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Homilies

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

What kind of choices do we make when we think we are the definers of faith —“ that is, when we become the source of all revelation and truth?

When we think and act in a way that indicates that we know better than the Church, that tells the world that we are God’s personal interpreters, or that shows a basic lack of humility, we are simply saying that we are the Messiah.

Instead, shouldn’t we focus on minimizing ourselves, and our self revelation, and make choices that are the best from Jesus’ perspective. We need to fall into step with the truth of our Catholic faith as handed down to us through the ages. The truth which repeats the words of Paul: Do not live for yourselves but for him who for your sake died and was raised.

Jesus knew what was in His disciples’ hearts and minds. He knows what is in our hearts and minds as well.

Then he asked them, —Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?—

When we live for ourselves rather than in unity with Jesus Christ’s teaching, with His Church, we show a lack of faith. When we think we are right and when we neglect to set ourselves aside through prayer and humble compliance, we show our lack of faith.

Would the boat have been destroyed? Would the apostles have perished?

Jesus slept through the whole thing. If they acknowledged the fact that He is the Messiah they would have let Him sleep. They would have had confidence in the truth.

Do you think Jesus is sleeping now, resting on a cushion in the back of the church? Do you think He doesn’t know what’s going on with you and with all His people? Do you lack confidence? Do you lack the faith that is necessary?

Job had a lot of questions for God. Today’s first reading from the Book of Job contains part of God’s response.

The Lord addressed Job out of the storm.

He certainly did, and he said a lot more to Job. Chapter 38 begins as follows:

Then the LORD said:
Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance?
Gird up your loins now, like a man; I will question you, and you tell me the answers!
Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it?
Into what were its pedestals sunk, and who laid the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
And who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb;

Who indeed! Who can fathom the mind of God or know His purposes? Who can define what God has created and the purpose behind every event that occurs? Certainly not us!

We must proceed on faith. We must resolve to have the faith that the apostles in the boat lacked. We have to proceed with the faith of Paul and not live for ourselves. We must live in faith, making the choices that the Church teaches are the best. You shouldn’t wait for the sea to be rushing over the boat before you run to Jesus.

In Chapter 40 of the Book of Job the Lord speaks very clearly

The LORD then said to Job:
Will we have arguing with the Almighty by the critic? Let him who would correct God give answer!

Then Job answered the LORD and said:
Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth.

Behold, we are of little account.

We must reconnect with the humility that fits our state as God’s creatures. We must end the doing, the talking, the debating, and the criticism. We must set aside faith in ourselves and our own motivations and step forward to provide what we ourselves and the world so desperately need. We must provide Jesus.

We must seek Him and relate to Him in pure and simple faith, faith that will stand up to any challenge or fear, even to the power of the sea, even to the ways of the world.

Live for Him, for Jesus who died and was raised up for your sake. He holds you in the palm of His hand. He has made you a member of His body. He has saved you. Yes, you and I, we of little faith, who would run to the back of the boat crying out ‘Jesus save us.’

[dels]blogs4god/sermons[/dels]

Media,

Where charity and love prevail

The Buffalo News reports: Humble grocer quietly gave away millions: Waldemar Kaminski’s death unlocks his story by Owen Hearey.

Waldemar Kaminski, who quietly ran a food stand in Broadway Market for more than 50 years, has been revealed to be a self-made millionaire and philanthropist who anonymously gave millions to Buffalo charities and neighbors in need.

He died at home Wednesday night from complications of a long illness. He was 88.

…

Kaminski gave so much to so many that it’s difficult to quantify just how much he’s given.

He donated millions to Roswell Park – including $1 million for an endowed chair in pediatrics and $1 million to build a two-acre park on the institute’s campus.

He gave handsomely to other groups as well, including the Father Baker Home, the Salvation Army, Hilbert College and Camp Good Days and Special Times. He even helped neighboring families with mortgage payments, college tuition and lines of credit at his stand.

…

Those who knew Kaminski said he felt most fulfilled when he was giving back to society. “He didn’t need the material things for happiness. He enjoyed just being with people and doing what he could for them,” Marsha Kaminski said.

And a quote from Mr. Kaminski: “Sometimes I feel so guilty that there’s so much, and it’s just me.”

Eternal rest grant unto him o Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him.

Current Events, Media

TEC General Convention – ooops they did it again

VirtueOnline reports: Episcopalians pass compromise resolution calling for restraint by Hans Zeiger, VirtueOnline Correspondent

COLUMBUS, OHIO (6/21/06)-The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today passed a resolution calling for the church to restrain from consent to bishops “whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.” Following as it does a rejection of the same thing on Tuesday, the passage of the resolution was, in the words of one deputy, approached “the height of hypocrisy.”

Resolution A161, effecting a moratorium on the ordination of homosexual bishops and the blessing of homosexual unions, failed in the House of Deputies on Tuesday, threatening alienation of the Episcopal Church from the worldwide Anglican Communion. In a last ditch effort to save Episcopalian-Anglican relations, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold convened a Special Legislative session on Wednesday morning, calling on Bishops and Deputies to consider an emergency resolution, number B033, that would express what the convention “actually” believed.

