3rd Sunday of Advent, Cycle C - December 11, 2022

 3rd Sunday of Advent

Cycle A

December 11, 2022,   5pm 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

John the Baptist 

 

Back in the first century in Palestine, there was a man named John the Baptist.

 

John was a strong, fiery preacher. He expected the Messiah to come very soon.

 

That word meant the Anointed One of God. This Messiah was to be a savior.

 

It is unclear how John the Baptist thought the Messiah would save us. Like a lot of people of his day, he might have been expecting a Messiah with military skill – that he would lead the people of Israel in overthrowing the Roman rule of Palestine.

 

Or maybe John the Baptist was expecting the Messiah to be a person of quick judgment. Maybe he thought the Messiah would judge and punish those who were not following the way of God.

 

John’s understanding of the Messiah is unclear. But at least at first, he was clear that Jesus was the Messiah.

 

Jesus

 

Well, Jesus listens to John and is even baptized by him.

 

But then, Jesus goes in his own direction. He introduces a whole new language and idea about the Messiah or savior and even about God.

 

For example, Jesus does not talk so much about judging and punishing. Instead, he shows compassion and forgiveness. 

 

Jesus emphasizes union with God and with one another and not division. He stresses God coming to save us from what oppresses the human spirit and maybe not from the oppression of a foreign ruler. 

 

Jesus replaces John’s austere life in the desert with a lifestyle centered on meals. In fact, he even eats dinner with those labeled as sinners and he talks with them about God.

 

And beyond all this, Jesus does something that John the Baptist never does.  He heals people and his physical healings also seem to point to something deeper – to the healing of the deepest hungers and hurts of the human spirit.

 

“Are you the one who is to come? 

 

Eventually, John the Baptist is in prison. 

 

He has been arrested for calling into question the lifestyle of the Roman governor. He is confronting the possibility of his own death and is asking deeper, life-and-death questions.

 

So, John sends some of his followers to ask Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” In other words, “Are you the Messiah or not, because you look pretty different from what we expected.”

 

Jesus responds by going back to Isaiah, to what we heard in our first reading. He knows that Isaiah gives the accurate idea this Savior will do, and he knows that this is different.

 

So, Jesus says: “Tell John what’s happening. The blind now see a vision and purpose for their lives.

 

“The deaf now hear a message of unconditional acceptance and self-worth. The lame are now able to walk through the challenging bumps of life.

 

“Those as good as dead are now alive and have something to live for. And the poor are now cared for.”

 

So, he’s telling John that Isaiah’s description of what the Messiah was to be like is fulfilled in him. Jesus knows that John will understand this. 

 

“The blind now see…”

 

Apparently, John does, and he places his trust and faith in Jesus. 

 

Today’s passages invite us to do the same. So, with and in Jesus:

v We can now see his vision and purpose for our lives.

v We can hear his reassuring words of God’s love for me and for everyone.

v We can now walk with him or allow him to walk with us through the sufferings of life. 

v We now have hope for life and a fullness of life in him.

v And those who are poor and in need can now experience the good news through the compassion of Jesus flowing through us.

 

With and in Jesus, the Messiah, this is what it means to be saved. This is what Advent prepares us to celebrate on Christmas Day. 

  

 

 

 

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - November 13, 2022

 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle C

November 13, 2022, 8:30 and 11am 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

Someday Is Now

 

Some years ago, I read a story from a magazine called Spirituality and Health. 

 

It is about a man whose wife, Jan, had just died. He and his sister-in-law, his wife’s sister, were selecting clothes for his wife’s funeral.  

 

He opened the bottom drawer of his wife’s bureau and pulled out a tissue-wrapped package. He unfolded it and showed his sister-in-law a beautiful silk and lace slip.

 

He said, “Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, about eight years ago. She never wore it.

 

“She was saving it for a special occasion. I guess this is the occasion.”

 

He then placed the slip on the bed with the other clothes that they would bring to the funeral home. Then he said to his sister-in-law, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion; every day is a special occasion.” 

 

Jan’s sister remembered these words. She kept thinking about all the things she herself had done without realizing they were special.  

 

The words of her brother-in-law began to have a real impact on her. She writes this: “I’m reading more and dusting less.  

 

“I’m sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.  

 

“We use our good dishes for every event, like after getting the sink unstopped. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter or luster to our lives.

 

“And every moment I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath…is a gift of God.”      

 

The Gospel and Now

 

This widowed man and his sister-in-law express the same point Jesus is making in today’s gospel.  

 

Jesus talks about a time when all kinds of threatening things will happen. But he is not trying to get us to focus on that future end-time and to live with anxiety and fear and gloom.  

 

Instead, he is trying to get us to focus on the present. And he wants us to be aware of the present moment, to make the present special, to appreciate the here and now. 

