Good Friday, Cycle B - April 7, 2023

 Good Friday 

Cycle B

April 7, 2023

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

Arms and Legs

 

Some years ago, I read a story about a poor, peasant family in Brazil back in the 1950’s. 

 

After years of work, this family finally succeeded in buying a piece of land. On the day that they took possession of the property, the mother and the six children started to fix up the small, two-bedroom shack.

 

The father walked the perimeter of the land and placed stone markers on the four corners. As he was doing this, he noticed something sticking out from a bush.

 

It was the figure of Jesus’ body, apparently torn off of a large old crucifix. The figure was badly damaged, with its arms and legs missing.

 

The poor peasant man brought this wooden figure home and laid it on the kitchen table. He asked his family: “What should we do with this?”

 

Before long, the youngest child, Maria, spoke up: “Papa, I have an idea. Why don’t we hang it here in the kitchen and put a sign underneath it?”

 

Maria then shared her idea for the sign. It read: “Jesus now has no arms or legs. Will you lend him yours?” 

 

Saint John’s Passion

 

That’s the question that the Passion according to Saint John asks us today.

 

This story of Jesus’ suffering and death shows God’s great love for us. It also calls us to live as Jesus did – to be his arms and legs in our world today. 

 

I will highlight just three of the ways for doing this that I see in this passage.

 

1.Bearing Pain

 

First, we may have to bear pain for the sake of the gospel, but we are not to inflict it.

 

Peter strikes the servant of the high priest and Jesus tells him to put his sword away. We also are to put away the sword of our tongue when we are tempted to strike back at someone who has offended us.

 

Or we are to remain respectful when we talk about those who are different from us. We may have to bear pain for the sake of the gospel, but we are not to inflict it. 

 

2.Using Power

 

The second way of being Jesus’ arms and legs that I see in this passage  is to use power carefully and not misuse it.  

 

When Pilate asserts his power, Jesus responds: “You would have no power over me if it were not given you from above.” We all have different forms of power – like the power of an office or a title, as a priest has; or the power of a relationship, as parents have; or the power of physical size, as some taller or stronger persons have.

 

We sin – whether priest or whoever – we sin when we hurt and abuse those who are vulnerable with the power that we have. We are to use power carefully and not misuse it.    

 

3.God’s Family

 

And the third way of being Jesus’ arms and legs is to see all persons as members of God’s family and not just some persons. 

 

As Jesus hangs on the cross, he says to his mother: “Woman, there is your son,” and to the disciple closest to him he says, “And there is your mother.” With his mother Mary, Jesus fashions a new family.

 

Through the disciple John and again though Mary, Jesus signals that he wants all of us to have him as our brother and Mary as our mother. We are to see all persons as members of God’s family and nor just some. 

 

Conclusion

 

So, if we accept these three possibilities in the account of Jesus’ Passion, as that little girl in Brazil said, we will be his arms and legs in our world today. 

Passion (Palm) Sunday, Cycle A - April 2, 2023

 Passion (Palm) Sunday 

Cycle A

April 2, 2023    5pm   

            Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

The Passion According to Matthew

 

As you know, there are four gospels.

 

Each of the gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – each of them tells the very important story of the Passion, the account of Jesus’ suffering and death. But each of them tells this in a slightly different way, including different details or highlighting different themes.

 

This afternoon we just heard the account of the Passion according to Matthew. I want to comment on just two details in this passage that have a message for us. 

 

God’s Love

 

First, Matthew is the only gospel writer who informs us about the suicide of Judas.

 

Why does he mention this? Judas comes to realize that he has betrayed a good and holy man.

 

But tragically, Judas does not realize that Jesus is so good that he still loves him and will forgive him and accept him. Judas is unable to see this.

 

So implicitly, by recalling this, Matthew wants us to be clear that nothing we do is too bad to be forgiven by God. God’s love is unconditional, and there is nothing about us as persons or about our behavior that is beyond God’s love and forgiveness.

 

It’s important for us to remember this for our own sake. It’s important for us to share this with anyone who thinks that they are so sinful that they cannot be forgiven. 

 

And it’s important for us as a Church to live out this love of God in our ministry. This means that everyone needs to be welcome here – regardless – regardless of anything.  

  

God’s Presence 

 

Then, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in their accounts of Jesus’ Passion, three of the four gospel writers tell us about the tearing of the curtain in the temple.

 

So, this must be an important detail. Today’s passage says that at the moment Jesus dies, “the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.”

 

This veil or curtain separated what was called the Holies of Holies – the area of the temple where God is seen as dwelling – it separated this from the rest of the temple. So, the tearing of the curtain is a sign that this separation from God no longer exists. 

