Author: Fr. Leo

[The text is only the bare bones of the whole homily. You can see the full video by clicking here. ]

     Wow! Did Advent sneak up on you like it snuck up on me? Seems just a few days ago we were wondering if it would get cold enough to have snow! Tell me God does not have a sense of humor!

       Nevertheless, here we are. I like being Catholic because literally, I don’t have to buy into the “holiday season.” Instead, we get Advent, a penitential time of renewal, reconciliation and preparation. Oh, it’s it fun to do “The Holiday Season” with its concerts, parties, flash mobs and whatnot. But for the Christian, our focus is elsewhere. With our feet firmly planted on the earth, we raise our eyes to the heavens. We await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. For the first three weeks of Advent, we are invited to contemplate the coming of the Lord Jesus in power and might at the end of the Age. In the last week, we shift gears and concentrate on his first coming in poverty and humility.

       The readings for this First Sunday of Advent remind us very strongly that it is a time for vigilance, holiness and hope.

       There is a great difference between waiting with great boredom and irritation and being vigilant. Vigilance is something active. Much like waiting for a family member or a loved one come out of the shoot at the airport, so too we should be prayerfully attentive for the coming of the Lord. Interestingly enough, if we are watchful for him to be manifest in a big way, we can recognize him when he manifests himself in little ways—in the poor, the hungry, those who mourn, or need shelter. The Advent wreath in our homes reminds us that Christ the Light of the World comes to us in increasingly more intense experiences. 

       As Paul reminds us in his letter to the Thessalonians, Advent is also a time to be renewed in holiness. It is a time to hunker down and get back to “no excuses Catholicism.” We need to make time and physical space in our lives and our homes for prayer. I especially invite all to come to our Advent Mission:  In Praise of Mary, with Msgr. Dennis Mikulanis, December 14-16. We are called to holiness and the Blessed Virgin Mary shows us how to follow her Son. The Advent wreath again reminds us that the more often we approach in prayer, the brighter he shines in our lives.

       Finally, Advent is a time of hope. If there is anything the world needs now more than ever it is hope. But not just hope in little ways, but Hope in the ultimate way. Hope that because Christ has forgiven our sins on the Cross and risen to new life, we too will transcend the vagaries of this world. The Advent wreath reminds us that despite the darkness of this world of sin, we shall shine like the stars as we dwell with Him in unapproachable light. 

       Advent is a time for vigilance, holiness and hope. I pray that it may be time of renewal, reconciliation, preparation so that we may celebrate the true Christmas season with lasting joy.     

Greetings, Church fans! I’ve been asked to add the joke to the text, for those who don’t go to the video. Fair enough. As always, the video of the homily can be seen by clicking here. If you want the whole Mass, click here! Enjoy.

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Christ the King, B, – What is a King?

       The end of the Church calendar always ends with the Solemnity of Christ the King. For us Americans, it’s a bit more difficult to grasp the magnitude of such a celebration. We got rid of our king 245 years ago. For most of us, the only monarchy we have ever paid attention to is the British royal family, and only then with curiosity or morbid fascination.

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    It’s not unlike like when King and Queen Spud met with their three daughters after they all returned from the university.  The first daughter approached King and Queen Spud with great excitement.

       “Father and Mother, I have wonderful news!  I am engaged to be married!” 

       “That is wonderful news,” King Spud replied. “And who is the fortunate young man?”

       “His name is Joe Idaho,” she exlclaimed.

       “Ah yes,” the King replied, “the Idahoes are a fine and noble potato family. You have my blessing.”

       The second daughter approached as excited as the first, “Father, I also have great news, for I too am engaged to be married!”

       King Spud replied, “We are twice blessed this day!  And tell me, who is the fortunate young man?”

       “His name is Bill Russet!” she exclaimed. 

       “Ah,” King Spud replied, “The Russets are a fine and noble potato family.  You too have my blessing.”

       The third daughter approached, and she too could not contain herself for joy. “Father, I too am engaged to me married!” 

       King and Queen Spud beamed with joy, “A triple blessing!  And tell us, who is the fortunate young man?”

       “His name is Lester Holt!” she exclaimed.

       At this the face and countenance of King Spud fell.  An awkward silence descended like a fog upon the chamber. King and Queen Spud looked at each other perplexed. Finally, Queen Spud said to her daughter,

       “My dear, this cannot come to pass…for he is but a common tater.” 

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       What is a king anyway? What’s his job? What does he do all day? Interestingly enough, much like the priesthood, it’s more about identity than function.  It’s not so much what a king does, but who he is that sets him apart. In the ancient world right up to the end of the, 18th century, the King was seen as chosen by God and literally anointed as he took office. In this sense, Kings were also “messiahs” in the strict sense of the term which means, “anointed one.”  In essence, they were the personification, the incarnation of the entire country. 