 

In other words, yes, someday there will be an end-time. Someday we will pass on from this earth.

 

But Jesus wants us to be ready for that by being aware that today is special. He wants us to make the present moment special, to live today well, and that is the way to be ready for the future.

 

Making Now Special 

 

I want to propose two ways to help us make the present moment, the now special. 

 

First, each day do something good for one person important in our life. Maybe it will be asking your husband or wife or close friend what their day was like and really meaning it. 

 

Maybe it will be a text message or phone call to our parents or children, just to let them know you are thinking about them. Maybe it will be sending a note to a family member or friend with whom we have lost contact. 

 

And second, each day spend some time with God. Reserve a few minutes just to be quiet and aware of God’s presence.

 

Pray some prayer that we know by heart or speak to God in our own words. Allow this quiet time to put us in touch with our need to slow down and be aware and alert and awake to the present moment.   

 

Conclusion

 

So, the takeaway this morning: two ways to help us make today, the now special:

1.    Each day do something good for one person important in our life.

2.    And each day spend some time with God.

 

That’s the way God wants us to live in the present. And that will also be the best way to prepare for the future.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - October 9, 2022

 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Cycle C

October 9, 2022, 8:30am and 11am  

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

Giving Thanks 

 

This morning, I want to reflect with you on two questions.

 

First, why are we sometimes not thankful? And second, why is it important to be thankful?

 

1.    Why Are We Not Thankful? 

 

So first, why are we sometimes not thankful?

 

To answer this, let’s look at today’s gospel. Jesus heals ten lepers and only one comes back to thank him.

 

Following the guidance of some of our Catholic spiritual guides, let’s put our imagination to work here. The Scriptures may speak to us more fully if we do that. 

 

So, let’s imagine: Maybe several of the other nine lepers immediately get busy building a new life for themselves. They busy themselves finding a job and a place to live and just forget the blessing they have received.

 

Maybe several of them decide to get back at anyone who made fun of them or ignored them. They are obsessed with vengeance and experience no joy in their cure.

 

And maybe several of them just run away as far as they can. They want to forget their old life even to the point of blocking out the cries of other lepers and people who are suffering.

 

Okay, all of this is imagination but may well be real-life. I believe it comes down to two reasons why you and I are sometimes not thankful to God in the way we should be.

 

First, we simply don’t notice the good things we have. We take for granted our life, our food, our clean water, our home, and on it goes.

 

We don’t even notice these ordinary things. And so, we don’t thank God for them.

 

And second, we get hung up on the negative. We get stuck on thinking about what we don’t have.

 

We keep saying “if only” this or “if only” that, things would be better. And this negative focus blocks us from thanking God.        

 

2.    Why Is This Important? 

 

That takes me to the second question: why is it important to be thankful?

 

I see two reasons. 

 

First, our thanking God gives us a certain humility. By humility, I don’t mean denying our talents or pretending that we are less than we are. 

 

Instead, by humility I mean that we stand in a correct relationship with God. We remember that God is the giver and sustainer of our life. 

 

We see God as loving and generous and remember God’s love for us in so many ways. Our thanking God leads us to a correct image of God and puts us in a correct relationship with God.

 

And second, it gives us compassion. It leads us to be empathetic with all other persons because all have been given life and love from God.

 

This compassion that comes from thankfulness begins with those at the very beginning of life. It begins with the unborn. 

 

We have sensitivity for their life because we have first appreciated our own life as a gift from God. We do whatever we can to protect and care for the life of the unborn and also of the newly born and all children.

 

In a way, I think this might be a comfortable thing for most of us to do – I hope it is. But the compassion that comes from thankfulness may also lead us beyond our comfort zone.

 

Recently, I have thought of those with same-sex-attraction. In every parish where I have ministered, including right here at Our Lady of Grace, especially young people with same-sex-attraction or their parents have spoken with me.

 

And the theme has been consistent: they feel unwanted, unwelcome, excluded by our Church. This is so counter to the way of Jesus. 

 

We need to be compassionate and respectful of life in all persons. Our thankfulness to God for our own life needs to lead us to welcome and care for all. 

 

Conclusion

 

So, the take-away today is that our thankfulness is important. 

 

Among other things, it gives us humility and compassion. Let’s make sure that we offer a prayer of thanks to God for something every day. 

 

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - October 2, 2022

 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Cycle C

October 2, 2022, 5pm and 11am       

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

The Vision 

 

Today, I am focused on one word – the word “vision.”

 

In the first reading, God says: “Write down the vision. The vision will have its time and will not disappoint you.”

 

God wants to make sure that his people will remember the vision when life is tough. And it was tough for them at that time. 

 

God wants them and us to 1) see the vision, 2) trust the vision, and 3) live the vision.

 

1.    See the Vision

 

First, to see the vision.

