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Reflection for Back to Church Sunday

A place for you

Welcome to
Church

Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.

Welcome! We are happy that you joined us on Back to Church Sunday! Whether you attend church on a regular basis or accepted an invitation from a family member or friend today, we hope that you will feel comfortable and enjoy spending this day with us.

Many of us have perceptions about church that make us wonder, “Is this the place for me? Will I fit in? Why does church make a difference? Who is Jesus?” You may want to learn more about who God is and what He has to say about your life. Others of you may have been involved in a church at one time, but for a variety of reasons stopped attending; now you feel it’s time to reconnect with God and others like you. And still others of you may already be involved in church and want to grow deeper in your relationship with God and as part of this community.

Wherever you are in your spiritual journey and whatever your connection to your local church, we would like you to know we care about you and the things that concern you. Our hope is to come alongside you and share what God says in Scripture—most importantly that He loves and cares for you deeply.

St. Paul gives us a telling example of the greatness and generosity of God’s love. Paul was a sinner struggling to do right – as he perceived it. On the road to Damascus he encountered the overwhelming light of Jesus’ love. He was commissioned to do right as God sees right.

In recalling all that, he hopes that we will see how much we are offered. Church helps to bring us into relationship with Jesus. We experience His patience, kindness, and forgiveness. We find God’s way of living life – a life without end. We find community in which we encourage each other and do good for the wider community – not just because, but because we have a hope that goes beyond the here and now. We live a compelling over-arching story. It is God’s story and we fit into it; it supports our lives.

We pray that you will be encouraged after you hear today’s message and walk away inspired to become part of Church, part of an amazing relationship with God, His Son Jesus, and a beautiful community that lives His life.

Christian Witness, Homilies, PNCC, , ,

Reflection for the Solemnity of Brotherly Love

CommunionInRemembranceofMe-Image1

Where does it all
start?

We love, because he first loved us. If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.

Today we celebrate two very wonderful and amazing occasions.

The first is Christina and Nick’s reception of communion. The second is our Church’s Solemnity of Brotherly Love.

These two events could not be more perfectly aligned.

Our love for each other in Jesus’ community – the Holy Church – begins in the perfect unity we find in the Holy Eucharist. Christina and Nick are now part of that communion. Together with us, Christina and Nick are intimately joined with Jesus. We are all made one in His body. Along with us, Christina and Nick will play roles that strengthen the community of faith through mutual love. As St. Peter tells us: As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

God’s grace is received in a most unique and special way in our communion. His body is more than mere food. In receiving Jesus’ body and blood we are pulled into union with Him at each and every moment of His life. We are there at the last supper, receiving His body and blood. We stand at the foot of His cross. We are at the empty tomb. We see Him ascend into heaven – and we are at His second coming. We have total and complete unity with Jesus AND with each other.

Our roles are not to be thought of as something for our own glorification or advancement, but rather for the glorification and advancement of all the people Jesus has called to be His own.

If we are one in His body and blood, if we share in His grace, if we have Jesus with us, then we must exhibit the fruit of this unity. That fruit is brotherly love.

We cannot participate in communion thinking that it is just Jesus and me. We cannot receive thinking that we are just remembering in the sense of recollection.

When we receive Jesus we must do so with the realization that we our bound to God and each other. We have unity with every Christian who receives Jesus anywhere or at any time. We are not alone. We are not just remembering, but are living in the reality of Christ throughout all of eternity.

God loved us first. Living in union with Him, in communion, means we must love each other. His love is the start and our love for each other is full participation in His life.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Humility

O Lord, it’s so hard
to be humble.

My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not.

The Book or Sirach has been used throughout the history of the Church to present moral teaching to catechumens (those preparing for baptism) and to the faithful.

The Book’s author was a sage, and was filled with love for wisdom, the law, and divine worship. As a wise and experienced observer he spoke to his contemporaries, and speaks to us, about maintaining faith and integrity.

Sirach organized his book by subject matter including: the individual, family, and community in their relations with one another and with God. It discusses friendship, education, poverty and wealth, laws, religious worship, and many other matters that are important to us even today.

Jesus was calling the people he was dining with to recall the wisdom Sirach offered centuries earlier. They had forgotten. He reminds them of the humility they were to exercise.

God calls us to live humbly, to be poor in spirit and meek as so well recorded in the Sermon on the Mount. All of Jesus’ teachings were focused on calling us to recognize where true treasure and greatness lay.

Jesus calls us into a relationship with God who is perfect while we are to acknowledge our imperfection and sin. We must be humble enough to see our shortcomings and rely on God for the forgiveness and redemption we need.

