3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A - January 22, 2023

 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle A

January 22, 2023 – 5pm and 8:30am    

Our Lady of Grace Saint Parish, Parkton 

 

The Holocaust Museum: Lessons

 

Several years ago, I visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. Probably many of you have been there. 

 

As you know, the Museum is a memorial especially to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust in the 1940s. This genocide by the Nazis killed 6 million Jews. 

 

The Holocaust eventually included others, like citizens of Poland and the Soviet Union, gypsies, homosexual and disabled persons, and others. The Nazis exterminated a total of 11 million people.  

 

As I slowly walked through the Museum, I found myself sad, almost overwhelmed. At times I became aware that I was just shaking my head “No!” in disbelief. 

 

Now, I am recalling this experience in view of the increasing number of anti-Semitic incidents in our country. Reports tell us that in the year 2021, there were 2,700 anti-Semitic incidents of harassment, assault, and vandalism. 

 

This was the highest annual number ever reported. It represents an increase of 34% over the prior year, 2020. 

 

I think about this in relation to today’s gospel. Jesus is the “great light” foretold by the prophets.

 

We, as disciples and persons of faith, are also to be a light in our world. One thing this must mean is that we are alert to things like anti-Semitism and that we ourselves do not participate in this.

 

We need to be a light in darkness. So, with this in mind, I have two reflections. 

 

1.    Words Are Powerful 

 

First, our words are powerful.

 

The words we speak and the words we write or text or email – these can be very powerful. We need to be very aware of this.

 

For example, have you ever said something and the moment it is out of your mouth, you wish you could take it back? Maybe in frustration, we said to a teenager: “You’re never going to amount to anything.”

 

Or to someone: “You’re a lazy waste of time!” Or: “You’re a good-for-nothing blankedy blank.”

 

Our words can help a person develop and grow. Or they can freeze a person right where they are and even send them backwards.

 

Our words can build up self-esteem and self-confidence. Or they can tear it down and injure someone for a lifetime.

 

Our words can give positive vision to a group or entire race of people. Or they can lead those same people into destructive ways.

 

So, I am suggesting, we have to pause, reflect, and go within ourselves before we speak. We have to get in touch with our true inner self and with God who is within us.

 

We have to consider the effects of our words for today and tomorrow and the future. And then, we have to decide what to say and when to say it and how to say it.

 

So, knowing that our words have such power is very important. We need to use our words in a thoughtful way.

 

2.    Negative Stereotypes Are Destructive 

 

My second reflection is related to the first and really flows from it.

 

Negative stereotyping is always destructive. And it is always wrong.

 

This is what happened in Nazi Germany and what caused the Holocaust. Thoughtless and hurtful words were applied to the Jews.  

 

These words and labels led to negative stereotyping. In that instance, we know the horrific results.

 

Some scholars tell us that negative stereotyping arises from the human temptation to scapegoat. We unfairly blame another person or an entire category of persons for our problems and that’s what scapegoating is.

 

So, we need to resist negative stereotyping of others. Today, it might be directed to Jews or to Hispanic immigrants, to women or to African Americans, to LGBTQ persons or to Muslims.

 

We need to have the inner strength not to participate in this. In fact, we need to label it as morally wrong.   

 

And in doing that, we will be a light to the world and really living our faith in Jesus Christ. We will be a light in darkness. 

 

And we will be doing this by resisting hateful words and negative stereotyping.  We will do this by respecting others as persons with feelings and needs and hopes much like our own. 

 

 

2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A - January 15, 2023

 2^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Cycle A

January 15, 2023    11am

Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center   

 

The Beloved Lamb

 

There is an old story about two men who were living in the same small town.

 

The one man was very rich and powerful; the other was very poor and powerless. The rich man owned so many sheep that he lost count of them, but the poor man had only one, tiny lamb.  

 

The poor man’s children loved this little lamb so much that they treated it like a member of the family. They played with it all day long and even brought it to the dinner table to share the little food they had to eat.  

 

Then one day an important visitor came to the rich man’s house for dinner.  The rich man wanted to serve a special meal, but he didn’t want to kill any of his own lambs to feed the guest.  

 

So, he had his servants go over to the poor man’s house, take that family’s only lamb, and slaughter it for dinner. Now, the prophet Nathan tells this story in the Old Testament.  

 

And, this story of the beloved lamb is one of the images that John the Baptist must have had in mind in today’s gospel. John points to Jesus and says, “There is the lamb of God.”

