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What is Truth? (Homily for Good Friday 2018)

3/31/2018

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For Good Friday this year I focus on Pilate's question: What is truth? The word truth appears 235 times in the Bible, 22 of them in St. John's Gospel. Truth is at the heart of the Bible.

Unfortunately many people today have stopped seeking the truth. They brush aside the big questions: What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? Does God exist? Who is Jesus?
When people talk about truth they look at it not as end in itself but as an instrument - a way to gain power or even a weapon.

Bishop Robert Barron points out that people today don't know how to have a good argument. They know how to shout, bully and call names. On how to have a good argument Bishop Barron gives the example of St. Thomas Aquinas. He begins by asking a question. Before stating his own position he gives the opposing arguments. Then he lays out the evidence and finally responds to his opponents' objections.

For example, he asks the most basic question: Doe God exist? He first gives the arguments against God's existence and makes sure he has correctly understood his opponents. Only then does state his own position and give the evidence for God's existence and he answers his opponents' objections. That's a good way of arguing, of seeking the truth.

Things are different today. The "new atheists" don't so much have new arguments but a particular method of arguing. They use shame - look at all the terrible things Christians have done! Instead of seeking truth they use a version of "truth" as a weapon.

This atmosphere causes many people to brush aside the question of truth. That's what Pilate does. After hearing Jesus say that he comes to testify to the truth, Pilate shows little curiosity. Instead he turns away. Is he afraid of the answer? Is he simply bored? Is he trying to avoid something that might upset his lifestyle?

Whatever his motive, when he brushes aside the issue of truth, he immediately falls into depravity. Pilate knows Jesus is innocent. He has committed no crime against Roman law. But the crowd shouts and Pilate gives in. He has Jesus whipped: a horrific punishment, a terrible injustice against an innocent man. Eventually he has Jesus killed in a vicious way. When a person treats truth lightly he becomes capable of gross injustice.

Pope Benedict points out that the dominant philosophy of Western society is relativism: the belief that there is no good or bad, no right or wrong, no true of false. It's just "my truth" and "your truth." This sounds tolerant but then the only way of deciding an issue is by who has the power, who can shout the loudest. The end result, says Pope Benedict, is the "dictatorship of relativism."

The question of truth is not simply intellectual. It's a spiritual problem. Jesus tells Pilate, "Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." I don't know about you but I want to belong to the truth. It doesn't mean I know everything or am always right. Far from it. As Pope Benedict points out, it's not that we possess the truth but that the truth possesses us.

Jesus says you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. People quote that line but forget the first part: You will become my disciples and you will know the truth - and the truth will make you free. Know Jesus who says, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."

Jesus wants us to speak the truth gently and with love. Our culture wants us to keep quiet. As Pastor Rick Warren notes: "Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate."

To hold onto our convictions and to warn those falling into danger should not involve becoming harsh and judgmental. In his CD Who Am I to Judge? Dr. Edward Sri helps navigate between being judgmental and abdicating responsibility (like Pilate washing his hands). After praying and examining one's own conscience a person may say something gently and confidentially. And often it means to keep silent - as Jesus does when people judge him. I don't know about you, but I have enough to do dealing with my own mess-ups: Like we say in the penitential rite, what I have done and what I have failed to do.

In the new movie about St. Paul, the great apostle carries the burden of his past: his role in hunting down and killing innocent Christians. The film has a surprising resolution. I admit I was glad the theater stayed dark because I was bawling my eyes out. When the lights came on I saw others were worse off than me. As I went out I gave them a thumbs-up.
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Taking our past to Jesus may hurt but ultimately brings joy. In a few minutes we will have the opportunity to venerate the cross. Whatever burden you are carrying take it to the cross. Jesus will transform it. Listen to his voice and and tell him you want to belong to the truth: to become his disciple, to know the truth - and the truth will make you free. Amen.
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¿Qué es la Verdad? (Homilia para Viernes Santo 2018)

