Friday of the 3rd Week of Easter, Cycle B - April 23, 2021

 (This weekend, deacons are preaching at the two parishes where I assist. Therefore, I am sending a weekday homily which I gave this past Friday.)

 

Friday of the 3^rd Week of Easter 

April 23, 2021      11:00am

Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center

 

Readings:   Acts 9:1-20

                  John 6:52-59

 

This week we have been hearing from the sixth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel. 

This entire chapter is about the bread of life, the Eucharist.

I think we hear this during the Easter season, because the Eucharist is so intimately connected is with the resurrected life of Jesus.

He gives us that life in this sacrament. 

If we dig into today’s passage, we can see a beautiful progression of thought that is very enriching for us. 

I see a four-step progression. 

 

First, Jesus declares that he has received his life from the Father. 

He says: “Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father…”

Second, Jesus says that it is this life that he now gives to those who feed on his flesh and drink his blood.

He says: “Just as… I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.”

Third, Jesus explains that it is through this common sharing of life that he remains in us and we remain in him.

There is an abiding presence.

He says: “Whoever eat my Flesh and drinks my Blood remain in me and I in them.”

And fourth, this life that Jesus gives us is both a present and a future reality. 

He says: “Those who eat my Flesh and drink my Blood have eternal life.”

So, we have eternal life, God’s life right now – in the present moment.

But still, Jesus goes on to say, “I will raise them on the last day.”

So, there is a future, a perfection or fulfillment to the eternal or divine life that we already share.

There will be a resurrection for us as there was for Jesus.

 

So, I find it to be a packed passage, packed with teaching or revelation from Jesus.

I hope we find this enriching this morning.

Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle B - April 18, 2021

 3rd Sunday of Easter

Cycle B

April 18, 2021

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 5pm and 11am

Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville 8am

 

Great Expectations

 

When I was in high school, I remember reading the classic novel Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens.  

 

I imagine that many of us have read this somewhere along the way. In the story, a young woman named Miss Havisham is about to be married.  

 

All the preparations for the wedding have been made. On the day of the wedding, the guests arrive.  

 

They wait, and they wait. But the groom never shows up.

 

Miss Havisham is devastated. When the guests have all left, she draws the shades on the windows, stops the clocks, and leaves the table exactly as it has been set for the wedding breakfast.

 

And, from then on, for the rest of her life, Miss Havisham never leaves her little house. She just sits in her loneliness – dressed in her wedding gown.

 

Miss Havisham and the Risen Christ

 

Miss Havisham is a tragic figure.

 

She never realizes that in some way, we all have to deal with life’s injustices, disappointments, and losses. She never realizes that we have to deal with these sufferings and live through them, as painful as they are. 

 

In today’s gospel, the risen Christ reminds the disciples of what he has tried to teach them. He wants to help them with the sufferings that are part of life.

 

He wants us to know that we can learn and grow from suffering. We can even come to fuller life through this.

 

Our Expectations

 

Let’s just look at our own experience.

 

There are injustices in life. Like being unfairly evaluated by your boss, being misunderstood by your family, or being discriminated against because of racial prejudice, and on it goes.

 

There are disappointments in life. Like failing an exam, not getting a job, not making the first string on the school baseball team, and on it goes.

 

And there are losses in life. Like the death of a parent, the loss of a close relationship as happened to Miss Havisham, the loss of eyesight or hearing, and on it goes.

 

The Risen Christ

 

Jesus, as the Risen Christ, wants to help us to deal with these sufferings. 

 

The Risen Christ calls us to accept what is and what we cannot change. Notice that I keep saying “Jesus as the Risen Christ” because he, as risen, gives us hope.

 

The Risen Christ gives us the hope of resurrection after physical death. And with this hope, he also empowers us for living right now. 

 

He empowers us not just to turn in on ourselves in our suffering and remain a victim. He empowers us not to give up when injustice or disappointment or loss comes our way.

 

Instead, the Risen Christ empowers us to look at what else God may want us to do. He may empower us to use the suffering we have experienced as a way to grow in wisdom about life.

 

And he may empower us through our suffering to grow in compassion for others who also suffer. Sometimes our sufferings require physical or psychological therapy, and sometimes we know we will not get back to where we were.

 

But even here, the Risen Christ offers us hope. It is the hope of the Easter mystery, of new life coming from suffering and dying.  

 

Conclusion

 

Our American author Pearl Buck has a great insight here. 

 

I want to conclude with this. I will read it slowly – just one sentence. 

 

Pearl Buck says: “We learn as much from sorrow as from joy, as much from illness as from health, as much from handicap as from advantage – and indeed, perhaps more.”  