 

It means that Jesus’ death and eventual resurrection proclaims that God is with and within us. An Augustinian priest named Martin Laird at Villanova University writes this in one of his books.

 

He says: “Because God is the ground of our being, the relationship between creature and Creator is such that…separation is not possible…we are and always have been one with God and we are all one in God.” So, in the tearing of that sanctuary veil, Matthew wants us to be clear that we are not separate from God.

 

God is with us. God is within us. 

 

So, may we live with that assurance and comfort and trust. This, along with God’s love for us no matter what, are important messages in Matthew’s account of the Passion of Jesus. 

 

4th Sunday of Lent, Cycle A - March 19, 2023

 4th Sunday of Lent

Cycle A

March 19, 2023          5pm 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

A Blind Spot

 

There is a story about a man named Joe who had just sat down at his desk to begin his workday.

 

One of his associates, a guy named Greg, came running in, breathless and with the color drained from his face. Greg said, “I was almost killed.

 

“I had stopped at the deli where I buy an egg salad sandwich every morning. Then I got onto the interstate and within two miles it happened.

 

“This red sports car came speeding up on my right side and cut over right in front of me. I mean, he had to be going eighty and he came within inches of hitting me. 

 

“And then he drifted into the lane to my left and sideswiped the car there. I mean, it was terrifying.

 

“That car sideswiped the jersey barrier and in an instant, two other cars were hit, and all the traffic came to a screeching stop. I mean, I came so close to getting killed,” Greg added breathlessly.

 

“I could have died there and then. It could have been all over.”

 

There was a moment of silence, and then Joe spoke.  “So, do you eat an egg salad sandwich every morning?”  

   

Blind Spots 

 

Well, Joe got so focused on the egg salad sandwich that he was blind to the terror and upset his associate had just experienced.

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus gives sight to a man who was born blind. But he is also speaking to the rest of us – telling us to be aware of our blindness or blind spots.

 

Sometimes we can be just like Joe in that office. Probably we all have some spiritual blindness or blind spots that keep us from seeing things as they are.  

 

In this gospel, we see three of the causes of our spiritual blind spots.

 

Cause 1: Preconceptions

 

First, preconceptions or preconceived ideas cause blind spots. Jesus’ apostles believe that physical disabilities like blindness are caused by sin.  

 

Jesus straightens out their thinking and tells them that no one’s sin caused this. But it is pretty clear that this preconception causes a blind spot in the apostles, and they look down on this man and his parents.

 

Preconceptions can also cause spiritual blindness in us. For example, I saw a media report that promotes a preconception about the poor and especially about anyone who uses food stamps or other forms of government assistance.

 

No question, there can be abuses, but sometimes our preconceptions lead us to blame the poor for their situation and look down on them. So, preconceptions like this create blind spots and keep us from seeing people as persons like us.     

 

Cause 2: Fear

 

Then fear can also cause blind spots. The parents of the man born blind are afraid to understand how their son has gained his sight.  

 

They are afraid that they will be alienated from the synagogue and their friends. Their fear causes a blind spot and keeps them from seeing the truth about Jesus.

 

Fear can also cause spiritual blindness in us. Maybe we refuse to talk with a friend about some tensions in our relationship because we are afraid of what they might say about us.

 

We are afraid that we will have to admit to some thoughtlessness on our part also. So, our fear can cause a blind spot and keep us from seeing the truth about ourselves.

 

Cause 3: Self-Interest

 

And finally, self-interest can cause blind spots. The religious leaders in this gospel story feel very threatened by Jesus.  

 

They wonder what will happen to them if people continue to flock to Jesus. This self-interest causes a blind spot and locks them into ways that are harmful.

 

Self-interest can also cause spiritual blindness in us. Self-interest can cause a supervisor to refuse to listen to criticism because it might call into question their competence.

 

The supervisor blocks the ideas and just continues as they have been doing. So, self-interest can create a blind spot, and this can keep us stuck in bad behavior.

 

Conclusion

 

So, Jesus today is calling each of us to take the position of the man born blind and admit our spiritual blindness or blind spots.   

 

And from this passage, we are to see – to see how our preconceptions, our fears, and our self-interest can cause blind spots in us. Jesus wants to heal us of that blindness and open our eyes.    

 

2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C - March 5, 2023

 2^nd Sunday of Lent- C

March 5, 2023    5pm, 8:30 and 11am

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton

 

Three Recommendations

 

Today I want to make three recommendations.

 

But before I get into them, I want to explain why I am doing this. And that takes us to today’s gospel.

 

Transfiguration/Transformation

 

We hear that Jesus “is transfigured before” three of his apostles.

