Ordinary Time 3 - The New Israel

 

Homily for Ordinary Time 3

January 22, 2023

The New Israel

 

            What is this Zebulun and Napthali that we keep hearing about into today’s readings? When Israel entered the Promised Land, they divided it up for the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The tribes of Zebulun and Napthali got the parcels of land in the far north. The land was fine, but their neighbors were problematic. These pieces of land bordered Gentile nations, most of whom were hostile to the Jews. It was always Zebulun and Napthali that got attacked first, and they were the first ones to be dragged away into exile by the Assyrians.

            But in Jesus’ day, no one called that land Zebulun and Napthali because it wasn’t a totally Jewish area. Rather, the Jews lived side-by-side with the very Gentiles who had oppressed them for centuries. So why does Jesus go up there to begin His public ministry?

            Because He is forming a new Israel – a new People of God, a new Chosen People – which, this time, will include both Jews and Gentiles. And to form this new Chosen People, He needed to pick Twelve – not tribes, but Apostles – as He does by choosing Peter and Andrew, James and John. He is establishing a new People of God: the Catholic Church, which will welcome every nation.

            It is amazing to think that our Faith has come down through the Apostles. For example, we have records that demonstrate that John the Apostle was heard by the bishop St. Polycarp, whose preaching was heard by the bishop St. Irenaeus, whose preaching was heard by another bishop…all the way down to the present day. Not only the preaching, but also Holy Orders was handed on this way – Bishop Caggiano was ordained by Bishop DiMarzio, who was ordained by another bishop, by another bishop – all the way back to the Apostles. This lineage of ordination, and of handing on the Faith, going all the way back to the Apostles is called Apostolic Succession. We profess every week in our creed that we believe in an “Apostolic” church – meaning that we believe, teach, profess, and practice our Faith in the same way that the Apostles did.

            Around the year 150, St. Justin the Martyr wrote one of the earliest explanations of the Catholic Faith – it is called the “First Apology” (an “apology” just means an explanation). In it, he describes how early Christians worshipped – note its utter similarity to today’s Mass: “On Sunday, we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or the outlying districts. The recollections of the Apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time. When the reader has finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us; he urges everyone to imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings. Then we all stand up together and pray. On the conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought forth. The president offers prayers and gives thanks to the best of his ability, and the people give assent by saying Amen. The Eucharist is distributed, and everyone receives Communion, and the deacons take it to those who are sick. The wealthy, if they wish, may make a contribution, and they themselves decide the amount.”

            Does this sound familiar? Literally everything we do every Sunday was present in the early church – gathering on Sunday, the reading of the Old Testament and the Gospels, the homily, the prayers of the faithful, the offering of bread and wine, the Eucharistic prayer, the reception of Holy Communion, and even the collection! Our faith is essentially unchanged from the earliest days of the Church.

            Why is this important? For three reasons.

            First, in today’s world, many people say, “Oh, it doesn’t matter what religion you belong to, as long as you believe in Jesus.” But that isn’t the case – if we follow Jesus, we should also follow the institution that He Himself established for the handing-on of His teachings! Our choice of religion shouldn’t depend upon personal preference but on which faith is still connected to the teachings and the unbroken line of succession with the Apostles themselves. Yes, many other Christian churches may have more up-beat music, or better preaching, or a more welcoming community, or more dynamic activities…but only the Catholic Church has Apostolic Succession, guaranteeing that valid Sacraments and authentic teachings are handed down from generation to generation. As Catholics, we recognize and respect all that is true, good, and beautiful in other Christian faiths – while also believing that truth, goodness, and beauty are present in their fulness in our Catholic Faith.

            Second, apostolic succession is necessary because some people clamor for the Church to change its teachings, especially on controversial issues, to “get with the times.” But the Church’s role is to hand on the Faith of the Apostles. Being grounded on the Apostles means that the Church is the one stable bulwark against the constantly-shifting winds of our modern age. When it seems like everything in the world is up for grabs, we stand firm on the teaching and traditions of the Apostles.

            Finally, being grounded on the Apostles allows us to be proud of our Faith! Over the past twenty years it hasn’t always been easy to be a Catholic, as some of the leaders of our church have done sinful things. But we have plenty of reason to be proud of our Catholic Faith. We are the new Chosen People of God! The Jews had plenty in their history that was imperfect, but their joy at being a son or daughter of Abraham was based on the fact that God had chosen them. We may have had many, many sinners in the history of our Church, but we are still the Bride of Christ, the True Faith started by Jesus Christ upon the Apostles, who were our first Bishops. That’s worth being proud of!

            My friends, our God is a God of order, not of chaos. As much as people may look down on organized religion, God knew that He needed to establish an organized Church to get His mission accomplished – the mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection, His mercy and our new life, to the ends of the world. How blessed we are to be a part of that new Chosen People: the Catholic Church.