3/31/2018

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Para el Viernes Santo de este año me enfoco en la pregunta de Pilato: ¿Qué es la verdad? La palabra verdad aparece 235 veces en la Biblia, 22 de ellas en el Evangelio de San Juan. La verdad está al centro de la Biblia.
Esto es difícil para nosotros hoy. En lugar de buscar la verdad, muchas personas usan la "verdad" como arma, un baston para golpear a otras personas. El obispo Robert Barron propone a Santo Tomás de Aquino como modelo de como buscar la verdad. Él hace una pregunta, por ejemplo, ¿existe Dios? Luego él declara los mejores argumentos en contra de la existencia de Dios. Después de asegurarse de que entiende a sus oponentes, responde respetuosamente exponiendo la evidencia de la existencia de Dios. A muchas personas no les gusta esa manera de discutir. Prefieren despeciar, gritar y "bully".
Tú y yo queremos ser diferente. Esta noche, cuando celebramos el evento central de la historia, hacemos bien enfrentar la pregunta de Pilato: ¿Qué es la verdad? Tenemos que admitir que Pilato no parece interesado en una respuesta. Jesús acaba de decir que viene a dar testimonio de la verdad y que aquellos que pertenecen a la verdad lo escuchan. Pilato muestra poca curiosidad. En cambio, se da la vuelta. ¿Tiene miedo de la respuesta? ¿Está tratando de evitar algo que pueda alterar su estilo de vida? ¿Está aburrido, no mas?
Cualquiera que sea su motivo, cuando Pilato deja de lado el tema de la verdad, inmediatamente cae en la depravación. Pilato sabe que Jesús es inocente. No ha cometido ningún delito contra la ley romana. Sin embargo, la gente grita y Pilato se somete. Azota a Jesús: un castigo horrible, una injusticia contra un hombre inocente. Al final mata a Jesús en una manera cruel. Cuando alguien trata la verdad a la ligera, se vuelve capaz de una gran injusticia.
El Papa Benedicto señala que la filosofía dominante de la sociedad actual es el relativismo: la creencia de que no hay ni bueno ni malo, ni correcto ni incorrecto, ni verdadero ni falso. Es solo "mi verdad" y "tu verdad". Esto suena tolerante, pero con esto la única forma de decidir es quién tiene el poder, quién puede gritar más fuerte. El resultado, dice el Papa Benedicto, es la "dictadura del relativismo".
La cuestión de la verdad no es solamente intelectual. Es un problema espiritual. Jesús le dice a Pilato: "Todo el que es de la verdad, escucha mi voz". No sé ustedes, pero quiero pertenecer a la verdad. No significa que sé todo o siempre tengo la razón. Lejos de ahi. Como señala el Papa Benedicto, no es que poseamos la verdad sino que la verdad nos posee.
Jesús dice que conocerás la verdad y la verdad te hará libre. La gente cita esa línea pero olvida la primera parte: Serás mis discípulo y conocerás la verdad, y la verdad te hará libre. Conocer a Jesús que dice: "Yo soy el Camino, la Verdad y la Vida".
Jesús quiere que hablemos la verdad suavemente y con amor. Nuestra cultura quiere que nos quedemos callados. Como señala el pastor Rick Warren: "Nuestra cultura ha aceptado dos mentiras enormes. La primera es que si no estás de acuerdo con el estilo de vida de alguien, debes temerlo u odiarlo. El segundo es que amar a alguien significa que estás de acuerdo con todo lo que cree o hace. Ambas son tonterías. No tienes que ceder convicciones para ser compasivo ".
Retener nuestras convicciones y advertir a aquellos que caen en peligro no debe implicar ser duros y críticones. En su CD Quien Soy Yo Para Juzgar? el doctor Edward Sri ayuda como evitar los extremos de ser sentenciosos o irresponsables (como Pilato lavandose las manos). Después de orar y examinar la propia conciencia, se puede decir algo de manera amable y confidencial. Y a menudo significa guardar silencio, como lo que hace Jesús cuando la gente lo juzga. No sé de ti, pero tengo suficiente que hacer frente a mis propios desordenes: como decimos en el rito penitencial, he pecado de pensamiento, palabra, obra y omision.
En la nueva película sobre San Pablo, el gran apóstol lleva la carga de su pasado: su papel en la caza y asesinato de cristianos inocentes. La película tiene una resolución sorprendente. Admito que me alegré de que el teatro se mantuviera oscuro porque estaba llorando a lágrima viva. Cuando se encendieron las luces, vi que otros estaban peor que yo.
Llevar nuestro pasado a Jesús puede doler, pero en última instancia trae alegría. En unos minutos tendremos la oportunidad de venerar la cruz. Cualquier carga que tienes, llévala a la cruz. Jesús lo transformará. Escucha su voz y dile que quieres pertenecer a la verdad: ser su discípulo, conocer la verdad, y la verdad te hará libre. Amén.
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A Girl Gives Her Life for Jesus (Homily for Holy Thursday 2018)