Jesus calls us to live with each other and our wider community as servants, and not just servants, but servants open enough to welcome all as our brothers and sisters.

Jesus calls us to live simply and without reliance on the things or the honors the world offers. We must remember what God offers us is far greater. He is our treasure and greatness. St. Paul reminds us that living in relationship with God, being members of His community, the Holy Church, gives us entry into real greatness – the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the company of angels, the assembly of our brothers and sisters in glory, and God Himself. We come to Him through Jesus, our mediator who covers us in the blood – the blood He shed in humility to the Father’s will.

It is hard to be humble, meek, poor in spirit, and simple. Let us set forth with the humility to recognize that and to know by God’s grace we will work diligently to gain humility.

Christian Witness, Homilies, PNCC, ,

Reflection for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time and Youth Sunday

2903

Lord, what about
me?

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

People were asking Jesus a lot of questions as He made His way to Jerusalem. They questioned their future. They wanted assurance about their future as a nation and as individuals. It is a question we have all asked – ‘what about me?’

We all want to be sure. The youth in our midst, in our families and in our community are asking that very question.
Jesus wasn’t giving easy assurances. He is God and God cannot help but be honest. He told them: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”

Jesus was telling them and is telling us that our future is dependent on our aligning ourselves with God’s will and God’s way. He is saying that it takes work, commitment, dedication, faithfulness, and often treading the rocky narrow path.

Our young people will be returning to school in the weeks ahead, and some are already off to college. As they return they will be facing those tough roads. They either have, or will come to realize that school takes work, commitment, dedication, and faithfulness.

The question before us this Youth Sunday is whether we are equipping our youth with the commitment, dedication, and faithfulness needed to reach eternal life. Are we bringing them to Jesus, training them in God’s will and God’s way, and making them strong enough to enter through the narrow gate?

Young people have a deep-seated desire to know God. They wonder what He is all about. They hear His call faintly, and they thirst for Him. They want the water that will quench their thirst, water the world cannot offer. They instinctively know that there is a way that leads to inner peace and a contentment that lasts forever. They wish to align themselves with the One who offers that way – but who is it? Where is it? Where can they find the assurance that will secure their future?

We cannot spend Youth Sunday simply praising our youth. We have to resolve to do our very best to help them enter through the narrow gate, and be strong enough. They are asking the question – maybe unspoken, maybe without even consciously knowing it – but yearning. Their hearts and souls seek Jesus. They ask – ‘what about me?’ We must take action and show them the way, not just by pointing, but by taking them by the hand as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. Showing them – This is the way to go.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

set me afire

That’s one tough
prophet!

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”

Jeremiah was one tough prophet. He made everyone angry – but not for the purpose of inducing anger.

Jeremiah was a priest born in Israel around 650 BC. The Lord spoke to him and told him that he would be His prophet. Jeremiah was afraid, but the Lord promised to make him strong. God gave Jeremiah the words he was to use.

Jeremiah did as God asked. Afraid as he was, and knowing God’s message wouldn’t be well received, he went and told the people what the Lord was asking of them. He did this for 40 years among great difficulty. Jeremiah was attacked by his brothers, beaten and put into the stocks by a priest and false prophet, imprisoned by the king, threatened with death, as we saw today – thrown into a cistern by Judah’s officials, and was opposed by a false prophet. The people mocked him.

God’s words to the people called them back to faithfulness – they needed to worship God, and only God. God asked them to express sorrow for their unfaithfulness. If they would do this God would bless them once again.

We wish there might have been a happy ending, but there wasn’t. The people continued to worship false gods. They world not listen to Jeremiah or God’s other prophets, choosing instead to listen to false prophets because they gave the people what they wanted. Because of this continuing unfaithfulness, Jerusalem fell.

Jeremiah’s experiences made him lament. The key to understanding how Jeremiah felt is in understanding how much he loved God. He suffered primarily because of this love. He not only said what God wanted said, but felt God’s anguish at the people’s unfaithfulness. Jeremiah knew that even if he wanted to, he couldn’t stop speaking out. He said: “If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”

Jesus asks us to have that kind of closeness to Him, that deep and passionate love. God indeed is a burning fire – and Jesus wants us to be filled with His fire. This isn’t just perseverance in faith, it isn’t even a life dedicated to God – it is more. It is a life that is so in tune with God that we cannot hold it in. It is a life that has to bring God’s fire into other’s lives. It is a fire that burns away the words of today’s false prophets. Faithfulness to God can be tough. We have to be that kind of tough.