 

 

Second Sunday of Easter, Cycle B - April 11, 2021

 2^nd Sunday of Easter 

Cycle B

April 11, 2021

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 8:30am

Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville 11:30am

 

A Transformed Body 

 

One of the gospels tells the story about the risen Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene.

 

Mary does not at first recognize Jesus. She actually thinks that he is a gardener.

 

It is only when Jesus calls her by name – Mary” – it is only then that she realizes that this man is Jesus, alive. A similar thing happens several other times after Jesus’ resurrection.

 

The disciples do not at first recognize him. Why?

 

Because Jesus has what is called a transformed body. His body, his human appearance is different.

 

We use the word transformed to try to express this. But there is one thing about the transformed body of the risen Christ that is still pretty much as it was.

 

His wounds. We see this in today’s gospel. 

 

Jesus’ Wounds

 

The passage tells us that Jesus appears to the disciples and shows them his hands and his side.

 

Remember: when he was crucified, they hammered nails through his hands to attach him to the cross, and, at the end, they stuck a spear in his side to make sure he was dead. So, Jesus shows his wounds to the disciples, and they believe. 

 

One of them, Thomas, is absent. He says he won’t believe unless he touches the wounds.

 

And sure enough, a week later, Jesus appears to them again, and Thomas is with them. Jesus invites Thomas to touch the wounds, and the passage doesn’t say whether he actually does this or not.

 

It simply tells us that he speaks that great declaration of faith: “My Lord and my God!” So, the wounds lead Thomas to believe in the risen Christ.

 

Our Wounds

 

The message that comes to me here is that Jesus wants us to show our wounds to him, just as he does to us.

 

I am not talking here so much of our physical wounds. We do have them – like a wound on our leg that won’t heal because of poor circulation, or a stomach ulcer, or any number of physical problems.

 

We do have physical wounds, and we are to bring them to Jesus in prayer. We can also seek out the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

 

But here, today, the passage leads me to think of spiritual wounds. We are invited to bring our spiritual wounds to Jesus, just as Thomas very openly brings his wound – a lack of faith.    

 

Maybe our wound is doubting the presence of God in my life. Maybe it’s being alienated from the Church because we disagree on some things. 

 

Maybe our wound is feeling guilty for something we have done. Maybe it’s having low self-esteem because of something that has been done to us.

 

Jesus wants us to show our wounds to him with trust. And, if we do that, little by little, he can transform us.     

 

Transformed Wounds

 

Our skepticism can be transformed into a peaceful acceptance of the mystery of faith. Our alienation from the community can be transformed into a sense of belonging.

 

Our guilt can be transformed into an experience of forgiveness. And our self-rejection can be transformed into an assurance of being beloved by God.   

 

So, the gospel tells of the transformed body of Jesus with his wounds. And it also tells us of the transformation of the spiritual wound of Thomas. 

 

One of our Catholic theologians makes the observation here that our faith is not about transaction. Instead, it’s about transformation.

 

So, my coming to Mass and receiving the Eucharist is not a transaction. It’s not my doing this for God so that I get a stay-out-hell-card or something like that.

 

Instead, Mass, the Eucharist, and all prayer is about transformation. It’s about a process, a process of gradual transformation of my wounds, healing me and making me whole and holy. 

 

Yes, I have wounds, and the scars from those wounds will probably remain, much as they did with Jesus. But in and through the risen Christ, my wounds and I myself are transformed.

 

I am brought alive or more alive in God. That’s my take on this great passage of Scripture today.

 

 

 

Easter Sunday, Cycle B - April 4, 2021

 Easter Sunday

Cycle B

April 4, 2021

Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville   8,9:30, and 11:30am

 

“For the Living among the Dead?”

 

“Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?”

 

We hear this question in today’s gospel. Maybe it’s a good idea to allow it to be asked directly to ourselves: “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?”

 

Could it be that sometimes we do that? And could this be a reason why some of us struggle with our faith in the resurrection of Christ and in the promise of our own resurrection?

 

I wonder if we are, in effect, “looking among the dead” when we are always picking at the negative things in others or in life itself. I wonder if we are “looking among the dead” when fear leads us to do harmful things.   

 

Do these attitudes and actions keep us from experiencing “the living One” – the risen Christ? 

 

Messengers of Life…of God

 

We see this in today’s gospel.

 

Some of Jesus’ friends find the tomb empty, and they are bewildered. Then, two persons appear.

 

Our tradition sees them as messengers of God or angels. And these two messengers speak those pointed words: “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?”

 

I believe that you and I have similar divine messengers or angels who steer us in the right direction for finding the living One.

 

Angel of Trust

 

So, we may have an angel of trust in our lives.

 

I think back to when I was twenty-six years-old – a newly ordained priest. I wanted to develop a different kind of youth program – a program to reach a lot of young people in our community who were on the streets, drifting into trouble, and getting into drugs.