       So what was he anointed for? In short, the King had dominion.  He had ultimate authority over the land and everything and everyone on it. But he just couldn’t do whatever he wanted. That would make him a tyrant. Instead, he was the ultimate steward. All things were given to his care and he would be judged by God at the end of his life based on how well he ruled. It was a vocation with a lot of perks, but it came with a heavy price tag.

       Looking at it this way, it begins to make sense how Jesus can rightfully be called King of the Universe. He was being modest when he said to Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world. In fact, it is so far beyond this world as to be laughable. Being Divine and united with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the perfect communion that is the Holy Trinity, he is the Word that God spoke when the universe and everything and everyone in it was created. He has the ultimate dominion, who, for the good of his subjects (you and me), became incarnate of the Virgin Mary and transformed all creation by his passion, death and resurrection, indeed, by his very presence. Still, he is not Lord because of what he does; rather, what he does has meaning because of who he is.

       By celebrating Christ the King, we affirm that he has dominion over our lives, confident that we shall share his glory both now and at the end of the age.

Greetings, Church fans! I’m back from the wilds of North Dakota where the townspeople of Scranton were being terrorized by an infestation of ring-necked pheasants! I did well. Joy the dog, well…let’s just say she has a few things to learn about bird hunting. Below is this week’s meditation on the Great Commandment regarding love of God, love of neighbor and love of self. To see a video of the homily, click here. To see the whole Mass, click here.

In the early 1970’s Gale Sayers was a force to be reckoned with in the NFL’s Chicago Bears.  He once scored six touchdowns in a single game. Mr. Sayers was a man of faith. The title for his memoir, “I Am Third,” came from his life’s motto: “The Lord is first, my friends are second, and I am third.” I suspect his motto came from today’s gospel passage from Mark regarding love of God, love of neighbor and love of self, also known as “The Great Commandment.” 

       The dynamic from which the Great Commandment emerges is the classic first century rabbinical ritual of learning. It was typically a three or four stage process. The ritual was in initiated when the student asked a very basic question.  In this case, the student asks, “Which is the greatest of the all the commandments?”  Every seven-year old Jewish kid would know the answer. It is the Shema Israel. “Hear O Israel…”  It begins Jewish morning and evening prayer even to this day. It declares that God is one and that we should love him with all our heart, soul, and strength. In the second part of the ritual of learning, the teacher is expected to respond by relating that very basic teaching to another one in the Law.  Here, Jesus links love of God, with the command to love of neighbor as found in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

       The ritual of learning was completed when the student replies with another insight built upon the previous two. In the passage from Mark, the scribe does this beautifully and gains the praise of the Lord.

       I find it particularly fitting that the Great Commandment for love of God, neighbor and self is brought forth in this ritual of learning. Loving and learning share a similar dynamic. They both require that we look beyond ourselves if we are to grow in love or in knowledge, and hopefully, virtue. 

       Love by its very nature focusses on relationship with the other. In this case, love of God is source and foundation of our relationship with others. We can love our neighbor because we  are in a loving relationship with the Almighty.  Love of self follows when we realize that we are lovable.          In a similar way, when we seek the truth, we have to realize that we don’t know everything. We must go first to the One who is Truth itself. Next we have to be open to learn from the wisdom of others.  In either instance, the Lord is first, others are second, and we are third.                   

Sometimes its just better to take Jesus at his word, even when the saying is hard. To view the video of the homily, click here. For the whole Mass, click here.

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So often, it seems that our modern society is motivated more by comfort than by truth. It is so much easier to do the comfortable thing rather than the right thing.  So, it should come as no surprise that when the modern mind is confronted with an uncomfortable teaching of Jesus in the gospel, our first reaction is to try to explain it away so that we may remain in our “safe zone.”

       Jesus’ teaching about it being as easy for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven is good example of this. 

       I remember when I was in high school, we were taught that in ancient Jerusalem, there was a small door off to the side of the city gate called “The Eye of the Needle.” Once the city gates were closed, it was possible for a camel to get through, but it had to do so on its knees. The implication was that we also had to “get on our knees” if we wanted to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s a nice thought, but completely unfounded in reality.

       Fast forward a few years to the Angelicum in Rome and my class in the synoptic gospels with one of the foremost scripture scholars in the world. We came to this very passage in Mark 10, so I asked him about the whole “Eye of the Needle” thing.

       His answer was curt: “Hogwash! There was no such gate! Jesus did not mince his words. Jesus was talking big camel, little needle, tiny eye.” 

       I was crushed.  My whole life had been a lie.

       Well, not really. If you think about it, what Jesus is describing is even more grace-filled than what a well-meaning catechist tried to tell us way back when.

       So, what was Jesus getting at?

       First, wealth in and of itself is neither good nor evil. It simply gives you more choices. Just like any superpower in the Marvel universe, one will have to decide if he or she will use it for good for evil.

       Second, with ownership comes responsibility. Responsibility takes a lot of physical and psychological energy and most especially time. All too often this can become a huge stumbling block to following Christ. A golden lock and chain still binds.  A golden anchor still keeps you from going anywhere. 