3/31/2018

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This homily will be mainly in English with a summary in Spanish.
El Obispo Sheen - que era el Billy Graham de los Catolicos - cuenta como una niña china lo inspiró. Cuando los comunistas arrojaron Hostias en el piso, ella volvió por 32 noches para adorar y consumir el Cuerpo de Cristo. Al final dio su vida. Si una niña de 11 años puede arriesgarse la vida por Jesus, ¿no podemos encontrar tiempo para rezar ante Jesus en el Santismo?
All of you have heard of Billy Graham's death. The closest we Catholics had was Bishop Fulton Sheen. A few months before he died in 1979, Bishop Sheen gave a television interview. The reporter asked, “Your Excellency, you have inspired millions. Who inspired you? Was it the pope?”
Bishop Sheen responded that it was not the pope or a cardinal or another bishop or even a priest or nun. It was an eleven-year-old girl. He explained that when the communists took over China in the late forties, they imprisoned a priest in his own rectory. Looking through the window, he saw a soldier enter the church and break open the tabernacle, scattering the Blessed Sacrament on the floor. The priest knew the exact number of hosts: thirty-two.
Unnoticed by the soldiers, a young girl had been praying in the back of the church and she hid when they came in. That night the girl returned and spent an hour in prayer. She then entered the sanctuary, knelt and bent over to take one of the hosts on her tongue.
The girl came back each night, spent an hour in prayer and received Jesus by picking up a sacred host with her tongue. The thirty-second night, after consuming the final host, she made an accidental sound, awakening a soldier. He ran after her and when he caught her, he struck her with his rifle butt. The noise woke the priest – but too late. From his house, he saw the girl die.
Bishop Sheen said that when he heard about this, it inspired him so much that he made a promise that he would spend one hour each day before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He always said that the power of his priesthood came from the holy hour.
Tonight, brothers and sisters, we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist. At the end of the Mass we will have a procession inside the church to adore our Savior. I invite you to spend some time with Jesus. If an eleven year old girl can risk her life for Jesus, can we not find time tonight and this coming year to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? From him comes our strength. Amen.
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Blasphemy? Cry of Despair? Judgment? (Homily for Palm Sunday 2018)

3/25/2018

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Palm Sunday, you may know, is also called Passion Sunday because we listen the account of Jesus' trial, his way of the cross and his agonizing death. I'd like to highlight three things.

First the charge against Jesus - blasphemy. According to the Sanhedrin Jesus is only a human yet he makes himself out to be God. In The Case for Jesus Dr. Brant Pitre analyzes the significance of this charge and he asks a question we all have to face: Were the authorities correct? Is Jesus a blasphemer or is he truly God?

Second, Jesus' cry from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Dr. Pitre considers this perplexing Bible verse and shows how we need to understand it in its original Jewish context. If you have puzzled about Jesus' apparent cry of despair, I encourage you to read The Case for Jesus.

Third, judgement. Throughout the Passion narrative people are judging each other. Some judge the woman who poured precious oil over Jesus. It could have been sold to help the poor and they were infuriated with her. The crowds judge by preferring Barabbas to Jesus. "Crucify him," they shout. The chief priests for their part judge Jesus by mocking him.

Judgment is often misguided and cruel but that does not mean we should be like Pilate. He avoided responsibility by cynically asking, "What is truth?"

For that question I offer you a CD titled, "Who Am I to Judge?" It's a huge question with enormous consequences. For that reason I want to give each adult and young person a recording of Dr. Edward Sri's talk. Listen to it in your car, in your room or with your family. This one hour talk will change your life - and will enable you to help someone who has fallen into relativism: the belief that there is no right or wrong, no true or false.
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So today take home the CD "Who Am I to Judge?" and if you don't already have it, The Case for Jesus. Read chapter 11 on crucifixion. They will help you have the best Holy Week ever. Amen.
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Blasphemia? Grito de Desesperación? Juicio? (Homilia del Domingo de Ramos 2018)

3/25/2018

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El Domingo de Ramos también se llama Domingo de la Pasión porque escuchamos el relato del juicio de Jesús, su camino de la cruz y su muerte agonizante. Me gustaría destacar tres cosas.