 

John means, “There is God’s beloved lamb.” Like the one beloved lamb of that poor family, Jesus is God’s beloved Son and he is unjustly put to death.  

 

The Sacrificial Lamb 

 

Now besides this image of the beloved lamb, there is a second image that John must have had in mind.

 

This is the image of the lambs that were sacrificed everyday in the Temple in Jerusalem. These lambs were seen as sacrifices to atone for sin. 

 

So, John points to Jesus and says, “There is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus is like those sacrificial lambs because he sacrifices himself for our sins.

 

But, he is also unlike those lambs because, as John says today, he is “the lamb of God.”Jesus is the sacrifice that once and for all time brings us reconciliation with God.

 

The Victorious Lamb 

 

Finally, John probably also had a third image in mind.

 

The Book of Revelation pictures a victorious lamb. The author describes his vision of a lamb on a heavenly throne with people from all over the earth giving him honor.

 

So, John speaks of Jesus today as “the Lamb of God …the one who ranks ahead of me because he is before me.” John’s idea is that Jesus exists before John and before all of humanity.

 

Jesus is the Lamb of God who will even be triumphant obver death. This is why he now receives honor and praise as the victorious lamb.   

 

The Lamb of God for Us

 

So, John the Baptist has these three images in mind about Jesus.

 

Before we receive communion here at Mass, we sing three times: “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” It is helpful to remember these three images as we sing these acclamations.

 

First, we remember the image of the one beloved lamb of the poor family. And we express our love for Jesus as the beloved Son and Lamb of God.

 

Here we can also recall that we ourselves are also beloved. Each of us is a beloved daughter or son of God.  

 

Then we remember the image of the sacrificial lamb of the Temple. Here in the sacrifice of the Mass, we offer Jesus himself under the forms of bread and wine.

 

Here we can also recall that we are to be sacrificial. Our sacrifice is intentionally to give our daily lives to Christ by accepting him as our way. 

  

And finally, we remember the image of the victorious lamb in heaven. We do this when we say at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer: “Through him, with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever.  Amen”

 

And as we do that, here we can also recall that we too have the promise and hope of heaven. That victory over death will also be ours through the victorious lamb.  

Feast of the Epiphany, Cycle A - January 8, 2023

 Feast of the Epiphany

 Cycle A

January 8, 2023          

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton    5pm 

 

A Star

 

Today I am thinking that each of us has a star. 

 

What I mean is that each of us has something leading us either from inside ourselves or from outside ourselves toward some goal. Today’s gospel passage tells about the Magi following a star and that star is leading them to the newborn Christ.  

 

Recently, a single mom told me about her plans to go back to school to get her degree in social work. A high school senior told me about his plans for majoring in biology in college with the idea of eventually getting into the medical profession.  

 

They are both following a star that is leading them to use their God-given abilities. So, the question is: what is our star?  

 

And whatever our star is, will it in some way be like the star that the Magi are following? Will it in some way lead us to God or make God more present on this earth?

 

Journey

 

Now the Magi in today’s gospel are on a journey.

 

The passage says that they come from the East, maybe present-day Iran or Iraq. They have left their home and are on a journey.

 

This journey image is a good way for all of us to understand our lives. And this usually makes some demands on us.

 

It may mean that we uproot ad leave the home where we have been living. It may simply mean that we read or participate in a Bible study program as a way to come to a closer relationship with God. 

 

Seeing our lives as a journey is challenging, but also life-giving. So, the question is: what are the demands of the journey that we are on right now?

 

Hurdles

 

Notice also that the Magi have to deal with a hurdle on their journey.

 

Their hurdle is King Herod. Herod pretends to be interested in this newborn child, but the Magi sense that he has violence in mind. 

 

There will also be hurdles for us as we follow our star and make our journey. Maybe we will be tempted to give up when things get challenging and. 

 

Or maybe someone is trying to discourage us from following the star that we believe is right for us because we won’t make a lot of money doing that. So, the question is: what hurdles do we have on our journey? 

 

Giving

 

Then the gospel tells us that the Magi give gifts to the newborn Christ.

 

Maybe this is a good test of the star we are following and the journey we are on. Does it lead us to be giving?

 

Maybe our giving is simply taking good care of those in our family. Or maybe we can give some of our time to God’s work beyond our family.

 

Maybe we can bake casseroles for a soup kitchen or give time teaching religion to children. So, the question is: What are we giving to God on our journey?  

