness. He chose Paul because Paul was least ready, and most proud. He chose one before his birth to be the apostle of the apostles, he chose another after his ascension. Both Mary and Paul were chosen before they had a chance to meet Christ face to face. Paul never had the chance, and yet he outdid in missionary zeal the apostles who saw Jesus risen from the dead. In choosing both, Christ shows that He can choose anyone. We can not excuse ourselves from being chosen because we are not as sinless as Mary. We can not excuse ourselves from being chosen because we are too sinful like Paul. Christ can and does choose us, and we must believe that He is choosing us whether we are most ready or not ready at all. There are no excuses for us. We cannot tell God to wait, but we must beg him to call us as He called Mary and as He called Paul. The two could not have been more different when God called them. They both became the greatest of saints, because they believed that what was promised them would be fulfilled!
it's not supposed to be this easy
- the jayhawks rolled today over iowa state. Hilton is supposed to be a tough place to play. Our bigs were tremendous. They had to be with our guards hitting only 3 of 17 from downtown. If we can get past Mizzou and KState next week, the Hawks will be well on their way to their 7th Big 12 title in a row. It's not supposed to be this easy. We'll see how this week goes
- I missed not being in Washington DC this year for the March for Life. Thankfully, I was able to offer Mass at KU on campus, where a pro-life witness is always needed. The Mass helps unify our prayer around the world, so saying the Mass I know I was united with those marching in Washington. It sounds like another amazing turnout of pro-lifers, especially Kansans.
- All the national networks are picking up the story of Craig Desme of the Oakland A's who was doing very well in the minor leagues but is leaving to join St. Michael's abbey in California. Keep your eyes open for more news on this story. ESPN and Fox News did a story last year on Chase Hilgenbrinck, who left a professional soccer career to enter seminary for the diocese of Peoria. Keep praying for vocations.
- Tomorrow I'll be at Holy Spirit parish in Overland Park in the morning for the 10:30am Mass. I have a lot of young adult Masses there on Thursdays, but am looking forward to seeing what a Sunday is like. I'm sure I'll preach on vocations, among other things!
- We're a week away from the Support our Seminarians auction and dinner at the downtown Marriott this Friday night. It is a great night of celebrating vocations with Conception Seminary College, and the KCSJ diocese. Our seven seminarians studying at Conception will all be there.
- Prayer group Monday before the Big Monday showdown with Mizzou! NFL games tomorrow. Good sports time!
know your role, do your part
Homily
3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Holy Spirit Parish
24 January 2010
Year for Priests
For daily readings, click here
Bill Self is the best coach in college basketball. Well, I'm biased. I'm a big Jayhawk fan. But even if you don't like the Jayhawks, most people know who Bill Self is. And most people know of the success he has had. Even devoted Wildcat and Tiger fans, without loving their own teams any less, know that Bill Self is a formidable foe. He recruits great players. And he gets them to play. Not without a lot of second-guessing, mind you. Bill Self has a very difficult job. He has 9,10, 11, 12 players who deserve to be on the court. He has to decide how to keep everyone happy, everyone involved, and how to get the players to work together in a way that meets the insatiable expectations of KU fans. Bill Self gets criticized all the time. Some players get unhappy with their playing time. Fans who know almost nothing scream at the tv when things aren't going the Jayhawks' way. I'm one of those fans who screams bloody murder whenever Bill Self plays zone. Or if he does not substitute the way I would.
Those of you who are fans of the Wildcats and Tigers probably do the same thing. You disagree with game plans and substitutions, wondering why Mike Anderson and Frank Martin do this or do that. What a rivalry is building this year. All three teams are really good. The games ahead should be a blast, including the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City. I posted some anti-KState comments on my facebook page this week, just to stoke the rivalry, and I found out very quickly that the rivalry did not need to be stoked. K-Staters are on fire, ready to fight, ready to go. Game on.
Well, all of us belong to a team infinitely more complicated than the basketball teams we cheer for. We belong to the Church, quarterbacked by the Holy Spirit. We belong to the Church which is the living, breathing presence of Christ in the world. St. Paul reflects on how we are all an indispensable part of the Church. All of us members of one body, none of us being able to say to anyone else that you are less important or you are non-essential. The Church just completes today a week of prayer for Christian unity. Christian unity is unique in that it is a gift that Christ gives to His Church. Christian unity is not a human accomplishment, an ability for us to agree on everything. That is impossible. We are too diverse as a people to agree on everything. No, Christian unity is a gift that has to be recognized and accepted and preserved. It is a gift from Christ our head, who by His Spirit makes us all his children, all members of his body, and by that same Spirit empowers each one of us to share in his mission to reconcile everything to the Father.
Bill Self, in coaching his team, is always looking for team chemistry, for a way that everyone will be able to value his role and be able to execute that specific role in a way that benefits all. So too, by virtue of our confirmation, where we have received the fullness of God's Spirit, the Spirit coaches us into contributing to the mission of the Church in a way that is uniquely ours, and in a way that fosters the communion to which we belong. The communion of the Church is a unity born not so much of our choosing to belong, but of our being chosen to belong and to contribute our gifts to a unity that cannot be broken.