Primero, la acusación contra Jesús: blasfemia. Según el Sanedrín, Jesús es solo un ser humano, sin embargo, él se hace pasar por Dios. En The Case for Jesus (Caso de Jesus) el Dr. Brant Pitre analiza el significado de este cargo y hace una pregunta que todos tenemos que enfrentar: ¿Las autoridades tenian razon? ¿Es Jesús un blasfemo o es Dios?

Segundo, el grito de Jesús desde la cruz: "Dios mío, Dios mío, ¿por qué me has abandonado?" El Dr. Pitre considera este versículo dificil y muestra cómo debemos entenderlo en su contexto judío original. Si te has quedado perplejo por el aparente grito de desesperación de Jesús, te animo a leer El caso de Jesús.

Tercero, juicio. A lo largo de la narracion, las personas se juzgan. Algunos juzgan a la mujer que derramó aceite sobre Jesús. Podría haber sido vendido para ayudar a los pobres y ellos se enojaron contra ella. Las multitudes juzgan al preferir Barrabás a Jesús. "Crucifícalo", gritaron. Los sumos sacerdotes, por su parte, juzgan a Jesús al burlarse de él.

El juicio muchas veces es falso y cruel, pero eso no significa que debemos ser como Pilatos. Evitó la responsabilidad al preguntar cínicamente: "¿Qué es la verdad?"

En relacion a esa pregunta, le ofrezco un CD titulado, "¿Quién soy yo para juzgar?" Es una gran pregunta con consecuencias enormes. Por esa razón, quiero darle a cada adulto y a cada joven una grabación de la charla del Dr. Edward Sri. Escúchalo en tu carro, en tu cuarto o con tu familia. Esta charla de una hora cambiará tu vida y ayudará a los que han caído en el relativismo: la creencia de que no existe el bien o el mal, tampoco la verdad o el falso.
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Lleva a casa el CD "¿Quién soy yo para juzgar?" y si aún no lo tienes, The Case for Jesus. Lee el capítulo 11 sobre la crucifixión. Te ayudarán a tener la mejor Semana Santa jamás. Amén.
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Generations of Faith (March 21, 2018)

3/22/2018

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In this presentation I comment on some books from the local library and our parish gift shop, then a preview of Holy Week.
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Stop Procrastinating! (Homily for March 18, 2018)

3/18/2018

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Today some Greek speaking Jews ask to see Jesus. In response Jesus talks about his coming *glorification.* "Amen, amen, I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it dies it produces much fruit." What fruit does Jesus' death produce? As today's Gospel indicates, his self-offering makes him accessible to all times and all places. Lifted up on the cross Jesus draws all people to himself.
That's Jesus' glorification: Suffering typically leads to humiliation. United with Jesus, however, suffering leads to glorification. Like a grain of wheat - like a Passover lamb - Jesus dies to bear fruit.
That principle applies also to you and me. During Lent many of you are reading Finding Hope When Life Hurts. I love Fr. Sica's daily reflections. The only part I don't like is that he keeps telling me I need to die - to let go of certain things to find the hope Jesus offers.
Of all the things Fr. Sica suggests, what do I find most challenging? I don't know about you but for me it was this: Stop procrastinating! Stop putting things off waiting for a more convenient time. I can miss opportunities, for example by placing people on the back burner, always thinking, "I'll do it later." As Fr. Sica observes, "other things take precedence and we get sidetracked by videos, blogs and music."
The best way to avoid procrastination, he says: "be deliberate in doing what you don't feel like doing." Do the worst first, die to self.
Fr. Sica gives this challenge: "What have you been putting off? Losing weight? Mending a relationship? Cleaning out closets? Job hunting? Write down the top three." I'll share mine. Your top three will be different but here are mine:
One involves cleaning out a disaster area in the rectory. The second is about office files that have become unmanageable. The third is a personal relationship that needs mending. In the past I've wanted to do these things and failed. Fr. Sica suggests finding a mentor. In my case a friend has agreed to hold me accountable.
Reflecting on things I need to do, where I need to die, causes me to ask a more basic question: Why deliberately do anything? Why not just drift along, do whatever seems urgent? What is my purpose anyway? I see that purpose reflected in our parish mission statement: Blessed to live in this beautiful valley, we are Christians, in union with Pope Francis and Archbishop Sartain, who strive to lift up Jesus, love one another and make disciples.
Lift up Jesus! Last week we heard Jesus say, "the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." Today Jesus says "When I am lifted up from the earth I will draw everyone to myself." Early in the Second World War - England's Darkest Hour - Churchill spoke about how much so many people owed to a few brave fighter pilots. In the course of human history many, many people - including you and me - owe everything to one man.
So, lift up Jesus! That's what we do in the next two weeks known as "Passiontide." I encourage you this week to read chapter 11 of the Case for Jesus. Dr. Pitre discusses the meaning of Jesus' crucifixion and answers some tough questions: Why did they accuse Jesus of blasphemy? Did Jesus feel God-forsaken? What's the meaning of the blood and water?
Next week - Palm Sunday - we'll listen to St. Mark's account of Jesus' Passion. It coincides with spring - a time when seeds "die" for the sake of a harvest. The beginning of spring is a good moment to put our lives in order. That's today's invitation: Meditating on what Jesus has done, we ask his help to rightly order our lives. Stop procrastinating! "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies it produces much fruit." Amen.
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¡Deja de procrastinar! (Homilia del 18 de marzo de 2018)