 

The program had risks, but my pastor gave me the green light to try it. He trusted me, and this gave me confidence in myself and in the potentials of life.

 

Today, try to remember an angel of trust in your life – maybe your mother or father. See if that divine messenger is really reassuring you about yourself. 

 

And see if that leads you to say with trust: “Christ is risen!”

  

Angel of Hope

 

And then, we may have an angel of hope in our lives.

 

Maybe we have seen someone refuse to get down in the dumps, no matter what. As a priest, I have seen this even with some people who were dying.

 

I have seen some people refuse to get down.  They see even their illness as eventually leading them home – home to God and to loved ones who are with God. 

 

Today, try to identify an angel of hope in your life – maybe a teacher or a coach. See if that divine messenger is really moving you to keep on trying no matter what. 

 

And see if that leads you to say with hope: “Christ is risen!”

 

Angel of Humor

 

And finally, we may have an angel of humor in our lives.

 

I remember the time of my father’s funeral in 1999. My father really liked good food – I mean, he really enjoyed eating. 

 

So, we were at the cemetery, I was leading the prayers and came to the part about the heavenly banquet, and we all just spontaneously laughed because we imagined dad enjoying God’s banquet in heaven. I think that our humor is a sign that death is not the last word and that life ultimately wins out.  

 

Today, try to identify an angel of humor in your life. See if that divine messenger is really drawing you more fully into life. 

 

And see if that leads you to say with joy: “Christ is risen!”

 

Conclusion

 

So, look for the living One among the living! 

 

Look for the living One in our own divine messengers, in our angels of trust and hope and humor. If we do this, then, I think, we will be better able to really believe in the risen Christ and in our own future resurrection.  

Holy Thursday, Cycle B - April 1, 2021

 Holy Thursday 

Cycle B

April 1, 2021

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 7pm

 

“Took, Blessed, Broke, and Gave” 

 

In a few minutes, I will stand here at the altar and lead the Eucharistic Prayer.

 

I will repeat some words that we have heard many times. The prayer says that Jesus “took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples.”

 

This evening, I am focusing on those four action words. Jesus “took, blessed, broke, and gave.”

 

What I am thinking is that we have also been  taken and blessed, broken and given. Here is what I have in mind.

 

We Are Taken and Blessed 

 

First, we are taken and blessed.

 

I remember when I was growing up in the Northwood community of Baltimore City, we would often organize our own baseball games on a field in the neighborhood. Each time we did this, two of us would be the managers of the two teams and would take turns choosing players from among the guys who were there.

 

Well, it was a big deal to be taken or chosen first. It meant that you were a good player and it was a real ego-booster.

 

Thank God, in the end, everyone was taken. No one was left out.

 

Well, the first thing we have to realize in the spiritual life is that God has taken and blessed each one of us. God has spoken over us the same words that the Father speaks over Jesus at his baptism: “You are my beloved son. You are my beloved daughter.”

 

In this, God transforms us. In and through Jesus, God makes us valued and worthy.

 

This is so important as our foundation for life. In our world, value and worth are often contingent on having sparkling white teeth or having a good job or owning a BMW or whatever.

 

But in truth, Jesus assures us that God has already taken and blessed each one of us. No one is excluded, like in my childhood pick-up baseball games. 

 

What a wonderful sense of self and what a strong basis for living this is for us. We are taken andblessed by God.

 

We Are Broken and Given 

 

And then, we are broken and given.

 

Here we have to understand the word broken a little bit differently. Jesus has not broken us. 

 

Instead, he wants us to realize that we are broken. Each one of us is broken in at least some way.

 

We are all broken because we are human. We are incomplete in our own humanity and we are restless for the wholeness that only God can give.

 

We may also feel broken because of something that has happened to us or because of something we have done. Or again, we may feel broken because our family is split apart. 

 

So, Jesus wants us to be aware of our brokenness. And then, with that awareness, we can be given.

 

We can be given or give of ourselves maybe by just having a good listening ear for a family member or friend. And we can be given or give of ourselves in one of the parish ministries or by being there for somebody at work who is having a hard time right now. 

 

And, the important thing to recall is that we will be given or give of ourselves authentically. We will do this because we remain humbly aware that we too have some brokenness, some kind of human incompleteness. 

 

This is why at the Last Supper, Jesus coupled the giving of the Eucharist with the washing of the feet. He wanted us to know that the Eucharist empowers and motivates us to be given, to give of our ourselves for one another.

 

Conclusion

 

So, Jesus “took, blessed, broke, and gave.”

 

He gives us his own body and blood to nourish and strengthen us on our journey. And he wants us to be aware that we also are taken and blessed, broken and given.