 

For us, this means that we need to see Jesus himself.  We are to see him as the way to God and the way to know God because he is God present with us.

 

And so, we need to work to see the vision that Jesus gives us. For example, we are to see his vision of God as a loving Parent.

 

We are to see his vision of ourselves – as human and sometimes sinful, yes, but also as worthy and beloved by God. And we are to see his vision of all humanity – of all persons as God’s sons and daughters.

  

This vision gradually shapes who we become as persons. It shapes how we see ourselves, others, our world, and God himself. 

 

2.    Trust the Vision 

 

Then, with this seeing, we are to trust the vision.

 

Here we have to go back to the first reading – the prophet Habakkuk. The people are suffering and crying out to God.

 

“How long will this last, O Lord? We are surrounded by violence and destruction.

 

“There is strife and discord everywhere. So, how long, O Lord, how long?”

 

I mean, might we ourselves say similar words in today’s world or in our own personal life situation? How does God respond to this cry, this lament? 

 

God is reassuring: “Write down the vision. The vision will have its time and will not disappoint you.”

 

So, we are to trust the vision. Maybe we are in the middle of difficult chemotherapy treatments.  

 

Or maybe we are wondering how to meet all the bills with the high inflation and high cost of almost everything. In situations like these, God asks us to trust the vision.

 

And part of that vision is that we are not alone. We are to trust Jesus’ promise that he is always with us as our strength and our refuge, no matter what. 

 

3.    Live the Vision 

 

And then, with this seeing and with this trust, we are to live the vision.

 

Jesus says today: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.” In other words, we are to set out to live the vision that faith gives us and we are to live it in everyday ways.

 

So, a child or teen tells their parents the truth about what they did even if they will be sent to their room or grounded for a while. They live the vision by telling the truth.

 

Or we adults live the vision every time we stop being self-focused and instead also focus on the well-being of another. Here we live the vision of loving one another as we love ourselves – a balance that Jesus calls us to live. 

 

Conclusion

 

Now, if we do all of that, this in itself will be our reward.  

 

This is what Jesus means in our gospel passage when he talks about the servants not expecting the master to wait on them after they have worked all day. I mean, this seems like a strange passage at first sight.

 

It seems uncaring and callous. But, if we put it in context, Jesus isn’t talking here about how a master in his day should treat servants or how an employer today is to treat employees.

 

Instead, he is talking about our vision of ourselves – all of us, you and me seeing ourselves as servants of God. He doesn’t want us to expect or depend on earthly rewards, as nice as they can be.

 

Rather, he wants us to 1) see the vision, 2) trust the vision, and 3) live the vision. And he is saying that, if we do this, we will experience an inner satisfaction and peace, and that will be reward enough for us. 

 

That will be a sufficient reward – even an eternal reward. That’s my take on these passages today.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - September 11, 2022

 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C 

September 11, 2022, 11am   

  Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton     

 

Seeking What Is Lost

 

Several years ago, I lost a credit card.

 

I was at a gas station. When I opened my wallet to get a credit card to pay, I immediately saw that I had only one card there.

 

I have two credit cards, and the other one was missing. Well, I pumped the gas and then immediately started looking for the missing credit card.  

 

I took everything out of my wallet, and it wasn’t there. I looked in the glove compartment and under the seats of the car, and it was nowhere in sight.

 

I went back to the rectory at Saint Margaret’s where I was the pastor. I looked all through my study and my bedroom – no credit card!

 

And then, I tried to get a grip on my anxiety and panic. I asked myself: when did I last use the credit card?

 

Almost right away I realized I had used it the night before when I bought some Chinese carry-out food. So, I immediately called that restaurant and thank God, I had left the card on the counter, and they were holding it for me. 

 

Seeking Who Is Lost

 

Well, my intense focus on finding my credit card helps us to appreciate today’s gospel.

 

Jesus tells two stories: the one about a shepherd looking for one lost sheep and the other about a woman looking for one lost coin. With these two images of the shepherd and the woman, Jesus is showing us how intense God is in looking for us when we are lost.

 

God is even more intense than I was looking for my credit card! And then, with the images of the lost sheep and lost coin, Jesus shows us that we can be lost in two different ways.

 

Lost: Our Fault 

 

First, we can be lost like the one sheep.

 

We can wander off, and our being lost is our own fault. So, we can get lost when we stop coming to Mass and lose our centeredness in God.

 

We can get lost when we drift into being unfaithful to our major life commitment or vocation. This can happen in marriage or in the priesthood or in the lifework that we feel God has gifted us to do. 

 

But even though we get lost in these ways, Jesus is saying that God is still there, still loving us, and still looking for us. God is like the shepherd looking for that one lost sheep. 