3/18/2018

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Hoy unos "griegos" piden ver a Jesús. En respuesta, Jesús habla acerca de su * glorificación. * "Yo les aseguro que si el grano de trigo, sembrado en la tierra, no muere, queda infecundo; pero si muere, producira mucho fruto." ¿Qué fruto produce la muerte de Jesús? Como lo indica el Evangelio de hoy, su auto-ofrecimiento lo hace accesible a todo tiempo y todo lugar. Levantado en la cruz, Jesús atrae a todos hacia sí mismo.
Esa es la glorificación de Jesús: el sufrimiento generalmente conduce a la humillación. Unido a Jesús, sin embargo, el sufrimiento lleva a la glorificación. Como un grano de trigo Jesús muere para dar fruto.
Ese principio se aplica también a ti y a mí. Durante la Cuaresma muchos de ustedes están leyendo Encontrando Esperanza Cuando la Vida Nos Hiere. Me gustan las reflexiones diarias del Padre Sica. La única parte que no me gusta es que él sigue diciéndome que tengo que morir: dejar de lado ciertas cosas para encontrar la esperanza que Jesús ofrece.
De todas las cosas que el Padre Sica sugiere, ¿Cual es más desafiante? No sé de ti, pero para mí fue esto: ¡Deja de procrastinar! Deja de posponer las cosas esperando un momento más conveniente. Puedo perder oportunidades, siempre pensando: "Lo haré más tarde". Y voy perdiendo tiempo con la television, Internet o celular.
La mejor manera de evitar la postergación, dice el Padre: "estar deliberadamente haciendo lo que no deseas hacer." Haz lo peor primero, muere para ti mismo.
P. Sica da este desafío: "¿Qué has sido procrastinando? ¿Perder peso? ¿Enmendar una relación? ¿Limpiar armarios? ¿Buscar un trabajo? Escribe las tres cosas principales." Compartiré las mias. Tus cosas principales serán diferentes, pero aquí están los mías:
La primera es organizar un área de desastre en la rectoría. La segunda es sobre archivos de oficina que se han vuelto inmanejables. La tercera es una relación personal que necesita reparación. En el pasado, he querido hacer estas cosas y he fallado. P. Sica sugiere buscar un asesor. En mi caso, un amigo accedió a pedirme cuentas.
Reflexionar sobre lo que necesito hacer, dónde tengo que morir, me lleva a hacer una pregunta más básica: ¿Por qué hacer algo deliberadamente? ¿Por qué no solamente flotar, ir a la deriva, hacer lo que parece urgente? ¿Cuál es mi propósito de mi vida? Veo ese propósito reflejado en nuestra misión parroquial: Bendecidos por vivir en este valle bello, somos cristianos, en unión con el Papa Francisco y el Arzobispo Sartain, quienes buscan levantar a Jesus, amarse uno al otro y hacer discípulos.
¡Levantar a Jesús! La semana pasada escuchamos a Jesús decir, "el Hijo del hombre debe ser levantado, para que todos los que crean en él tengan vida eterna". Hoy Jesús dice: "Cuando yo sea levantado de la tierra, atraeré a todos hacia mí". Al comienzo de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la Hora más Oscura de Inglaterra, Churchill habló sobre cuánto debían muchos a unos valientes pilotos de combate. En el curso de la historia humana, muchas personas, incluyendo a ti y a mi, le debemos todo a un solo hombre.
Entonces, ¡levanta a Jesús! Eso es lo que hacemos en las próximas dos semanas conocidas como "Tiempo de Pasion". Los animo esta semana a leer el capítulo 11 del Caso para Jesús. El Dr. Pitre discute el significado de la crucifixión de Jesús y responde a unas preguntas difíciles: ¿Por qué acusaron a Jesús de blasfemia? ¿Se sintió Jesús abandonado por Dios? ¿Cuál es el significado de la sangre y el agua?
La próxima semana, Domingo de Ramos, escucharemos el relato de San Marcos sobre la Pasión de Jesús. Coincide con la primavera, un momento en que las semillas "mueren" por el bien de una cosecha. El comienzo de la primavera es un buen momento para poner nuestras vidas en orden. Esa es la invitación de hoy: Meditando sobre lo que Jesús ha hecho, le pedimos su ayuda para ordenar nuestras vidas. ¡Deja de procrastinar! "Yo les aseguro que si el grano de trigo, sembrado en la tierra, no muere, queda infecundo; pero si muere, producira mucho fruto." Amén.
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Jesus' Death & My Dad's Death (Homily for March 18, 2018)