We see in the tens of thousands of our fellow Catholics who chose this week to stand up for life in Topeka and Washington on the 37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and we see in the thousands who have rushed to the aid of our brothers and sisters in Haiti, that there will be no end to the ways to which Jesus sends us to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives. It is our greatest privilege as members of Christ's Church to be called to serve, and to spend our lives in fostering a communion of life and love.
May each one of us this weekend recommit ourselves to the promises of our Confirmation, whereby in accepting the fullness of God's Spirit we are sent into the world ready to defend and to promote our faith, and by that same Spirit to discern and to fulfill a special vocation that belongs to us and to no one else in the Church. Each one of us is called by name to a vocation which will foster the unity of our Church, a vocation which allows us to make a perfect gift of ourselves in the service of others. May we be better at discerning these vocations, and fulfilling our role more precisely within our great communion. May we never be a Church where 20% of the people do 80% of the work, while 80% do the minimum. No, we are Christ's body, and each of us individually members of it, sent by God for some work that he has given to us, and to no one else! +m
3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Holy Spirit Parish
24 January 2010
Year for Priests
For daily readings, click here
Bill Self is the best coach in college basketball. Well, I'm biased. I'm a big Jayhawk fan. But even if you don't like the Jayhawks, most people know who Bill Self is. And most people know of the success he has had. Even devoted Wildcat and Tiger fans, without loving their own teams any less, know that Bill Self is a formidable foe. He recruits great players. And he gets them to play. Not without a lot of second-guessing, mind you. Bill Self has a very difficult job. He has 9,10, 11, 12 players who deserve to be on the court. He has to decide how to keep everyone happy, everyone involved, and how to get the players to work together in a way that meets the insatiable expectations of KU fans. Bill Self gets criticized all the time. Some players get unhappy with their playing time. Fans who know almost nothing scream at the tv when things aren't going the Jayhawks' way. I'm one of those fans who screams bloody murder whenever Bill Self plays zone. Or if he does not substitute the way I would.
Those of you who are fans of the Wildcats and Tigers probably do the same thing. You disagree with game plans and substitutions, wondering why Mike Anderson and Frank Martin do this or do that. What a rivalry is building this year. All three teams are really good. The games ahead should be a blast, including the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City. I posted some anti-KState comments on my facebook page this week, just to stoke the rivalry, and I found out very quickly that the rivalry did not need to be stoked. K-Staters are on fire, ready to fight, ready to go. Game on.
Well, all of us belong to a team infinitely more complicated than the basketball teams we cheer for. We belong to the Church, quarterbacked by the Holy Spirit. We belong to the Church which is the living, breathing presence of Christ in the world. St. Paul reflects on how we are all an indispensable part of the Church. All of us members of one body, none of us being able to say to anyone else that you are less important or you are non-essential. The Church just completes today a week of prayer for Christian unity. Christian unity is unique in that it is a gift that Christ gives to His Church. Christian unity is not a human accomplishment, an ability for us to agree on everything. That is impossible. We are too diverse as a people to agree on everything. No, Christian unity is a gift that has to be recognized and accepted and preserved. It is a gift from Christ our head, who by His Spirit makes us all his children, all members of his body, and by that same Spirit empowers each one of us to share in his mission to reconcile everything to the Father.
Bill Self, in coaching his team, is always looking for team chemistry, for a way that everyone will be able to value his role and be able to execute that specific role in a way that benefits all. So too, by virtue of our confirmation, where we have received the fullness of God's Spirit, the Spirit coaches us into contributing to the mission of the Church in a way that is uniquely ours, and in a way that fosters the communion to which we belong. The communion of the Church is a unity born not so much of our choosing to belong, but of our being chosen to belong and to contribute our gifts to a unity that cannot be broken.
We see in the tens of thousands of our fellow Catholics who chose this week to stand up for life in Topeka and Washington on the 37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and we see in the thousands who have rushed to the aid of our brothers and sisters in Haiti, that there will be no end to the ways to which Jesus sends us to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives. It is our greatest privilege as members of Christ's Church to be called to serve, and to spend our lives in fostering a communion of life and love.
May each one of us this weekend recommit ourselves to the promises of our Confirmation, whereby in accepting the fullness of God's Spirit we are sent into the world ready to defend and to promote our faith, and by that same Spirit to discern and to fulfill a special vocation that belongs to us and to no one else in the Church. Each one of us is called by name to a vocation which will foster the unity of our Church, a vocation which allows us to make a perfect gift of ourselves in the service of others. May we be better at discerning these vocations, and fulfilling our role more precisely within our great communion. May we never be a Church where 20% of the people do 80% of the work, while 80% do the minimum. No, we are Christ's body, and each of us individually members of it, sent by God for some work that he has given to us, and to no one else! +m
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