 

In fact, when we are like that one lost sheep, hopefully our conscience will bother us, and we will feel guilty. These guilt feelings may be a signal that God is intensely looking for us and trying to bring us back. 

 

Also, notice in Jesus’ image that the shepherd does not scold or punish the lost sheep. Instead, he joyfully carries it back to the flock – what a good example this is for how we as persons and we as a Church are to relate to a lost sheep!

 

Lost: No Fault

 

And then we can be lost like the lost coin.

 

This means that we are lost through no fault of our own. For example, we can feel lost when we are grieving the death of a husband or wife.

 

Or we can feel lost when we are dealing with depression. When we are lost in ways like these, God is still there, loving us and wanting to be close to us, even though we may not feel it. 

 

God is like the woman looking for the one lost coin. Some of our great spiritual teachers have called these experiences dark nights of the soul.  

 

In these times, we may need to push ourselves even to pray, to pray in some small way each day. We may need to push ourselves to do the basic responsibilities of life. 

 

And we may need to push ourselves to respond to the companionship of family and friends. But, if we hang in there and give God a chance in these ways, we can be found, and we can find ourselves once again.    

    

Conclusion

 

So, a powerful lesson today: 1) about God, searching for us when we are lost, and 2) about ourselves, the ways we can be lost and how we might respond when that happens!

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C - September 4, 2022

 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – C 

September 4, 2022, 5pm and 8:30am

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

Is Jesus the Priority?

 

When I am about to respond to someone who has been offensive, do I first think about: what would Jesus say and how would he say it? 

 

When I become aware that I am holding a grudge and maybe not even talking to someone, do I think about: what does Jesus teach about this? When I feel drawn into a conversation that is bashing somebody, do I step back and think about: how would Jesus act here?

 

The point behind these questions is probably clear: is Jesus not just a focus in my life, but the focus? Is Jesus not just a priority, but the priority?

 

Discipleship 

 

This is the point that Jesus is hammering across in today’s gospel.

 

He is talking about discipleship – about what it means to really follow him. He is not talking about just being a Sunday Catholic or being a Christian in name only.

 

Instead, Jesus is talking about our fully embracing his way, and he calls this discipleship. In this passage, he sees this as relating to three dimensions of life: myself, family and friends, and possessions.    

 

Regarding Myself 

 

So, Jesus says, “Whoever does not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

 

Here Jesus is not saying that our whole life needs to be a cross – doing stuff that we don’t like. And he is not saying that self-care – taking care of ourselves by getting enough rest and some exercise and good nutrition – he is not against this.

 

Instead, Jesus is saying that if we want to be his disciple, we need to be willing at times to let go of our preferences and comforts. For example, we let go of having an easy evening at home and instead take our neighbor to Urgent Care.

 

Or we hold off on buying something for ourselves so that we can provide back-to-school necessities for our children. We need, at times, to carry our cross in ways like these to be Jesus’ disciples. 

 

Regarding Family (and Friends) 

 

And then, Jesus says: “If anyone comes to me without hating their father and mother, wife and children, brother and sister, they cannot be my disciple.”

 

This is a tough one. It sounds crazy – even inconsistent with other teachings of Jesus.

 

So, we’ve got to be careful and understand this correctly. This saying about “hating” was a Jewish idiom. 

 

It is hyperbole – an exaggeration to make a point. So here, Jesus doesn’t want us literally to hate family and friends or even turn our back on them. 

 

He’s just making a point that even with those closest to us, we are to make him the priority – to make him first. Here’s a real-life application of this that I, as a priest, have advised on. 

 

Imagine that you are a Catholic and your son or daughter or someone close to you is going to get married. They are also Catholic but are not going to get married in a Catholic ceremony.

 

Considering Jesus’ words – or a correct understanding of his words – what do you do? My guidance has usually been in the direction of having a conversation with the person – and I mean a conversation and not a monologue.

 

Respectfully, share your point of view and your hope that they would be married in a Catholic ceremony. And then listen – listen respectfully to them.

 

They may end up not changing their minds, but then just be with them, keep the relationship intact, and make sure they know of your love. This is a good response to Jesus’ entire teaching – keeping him first and yet still loving family.     

 

Regarding Possessions

 

Finally, Jesus says, “Anyone of you who does not renounce all your possessions cannot be my disciple.”

 

Well, once again, there is hyperbole, some exaggeration here to make a point. And Jesus’ point is not to give away our home and car and clothing and bank account. 

 

Instead, he wants us to realize that possessions and money are not what will bring us true happiness. He wants us to know that sharing some of what we have with others, especially with those in need, is important. 

 

This will enrich us. The freedom and willingness to share what we have will make us disciples.

 

Conclusion

 

So, 1) myself, 2) family, and 3) possessions – in all three dimensions of life, we are to make Jesus the priority if we want to be his disciple.