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

hope_bird

Is it ok,
to be different?

All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

St. Paul speaks of Abraham and the Prophets. They lived lives of faith – holding onto the promise of what was to come, the fulfillment of God’s promises in the coming of the Christ, the Messiah. Paul refers to these men and women as aliens and strangers on earth.

Alien, stranger, and foreigner all carry the same connotation: being outside of or distinct from a group; one who does not belong to the group; a person with an emphasized difference in allegiance or citizenship.

All those who held unto faith in the coming of the Christ were that: aliens, strangers, and foreigners. They did not long for the place they had come from – looking back with regret and loss – but rather they looked forward to what was to come. They desired a better homeland, a heavenly one.

Of course God blessed them for their faith. It may not even have been a blessing they saw – for some certainly suffered. Rather He blessed them with the promise of what was to come and how their names would be held in earthly and heavenly esteem for their part in bringing it all about. God promised to prepare a place for them in the kingdom where they would sit around Him in everlasting glory and joy. We saw this last week in celebrating the Transfiguration – Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus resplendent in glory.
How does this apply to us? It applies in that it is more than ok to be different. We can and should live as aliens, strangers, and foreigners even among those who are closest to us. We are to set ourselves apart in the carrying out of God’s will, in living the life Jesus asks us to live.

We have God’s promise like the prophets and patriarchs did, plus something even greater – knowledge of the promise fulfilled in Jesus’ coming. We have the Christ with us. He lives in our bodies – from hearts that love and welcome to hands that serve, minds that ponder, voices that sing, pray, and praise. Fitting in with the world is for those who place their faith and citizenship here. Be different – only in being different do we show our faith and allegiance to God and gain His promise.

Christian Witness, Homilies, , , , , ,

Reflection for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

5529

I can’t help myself.
Isn’t it ok?

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

The theme of our readings and gospel all center on doing things for the right reason, having the right priorities. They obviously focus on avoiding greed as the antithesis of proper living, “…the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?”

As Christians we are to guard against placing our priorities wrongly. As we reflect on Carson’s baptism, we should recall our baptism. We descended into the waters of baptism, dying to the world and buried. Emerging we came into new life in the resurrected Christ. As people living in the resurrected Christ we have new priorities.

St. Paul says this plainly: For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. He reminds us that our focus must be changed – and we need to be reminded because we forget: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

The problem we face in setting priorities as Christians is how far and how fast we need to go in re-ordering our reasons, focus and priorities.

Can we find a word that simply expresses the overwhelming love and dedication we are supposed to have for Jesus Christ? It has to be a word that describes a love and dedication that is more than something that just bubbles under the surface, but rather radiates out of us, making our lives evidently different to all those we meet. Perhaps the right word is “crazy?” Crazy can mean mentally deranged; demented; insane; senseless; impractical; totally unsound. It can also mean intensely enthusiastic; passionately excited.

So how do we get to the kind of crazy that shows an enthusiastic and passionate life with Christ? It starts with commitment and practice. Baptism is the first step in commitment and dedication. From there, with the help of our parents, we practice – in Church, by reading scripture, and in regular prayer – learning Jesus’ way, focusing on educating ourselves about Jesus’ direction for our life, and working in community to do His will. With that education and practice we learn to live the right way and with the right priorities.

When we get to the kind of crazy that radiates passions in line with Jesus’ priorities we become restorers of hope in the midst of our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and in the wider world. We find that we cannot help ourselves in a way that is absolutely ok – more that ok – it is wonderful. It is crazy right.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

16756

Let me say this…
But what if?

Then [Abraham] said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” [The Lord] answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

Today’s first reading from Genesis is the story of Abraham’s negotiations with God. Abraham didn’t know what was coming in his discussions (prayer) with God. He was, however, open to listening to God. Abraham’s ears were open to what God had to say. This is an essential aspect of prayer. Prayer is more than just words. We have to put ourselves in God’s presence and be open to His promptings and invitations. Being he was open, God invited Abraham to the negotiating table.

The Lord was looking on the extreme wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah and was getting ready to judge them. But before he did, he said; “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” God was giving Abraham the chance to be a great diplomat, negotiator, and arbiter.

We all know someone who can get the best deals. They can dicker at yard sales; resolve disputes; get a new car at a great price; negotiate contracts and come out on top. They have the gift of words – and for some reason people just seem to say yes to whatever they ask. Weather or not we are good with those things; God gives all of us an opportunity to be great negotiators in our prayers.