“This is the final day of General Convention,” Griswold said. “What I believe we actually yearn for has not been adequately reflected through the workings of our legislative processes…We must now act with generosity and imagination so that our actions are a clearer reflection of the willingness of the majority of us to relinquish something in order to serve a larger purpose.”

After Griswold’s speech, Bishops held a heated session in which Griswold became insistent from the chair’s seat on the need to quickly pass Resolution B033. When Bishops attempted to amend the resolution to loosen language in favor of homosexuals, Griswold reacted sharply: “We are trying to deal with something that does not fit easily into a legislative process. I hope we can find a way in which to maneuver through this that doesn’t make us victims of the legislative process…If we aren’t clear by lunchtime then we might as well forget the whole thing…If we don’t have something substantial, we might have a very difficult time getting the Archbishop to invite the Episcopal Church to the Lambeth Conference.”

It looks like the outgoing Presiding Bishop cares most about invitations.

Additional pressure on the House of Bishops came from Presiding Bishop-elect Katherine Jefferts Schori, who compared the divisions of the Anglican Communion to conjoined twins that cannot be separated until both are able to survive independently. While reaffirming her support for homosexuals, Jefferts Schori indicated that compromise was critical. “My sense is that the original resolution is the best we’re going to do today.”

…

It appears that the incoming Presiding Bishop cares most about coalescing power and resources until TEC is able to move to separate from the Anglican Communion.

Her first focus will probably be on the property. TEC has ultimate control over all Episcopal properties. The lawsuits will fly. They need to remain within Anglicanism until they can sort it all out legally. Once the chance of properties and assets going to other jurisdictions in the Anglican Communion is eliminated it will be TEC that will do the booting. And worldwide Anglicanism will stand around mulling over the fact that they were having such a pleasant discussion over tea.

Other interesting points:

  • The incoming Presiding Bishop refers to Jesus as he/she in her sermon at this morning’s ‘Eucharist’
  • There was a motion to allow anyone to receive the ‘Eucharist’; you need not even be baptized. In the TEC it is just a chunk of bread anyway so it doesn’t much matter. Still, could they be any less disciplined?
  • There is no need of Jesus to procure salvation. Jesus Christ is not the way, truth, or life. The reason given is that Jesus is an impediment and stumbling block to the Jews. Where have I heard that before —“ I think it was some guy preaching the necessity of Jesus.
  • They affirmed the appointment of a thrice divorced Bishop who is currently married to a divorced woman. The conservatives were up in arms, all upset about the message it sends. I just thought that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Wasn’t the whole point of Anglicanism the ability/right of a monarch to divorce his wife and take another? Now their panties are in a bunch over divorce (Prince Charles’ included)?
  • The whole response to Windsor is a non-binding resolution that at least one bishop has already rejected (right after he voted)

I think that the only thing missing from the whole spectacle was the martyrdom of a true Christian. It will come later, death by a thousand cuts.

PNCC

For those seeking

For those in the Episcopal Church now seriously seeking and wishing to inquire of the PNCC may I recommend:

For clergy, please contact the Savonarola Theological Seminary of the PNCC, 1031 Cedar Ave., Scranton, PA 18505, (570) 343-0100 or (570) 344-9253. If you would like a direct E-mail contact please write to me privately at deaconjim (at) bvmc (dot) org.

For the faithful, just visit any PNCC parish, they will be happy to welcome you.

You may wish to visit the PNCC website and view the Constitution (note PDF format), history of the Church, and the list of parishes to find the one nearest to you.

I wish you God’s blessings in your journey. Whatever your choice, may it be one made in unity with Scripture and Tradition.

Homilies

Commemoration —“ Aloysius Gonzaga, Confessor

Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.

The verse from today’s psalm speaks volumes to us. Our comfort is in the Lord, and that comfort is only fulfilled if we hope in Him.

Jesus focused His discourse from today’s Gospel on the hypocrites, the flashy and the out-there. They did not hope in the Lord, nor did they have any need for Him. What they needed and desired was the acclaim of the world.

If you hope in the world, if you wish to go the way of the world, you will need to seek your comfort there. Guess what, you will not find it. Oh, you may find momentary pleasures, a great meal, an engrossing film, a beautiful vacation, a night of passion. But when it is all over you are left with a need to find the next best thing.

Jesus offers us the eternal best thing —“ heaven. He offers us an eternity in the magnificent presence of the Holy Trinity. All we need to do is find our comfort in Him, in the Lord, in Jesus. There’s no need to look for it, He is always before you.

There are those out there, other so-called Churches, that are seeking to redefine scripture, the Trinity, morality, the sacraments, and the truth of Jesus Christ as the means to salvation.

What they seek has been before them all the while, but they have put their hope in the world, in the current trend, in the moment. They have confused themselves so much that they have become like blind men.

Why did Jesus heal the blind? Was it because he was a nice guy who liked to dabble in healing? No, he healed those who came to Him in faith. He told them, —Your faith has healed you.—

Have faith in the Lord, resolve to follow His ways, repent, bear your cross, and let your hearts take comfort because you have placed your hope in the Lord.

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