 

Change

 

And finally, the gospel tells us that the Magi had to change their plans.

 

After seeing the child, they are warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, but to return home by another route. The insight here is that getting close to Jesus may also change us.

 

In fact, change and growth seem to be what the star and the journey are all about. For example, maybe we are being led to see things more from the perspective of those who are different from us.

 

The differences between the magi and the shepherds in the story of Christ’s birth lead me to think of this. So, the question is: How is our star or our journey calling us to change?

 

Conclusion

 

I guess what I am really saying is that this simple, little story of the Magi is really packed.

 

It is our story. It is the story of human life, especially of living life in relation to Jesus.    

 

The star, the journey, the hurdles, the giving, and the change – all the pieces of this story may reflect our life experience. They may lead us to some good reflection today.     

Christmas, Cycle A - December 25, 2022

 Christmas – A 

December 25, 2022    6pm 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton

 

Memories of a Child’s Christmas 

 

My earliest memory of Christmas goes back to when I was a very little boy. 

 

I’m thinking this is when I was three years old, and my brother Charlie was four. I remember my mother and father getting us to bed at the usual time on Christmas Eve. 

 

We were very excited because we knew that Santa Claus was going to come. In fact, the last thing we did with mom and dad before going up to bed was to leave a glass of milk and a couple of mom’s homemade chocolate cookies on the kitchen table.

 

Of course, that was for Santa. We knew he had a lot of work to do that night, and he would need a snack. 

 

Well, in some way, Charlie and I got to sleep even though we were so excited. I remember waking up early – I think about 7 o’clock on Christmas morning. 

 

We immediately went downstairs in our pajamas and wow! There it was! 

 

A Christmas tree fully decorated – there had been no tree when we went to bed. And there were presents underneath the tree. 

 

We quickly ran up the steps and ran into mom and dad’s bedroom and woke them up. They still seemed very sleepy, and I couldn’t understand why, but they got up and came downstairs, and we opened the presents. 

 

By the way, Santa had drunk the milk and eaten the cookies. That made us especially happy.

 

Some of the presents I remember from those early years were a three-wheel bike, toy cars and trucks, plastic building blocks (Legos were not out yet), and a game called Pick-up-Sticks.

 

And this Thanksgiving, I discovered that this game is still popular because my great-niece Megan has it. She and I played a game of it, and she won!

 

I remember that later on Christmas day, we visited my grandparents – both sets of grandparents- and had lots to eat! I still couldn’t figure out why mom and dad seemed so tired and were happy to get home and get to bed that night!

 

So, tonight I think back and reminisce. That was just my family’s, one family’s Christmas and it was over seventy years ago. 

 

Every family’s situation and every family’s Christmas customs are different and that’s fine. But, from my memories I see some good lessons for myself – and maybe you will find them good too.

 

Lesson 1: Support Those Who Do Good

 

For example, I feel called to do what I can to support those who are trying to do good for others. 

 

The milk and cookies we left for Santa Claus taught me that. So, schoolteachers and EMS staff, doctors and nurses, police officers and fire fighters, farmers and social workers – and on it goes. 

 

I want to let them know that I appreciate what they are doing. I want to give them some milk and cookies too. 

 

Lesson 2: Respect Parents

 

Another lesson that I learned from my early Christmas is that I respect parents. 

 

I learned this from what my own parents did for us, especially at Christmas when we were very young. You who are parents have a beautiful calling. 

 

And you also have a lot of responsibility. In my years as a priest, I have come to respect parents because of all you do for your families day in and day out. 

 

Lesson 3: Include Everyone 

 

And a third lesson that I have learned from that early experience of Christmas is to include everyone. 

 

Santa Claus went or goes to every home. Everyone counts and now we need to make sure that everyone gets taken care of.

 

I need to exclude no one from the circle of love and giving and caring. I need to include everyone.

 

Conclusion

 

Okay! The last thing I want to say may be obvious. 

 

Santa is doing the work of Jesus. In fact, Santa shows us what Christmas is all about. 

 

God loves us – God loves all of us, every person on this earth. And God loves us so much that he sent his Son here to make that very clear. 

 

That Son, Jesus, was born two thousand years ago in Bethlehem. Santa points us to Jesus, and the lessons that come from Santa are the lessons of Jesus.

 

That’s what my first Christmases remind me of this year. I hope this reminiscing has been as good for you as it has been for me. Merry Christmas!      

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.