3/16/2018

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This audio file begins with today's Gospel followed by reflections on Jesus' attitude to his coming death and how my dad faced his death.
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Finding Hope When Life Hurts Week 4: Believe (Homily for March 11, 2018)

3/11/2018

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Today's readings address a fundamental question: How are we saved? How do we obtain eternal life? If there's a bigger question, I don't know what it is. Lots of people think you get to heaven by doing good deeds, by helping others. Those things matter but they are not the bottom line. It may surprise you that good deeds do not provide the key to eternal life.
If good deeds aren't the key, what is? St. Paul tells us: "By grace you have been saved through faith." To make it crystal clear he adds, "This is not from you; it is a gift from God so no one may boast." That's reason to rejoice isn't it? You notice I'm wearing rose vestments - the color for joy.
We can see that reason for joy in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:: "Our justification (salvation) comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us..." (#1996)
If that's the case does it mean we sit back and wait for God to act? Not exactly. Grace implies a response. After stating that our salvation - our justification - is a free gift Paul writes that we are "created in Christ Jesus for the good works God has prepared in advance." We should, he says, *live* in those good works.
And what precisely are the good works? In today's Gospel Jesus gives the most important work: to believe. Five times the Gospel uses the word "believe." Belief in this context is not so much intellectual, like 2+2=4. First and foremost belief means trust.
Many of you are reading The Case for Jesus. Some of you tell me that Dr. Pitre is helping you clear up some doubts, to make you more confident about the faith. Still, in the end each person has to face this question: Is Jesus Lord? Am I willing to say, "Jesus, I trust in you"?
To say "Jesus I trust in you" and mean it implies a response. At the beginning of Lent I gave you a little booklet: Finding Hope When Life Hurts. That book indicates the hard work we have to do in order live in the hope Jesus gives us.
Again the Catechism has this saying: "Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you." (#2834) We should understand that saying in light of what St. Paul says about being saved by faith - a free gift. By grace we have become God's handiwork created for the good works God has prepared for us.
At a recent Knights of Columbus meeting one member read a selection from the Gospel and each Knight had a chance to share. It was inspiring to hear those men talk about their love for the parish and for Jesus. They want to form families centered on Jesus.
Jesus desires to bless and strengthen our marriages. He wants to help young people in their spiritual warfare. For them as they prepare for Confirmation and for adults preparing for Easter Sacraments we have the Second Scrutiny - right after this homily. The Scrutiny is an exorcism prayer invoking Jesus power in our spiritual combat.
Jesus invites you to believe, to say to him, "I trust in you." Try to find a time today or this week when you can reflect on your life and no matter what difficulties you face, say "Jesus I trust in you." "God so loved the world," we hear, "that he sent his only Son that whoever believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." Amen.
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