 

Instead of the word “transfigured,” we might say transformed. Jesus is seen in a way that he was never seen before. 

 

For the first time, these three apostles see him for who he really is. The passage says that “Moses and Elijah appeared, [talking with Jesus].” 

 

Moses was the great lawgiver. God had given to him the Ten Commandments. 

 

And Elijah was the last of the great prophets. They believed that he would return before the Messiah came. 

 

So, the presence of Moses and Elijah here means that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets – of everything in their Scriptures. That had to be an overwhelming idea for these three apostles.

 

And then, as if that isn’t enough, there is a voice from the heavens: “This is my beloved Son.”The Almighty One, God himself, confirms that Jesus is special, even unique, his Son, the Son of God.  

 

So, these apostles are now seeing Jesus for who he really is – a person like them, but also a person who is God’s Son; human, and yet in some way also divine. That’s what this transformation of Jesus means.

  

Transformation of Us 

 

This gospel also calls us to be transformed. 

 

In fact, this is what Lent is all about. This is the positive way to look at Lent – our allowing ourselves to be transformed by God, by Jesus. 

 

This is why Lent calls us to look closely at ourselves and identify our dark sides, our areas of sinfulness. And this takes me back to where I began.

 

I have three recommendations to assist us in our becoming aware of our imperfections and in asking God’s forgiveness and help. And all of this is for our transformation in Christ.  

 

1^st Recommendation: Daily 

 

My first recommendation is that every day, we pray what we usually call an Act of Contrition.

 

We make this prayer after reflecting on our day or the day before and identifying any time that we did not follow the way of Christ. In this prayer, we ask for forgiveness and for God’s grace to grow and do better.

 

Many of us learned an Act of Contrition a long time ago and we know it by heart.  Some of us prefer to pray this in our own words, and that’s fine too.

 

In today’s bulletin, and on the website, I have placed two other options for this prayer that come from the Church’s official ritual. My recommendation is that we do this daily, every day, as part of our prayer life.

 

2^nd Recommendation: Weekly 

 

My second recommendation is weekly – that every Sunday, right at the beginning of Mass, in the brief penitential prayer, we bring to God just one thing.

 

Bring to God the number one thing for which we need forgiveness. The number one habit or area of our lives where we need to grow. 

 

I often suggest that we bring the same thing week after week, probably for months. We do this because you and I change slowly.

 

Our transformation, unlike Jesus’ on the mountain, is not instant. It takes time.

 

So, we bring this week after week and hear the words of God’s forgiveness through the priest. And in that, we allow the grace of God to work with us and help us to grow.   

 

3^rd Recommendation: Seasonal 

 

My third recommendation is seasonal – that we think about the place of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially during this Season of Lent.

 

I am using the term Sacrament of Reconciliation and not confession. Many of our theologians see this a more appropriate title for this sacrament. 

 

We name it by what it is intended to do, its purpose, and not by one of its parts. It is about reconciliation with God, with myself, and with others, and my confession is just part of that. 

 

The Church teaches that we have to come to this sacrament only if we are guilty of something serious. Traditionally, we have spoken of mortal sin.

 

So, something like being unfaithful to our vocation and basic commitment in life. The Church teaches that we are to bring serious things like this to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

The Church also encourages us to use the Sacrament for lesser sins. Reconciliation can help us in our overall personal growth.

 

Now, the choice to do this or the frequency for this is up to us. I am simply encouraging that in this Season of Lent, we put this Sacrament on our radar screen and see if it has a place for us. 

 

Conclusion

 

So, three recommendations: one daily, one weekly, and one seasonal – and all of them to assist in our being transformed, in our growing more and more in the likeness of Jesus. 

   

 

 

   

 

7th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A - February 19, 2023

 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle A

February 19, 2023      5pm 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

Love and Pray for Enemies 

 

So, we are to love and pray for Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and maybe others.

 

I think we would call these countries our enemies, enemies of the United States. And we are to love and pray for these countries not just in the abstract, but personally – for their leaders and their people.

 

We are to lift them up to God in prayer. And in prayer, we are also to try to deal with our feelings of hostility toward them. 

 

And we are to do the same thing in our personal lives with those whom we see as enemies, people who don’t like us or are offensive toward us. We are to love and pray for them too.

 

The Teaching 

 

As if that isn’t enough, Jesus tells us to offer no resistance to one who is evil.

 

He uses three examples. The first is that if someone smacks you in the face, don’t smack back. 

 

Instead, turn and let the person smack you on the other side of your face too. Oh really?

 

The second example is if someone steals your sweater, offer him your cap too. Oh really? 