Abraham started by listening to what God was saying. He considered God’s voice, and thought out its implications. Abraham had self-interest in saving the city – his nephew Lot lived there. Abraham wanted Lot and his family to be protected and he could have asked for their safety – but he never mentioned it to the Lord. Instead, his relationship with God gave him a heart of compassion, a heart that cried out for ANY person who was righteous and who would perish along with the wicked.

Abraham’s relationship with God also helped him to understand God’s character. He appealed to God’s character – His justice: He said: “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?”

Prayer is most effective when we listen and understand the God we serve – knowing His nature and character. It is effective when it comes from a heart of love built up through prayer, worship, and service. It is effective when we keep pressing. Like Abraham we have to stay on it. The degree to which we press God for something reveals our heart. How much do we want God’s will done upon the earth? Finally, like Abraham we must be willing to be used of God. Pray by listening to God, being loving, knowing Him, pressing Him, and doing what is needed. This is great negotiation – prayer!

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

hear

I rejoice in my
…suffering

Brothers and sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God

Is Paul saying that Jesus’ sufferings were not enough to save us? We might misunderstand him that way, but what Paul really means is that Jesus’ suffering does not deliver us from having to suffer.

Paul was the perfect example of the fact that Christ’s people have to endure suffering so His word might be prclaimed. Paul labored, was beaten many times, continually faced death, and was imprisoned. He had been lashed, shipwrecked, had been put in danger from Jews and Gentiles alike, was threatened in the city and the country; went hungry, thirsty, cold, and exposed. Besides all this, he had the daily pressure of the Churches; he was weakened by every weak member, and was intensely concerned with every Christian who fell led into sin.

We might think that Jesus endured pain and anguish so that our lives would be easy and painless, but Paul says the opposite. Jesus didn’t die and rise to rescue us from the messy inconvenience of dying and rising. Jesus died and rose so that we could share in His death and resurrection. So too with His afflictions: The Head suffered so that the Body and each member can participate in His sufferings.

Paul didn’t think that his sufferings had any innate value. Rather he rejoiced in the fact that his suffering, all the afflictions he endured were for the sake of the Church. They resulted in spreading Jesus’ gospel far and wide. He was bringing the world what Mary longed for – the ability to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.

Some people deal with trouble and pain in twisted ways. Some boast of their pain. The reason is not hard to find. When you’ve lost your health, and your marriage, and your kids, and your dignity, and your job, and your friends – when you have nothing else, at least you have your pain. You can still cling doggedly to your loss. Pain sometimes seems to be the only thing we can call our own. Paul won’t let us have that.

Whatever we suffer, Jesus has claimed that too. It all belongs to Him. Jesus doesn’t just want the best parts of us, the strong and healthy members. Jesus claims every last bit of us, even – especially – our weaknesses. Let us give our all to Him and proclaim Him even in our afflictions. Let others sit at our feat to hear His word in our good and bad times.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

8444-2

Thank You for
…Your constant support

Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

Last week we discussed whether Jesus’ directions were too hard to follow. They might seem difficult, but nevertheless we are to go out; reach out. We are to trust that God will provide for us while we exercise our mission of loving others, living the life Jesus showed us, and leading everyone we can to Jesus.

This week we reflect on the theme of God’s refuge. Webster defines refuge as: shelter or protection from danger or distress; or something to which one has recourse in difficulty.

With all the storms and flooding that has surrounded us we can easily relate to the idea of refuge, that safe place one can go in the midst of a storm.

Unfortunately, we tend to think of refuge, including God’s refuge only in times of distress or persecution.

The Book of Wisdom shows us that God fills us with His wisdom, and fills us with His spirit. We are created to be one with Him. If we understand and feel the way God dwells in us we know that we can rely on Him for more than just refuge in a storm, but everyday, at every moment.

God reveals himself through Holy Scripture and the Tradition and teaching of the Holy Church. These are the tools of His refuge. He infuses us with His grace everyday as long as we work in accord with His will. This is the dynamism of His refuge that constantly surrounds and protects us.

God is the “Covenant maker” and continues to provide us with the refuge of His providence.

His refuge is more than a place, more than a moment of respite in times of trouble. It is an on going giving that shapes the way we live, think, read, do theology, provide respite for others, and serve the Church.

Paul writes to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. Onesimus was Philemon’s runaway slave and Paul was sending him back. It could have been scary for Onesimus even though he was carrying Paul’s letter. But Onesimus wasn’t scared. He was confident because he had the constant refuge of God’s presence in his life. As Paul points out: Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord.

We are all in the Lord and we have the confidence of His refuge. He is our constant support everyday as we journey to heaven.

** Note: Readings for this Sunday are taken from the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. **

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