Ordinary Time 2 - Extraordinary Time

 

Homily for January 15, 2023

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Extraordinary Time

 

            So here we are, back in Ordinary Time. But Ordinary Time is not called that because it is boring or ordinary. Rather, the Sundays are “ordered” (aka, numbered). It’s not “boring time” but a time of growth – hence the green vestments, a symbol of growth.

            What kind of growth? Growth in holiness. The theme of Ordinary Time is a time to grow in holiness. Our Scriptures bear that out – St. Paul writes in today’s second reading, “I write to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy.” Sometimes we think that holiness is just for priests and nuns, but Mother Teresa said, “Holiness is not the luxury of a few, but the simple duty of you and I.” And the Second Vatican Council taught that there is a Universal Call to holiness – one of its documents states, “All of the faithful of Christ, whatever rank or status, are called to the fulness of the Christian Life and to perfection.” So we cannot excuse ourselves and think, “Oh, I’m just not that ‘into’ my faith.”, or think, “I come to church, that’s enough.” All of us – young and old, in every state of life - are called to the heights of holiness.

            Let’s look at what holiness consists in, and then how to obtain it.

            First of all, holiness does NOT mean that a person prays all day. That is not possible – and unless we are cloistered nuns, it’s not our calling. St. Francis de Sales, a French priest from the 1600s, wrote the first book of spirituality for lay people, wrote this: “When God created the world, he commanded each tree to bear different fruit according to its kind, so He bids Christians to bring forth fruits of holiness, each according to his vocation. A different form of holiness is required of the nobleman, the artist, the servant, the prince, the young person, and the wife.”

            Holiness also does NOT mean that we don’t have any fun in life. Some people think that if we’re holy, we have to be serious and dour, and never enjoy ourselves. On the contrary – St. Theresa of Avila once said, “A sad saint is a bad saint!” Holiness is what we were made for, so when we pursue it, we find abundant joy.

            In addition, holiness does NOT mean that we have to do something extraordinary. We don’t have to be missionaries or martyrs or move to a Catholic commune or live on bread and water. We can be holy right here and now, in our everyday lives, in whatever job or state of life we find ourselves.

            What is holiness, then? It is a life lived in union with Jesus Christ. It’s not something we achieve on our own, as if we just grit our teeth and try hard and become holy. No, He does the work in and through us. Our job is to remove obstacles to His work within us – removing sin, surrendering control of our lives, letting Him live and move within us. This is what makes holiness different from just being “good” – we can be good by our own efforts – but holiness comes from His grace alive in our souls.

            So how do we become holy? First, we need intimate union with Christ in daily prayer. We have started a new year, and many people make New Year’s Resolutions – it’s not too late to make a resolution to add daily prayer as an integral part of your life. It doesn’t matter so much how we pray, as long as we do pray – Scripture, Rosary, Christian music, devotions, just speaking to Christ from our heart. Our connection with Him makes us holy.

            Once we have established that connection with Christ, we work to remove the obstacles which prevent grace from transforming us in Christ. The first and foremost obstacle is our sins. We heard John the Baptist’s proclamation of Jesus’ identity: “Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world!” We will never be holy if we persist in sin, but if we acknowledge our sins in Confession and turn from them, He will give us the grace to overcome them.

            But in addition to our sins, we also eliminate any habit of ours that prevents us from living Christ’s life to the full. Perhaps we find ourselves lazy when we know we should be doing something to help around the house. Maybe we spend too much time with friends who lead us down a bad path. Maybe we read books that make us question our faith. Maybe our job or our sports prevent us from Sunday worship. Anything that prevents us from living virtuous lives is a stumbling block to holiness, and should be removed so that He may live in us.

            When it comes down to it, holiness is an orientation. It’s a life seeking Jesus Christ, living for Jesus Christ, being in union with Jesus Christ. As much as we may stumble and struggle on the way, if our orientation is Jesus Christ and we continue to persevere in seeking Him and growing into His likeness day by day, then He will make holiness radiate within us.

            I want to share a story of two saints who became holy through very ordinary means: St. Louis and Zelie Martin, a nineteenth-century French couple who were canonized together. Louis had wanted to be a priest, but couldn’t learn Latin, so he became a watchmaker. Zelie had a desire to give her life to God as a nun, but her health prevented it, so she started making exquisite lace. The two of them met, fell in love, and got married – dedicating their family to the service and glory of God. They had five daughters, and their home became a place of joy and prayer.

            Louis and Zelie took their daughters on several pilgrimages to holy sites throughout Europe, planting the Catholic Faith deep within them. He took one of the rooms in his home and turned it into a little chapel, so that the family could pray together daily. The parents divided the family’s days into worship, work, and recreation – a beautiful rhythm that set the tone for a happy, holy upbringing. The parents’ goal was to make holiness so beautiful and attractive that their daughters never wanted to sin. Their children did, indeed, fall in love with God – all five of them became nuns, and the youngest became a saint: St. Therese of Lisieux. When Louis became afflicted with dementia, he kept uttering, “Everything for the greater glory of God!” Louis and Zelie became the first married couple to be canonized together in the history of the Church.