 

And the third example is that if a Roman soldier requires you to carry his equipment for one mile – and the Roman law allowed this at that time – then offer to carry it an extra mile. Again, really?

 

To go back to where his lesson started, Jesus says to offer no resistance to the evil one. I have to say that there is some exaggeration here to make a point.

 

It’s something like Jesus’ exaggeration when he says to pluck out your eye or cut off your arm if it’s a source of sin. He doesn’t really want us to do that.

 

But he is making the absolute point that we are to do whatever possible to avoid sin and follow his way. I think something similar is going on here.

 

Jesus is not saying: don’t protect yourself. And he is not saying: be a doormat.

 

But he is saying: realize that just returning evil for evil does not resolve the problem. In fact, it will continue the spiral of evil.

 

So, we need to explore ways of connecting with those who harm us. We need to explore common ground and try non-violent, peace-making solutions to differences.

 

In the long run, this will be the only way to resolve things. And that is why Jesus even tells us, to go back to where I began, to love and pray for our enemies.

 

The Result 

 

Jesus concludes by telling us the result of our trying to do this.

 

He says: “We will be children of our heavenly Father, who makes his sun rise on the bad and good.” In other words, we as God’s children will grow to become more and more like God himself, in whose image we are made.

 

This will be the way to become more God-like persons. That’s my take on today’s challenging teaching. 

 

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A - February 12, 2023

 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle A

February 12, 2023      8:30 and 11am 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 

Faith as Relationship 

 

This past week, the more I looked at today’s gospel, the more just one word came to me, the word relationship.

 

The reason is this. Basically, we can look at faith in one of two ways. 

 

One way is to see faith as a list of doctrines that we believe and of commandments that we obey. The other way is to see faith as a relationship.

 

No question, faith includes doctrines – our understanding of who God is, as in our Profession of Faith here at Mass. And faith also includes commandments – like the Ten Commandments.

 

But underneath all of this, theologians today hold that faith is a relationship. It is fundamentally and primarily a relationship with God. 

 

Jesus and Relationship

 

God, especially through Jesus, initiates this relationship. And I see three components in this.

 

First, God wants to be with us. 

 

Jesus tells is that he is with us always, until the end of time. He remains with us through the Holy Spirit who abides within us.

 

Second, God speaks with us. 

 

The entire Bible is God talking to us and God does this especially through Jesus. In fact, Jesus continues to talk with us every time we read or listen to the gospel.

 

And third, God cares for us and loves us.

 

The Scripture tells us that God is love – it’s that simple. Jesus repeatedly shows his care and love for people and continues to care for us and love us in many ways, including right here in the Eucharist. 

 

So, 1) Jesus is with us, 2) Jesus speaks to us, and 3) Jesus loves us. That’s God’s side of the relationship.

 

And now, we are to respond by choosing 1) to be with Jesus, 2) to speak to him in our prayer, and 3) to love him by the way we live. This last way is where today’s gospel comes in. 

 

Jesus gives us three examples of what it means to love him by living up to our side of the relationship. He is very clear that he doesn’t want us to see faith as just obeying commandments.

 

Instead, Jesus wants us to put our heart into it all and live out the spirit of the commandments. This will be doing our part of loving Jesus in this relationship.

 

We and Relationship 

 

So, in his first example, Jesus wants us to be peaceable persons. He reminds us of the commandment not to kill anyone. 

 

But he tells us not even to act out of a destructive anger. He wants us to get inside ourselves at the real cause of external violence – at the vengeance or hostility that can lie within us. 

 

He wants us to get hold of these feelings and live out of our peaceful relationship with him. He wants us to be peaceable persons. 

 

And then, Jesus wants us to be faithful persons. He reminds us of the commandment against adultery.

 

But he tells us not even to be lusting after someone who is not our wife or husband. Again, he wants us to get inside ourselves at the unchecked tendencies that can cause infidelity.

 

He wants us to live out of the faithful relationship that he has with us and give our best to one another in marriage. He wants us to be faithful persons.    

 

And finally in today’s passage, Jesus wants us to be truthful persons. He reminds us of the practice of his day of taking oaths as a way to assure the truth of what someone was saying.

 

But he tells us that this isn’t necessary. He says that this may lead to the practice that things said without an oath may not be true.

 

He wants us to live out of the relationship with him where he tells us the truth about himself and the heavenly Father and about ourselves and how we are to live. He wants us to be truthful persons. 

 

Conclusion

 

So, faith as relationship with God and with Jesus Christ.

 

That’s what I see as the basis for Jesus’ calling us to more – to live not just the literal wording, but the real spirit of the commandments.