            Their normal, unremarkable life shows us that holiness can be achieved everywhere, by everyone: schoolchildren, parents, retirees, laborers, everyone.

            Pursue holiness, and turn Ordinary Time into an extraordinary time of grace.

Epiphany Homily - January 8, 2023

 

Homily for Epiphany

January 8, 2023

History is His Story

 

            Have you ever considered: who were these Magi and how did these fellows from far-off lands hundreds of miles away know anything about a newborn King in Israel? The answer to that story takes us back almost six hundred years before Jesus’ birth, to one of the most tragic events in Israel’s history.

            God had destined Israel to live in the Promised Land in peace and security, becoming a people of holiness, a true “light to the nations”. But sadly, time after time Israel strayed and acted like the surrounding nations – worshipping their gods, falling into their sins, denying their unique status as the Chosen People. So God, as a good Father, needed to correct His children. He said, “You want to act as the other nations, with their false gods and their sinful ways? Then go, live among them for seventy years.” In 587, the Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar took over the land of Israel and enslaved and exiled all of the people, taking them with him back to Babylon.

            Israel was shocked to its senses by this exile. They suddenly realized that no, they didn’t want to act like the other nations! They repented, and God rescued them – the Persian Empire rose up and overtook the Babylonians, and the Persian King Darius allowed the Jews to return home.

            But many of the Jews liked Persia, and they were treated well by the Persians, so they stayed in the new land and became friends with them. They began to share a little bit about their religion, including that there would be a Messiah born in Bethlehem when a new star arose. The Persian wise men listened intently, and began to watch the sky for this star.

            Fast-forward hundreds of years. The wise men saw the star, came to encounter Jesus, and then took this news back home…which prepared the way for when the Apostles, especially Sts. Simon and Jude, traveled to Persia to preach the Gospel. The people already had the foundation because they had heard about the Messiah.

            So this huge tragedy for the Israelites – their land was conquered, they were taken into exile, they suffered slavery – ended up preparing the way for the Gospel. It’s almost as if God had planned it…because He did!

            As Christians, we do not see human history as if it were a random series of unconnected events. History is about so much more than just “this king fought this battle” time after time. No, human history is really His Story – it is arranged by God’s providence for the accomplishment of His purpose, which is the salvation of souls and the restoration of all creation in Jesus Christ.

            Consider another example of God’s providence in history – why did Jesus come exactly when He did? He entered the world during a time when the Roman Empire was at its peak – why? Because that was the best time in history for the spreading of the Gospel. Consider: Rome had established the pax Romana – the Roman peace – which made it easy for St. Paul and Peter and the other Apostles to travel all throughout the Empire in safety. Also, because Rome stretched its authority to the end of the known world, everyone would have spoken Latin, which would have made it easy to preach the Gospel to all lands using a common language. It was not by chance, but by Providence that God entered human history precisely when He did.

            All of us acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the very crux of history any time we write out the date. It is 2023 because it is 2,023 years since the most important event in human history ever occurred: the birth of the Son of God. Even those people who don’t want to use BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, the Year of Our Lord) still have to acknowledge that something happened in 0 AD which formed the turning-point in history.

            So history isn’t just a random series of events, but it is the unfolding of God’s story of bringing about the restoration of all things in Him. But do we have a role in His story?

            When the first Lord of the Rings movie came out, I went to see it with my sister and as we drove home, I recall that she looked off into the sunset and heaved a heavy sigh and said, “Why can’t life be like that? An epic battle, a grand adventure, a quest to save the world?” That desire goes deep into our hearts – to know that our life IS more than bills and doctor’s appointments and the everyday humdrum routine.

            I am here to tell you that you and I have a unique and unrepeatable role to play in the unfolding of God’s great story! If the goal is the restoration of all things in Christ, then we play our part through the daily drama of restoring our lives and our sphere of influence, putting them under the merciful Kingship of Christ. It is a battle – a battle against our interior sin and selfishness. It is an adventure – as Pope St. John Paul II said, “Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure. He alone can give full meaning to life, He alone is the center of history.” It is indeed a quest – a quest for sanctity, and to bring as many others to Christ as we can.

            Certainly it is difficult – but aren’t all quests? To quote Lord of the Rings again, there is a poignant scene when Frodo is discouraged by the magnitude of the task, and he says to Gandalf, “I wish I had never found the ring.” To which Gandalf responds, “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for [us] to decide. All we can decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” It is indeed exceptionally difficult to be a saint in our modern world – but with God’s exceptional grace, it is not impossible. You and I are not here by accident, at this most critical and difficult moment of history. Our lives have been foreseen in this very moment by an all-loving, all-providential God, who has put us here to help us bring about His Kingdom in our lives and in our sphere of influence in twenty-first century America.

            To sum up: history is not a meaningless series of events, but part of God’s providential design to bring about the salvation of souls and the restoration of all creation in Christ. You and I have a critical role to play in this big story, when we cooperate with God’s grace to become saints and lead others to Heaven. Let us take up our task gladly, trusting that God will work all things for His glory, since after all, history is really His Story.