       Third, with the choices that wealth brings, the temptation to pride is so very great. And quite frankly, left to our own devices we won’t make the right choices. Jesus is right. Without God, “for human beings, it is impossible.” 

       But thankfully, “for God, all things are possible.” When Christ is at the center of our lives, we realize that we are not owners, but stewards. We are not saviors, but servants. This gives us the freedom to use the gifts we have been given in a way that is pleasing to the giver, and to build those relationships with Christ and others that truly are “treasure in heaven.”

Does Jesus really want you to cut off your hand or your foot, or pluck out your eye? Not really, but he is making a really good point.

Watch the homily on our YouTube channel by clicking here,

or if you want to see the whole Mass, you can check it out here.

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     It is truly a gift to live in a different country and in a different culture for a number of years. One gains a great appreciation for one’s own country but you also get introduced to some really fun cultural practices of your host country. One of my favorite Italian customs is how certain parts of the country celebrate the coming of the new year. I had been told not to be out on the street at the stroke of midnight, but I was not told why. Being curious, I found a nice, sheltered place to observe what might go on. Sure enough, as soon as the new year rang in all kinds of things came flying out of the windows of the apartments, to explode into a million pieces as they hit the pavement. Toasters and mixers and power tools and computers and all manner of household items plunged to their ignominious deaths on the cobblestones below.

       I found out later that it is the custom in those parts that if some household item has been giving you fits throughout the past year, at the end of the year you simply throw it out the window along with all the stress that it has caused you. Thus, you can begin the new year cleansed of the little demon that has plagued you so and renewed in spirit. It’s fun!

       This is essentially what Jesus is getting at in this week’s gospel passage. Our Lord liked to grossly overexaggerate to drive his point home. Here he does it regarding sinful tendencies. Does he really want you to cut off your hand?  No, but the hand is for doing. If you find yourself doing things you shouldn’t, then get those things out of your life. Does he really want you to cut off your foot? No, but we go where we tell our feet to take us. If you find yourself going to places you shouldn’t, perhaps you need to get that place out of your life. Does he really want you to pluck out your eye? No, but the eye is for seeing. If you find yourself looking at things you shouldn’t perhaps you need to get those things out of your life (and off your phone).

       Like the coming of the new year, a change of seasons is a good time to make adjustments in our habits our, attitudes, even the configuration of our household. Is there something in your life that has been giving you trouble and keeping you from following Christ with your whole heart and soul and strength? Now is a good time to “throw it out the window” and begin anew. 

Howdy, Church fans!

[This week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pretty darn cool! But why is this such an important feast for us Catholics? For a video of the homily, click here. For the whole Mass, go to our Facebook page by clicking here.]

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It doesn’t happen very often, but this weekend the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the “Dormition” of Mary in the Christian East, is celebrated on a Sunday.

       This makes sense when one understands that everything the Church says about Mary is really a statement about Christ. As the mother of Jesus, Mary had a very special relationship with him. By virtue of her unique vocation as the Mother of God, from the first moment of her conception she was preserved from the stain of Original Sin. While this means that she did not sin, it does not mean that she was protected entirely from the wages of sin, namely death.  Even Christ died.

       [St. Mary Major story; who is the child?]

       But if we truly believe in the resurrection of Christ from the dead and in the resurrection of our own bodies at the end of the age, then it is entirely fitting that because of her unique vocation and relationship with Christ, at the end of her life, the Blessed Virgin Mary would immediately enjoy the fruits of the resurrection. 

       The Sacred Tradition—namely that which has been handed on to us from the apostles and their successors—is unambiguous; that at the moment of her death Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. Mary had carried the Divine Savior in her womb. Then she carried him in her arms. Mary held his limp body as it was taken from the Cross. Mary beheld him after his resurrection from the dead and she received the Holy Spirit with the Apostles at Pentecost. 

       There is no part of Mary’s life which is not intimately entwined with that of her divine Son. Why would she not also share fully with him in his resurrection? It does not make sense that her own immaculately conceived body would undergo the corruption of the grave. 

       The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also a powerful affirmation of our own resurrection. If our own lives are united with Christ, in due time we can be assured of our own resurrection.            

       To be a human being is a marvelous thing. We have a body and a rational soul.  No other creature under heaven can make this claim. (I could make a case for dogs having an emotional soul, but I digress.)

       There is a popular myth out there that when we die we become angels.  It makes for great literature and fun TV, but it limps theologically.

       No, we Christians believe in the resurrection of the body and life of the world to come.”

       Yes, at our death, the soul goes to rest with Christ and all the saints. That’s why we say, “Rest in Peace.”

       But at the end of the age, when Christ comes in glory and all things are made new, our lowly bodies, such as they are, will rise and we will become what God has created us to be. 

       Our ultimate destiny is not to become something else. Rather, our ultimate destiny is the perfection of all that we are, body and soul. 

       That’s what the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come is all about.

       So I guess if you think about it, our celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also a statement about ourselves. She who is the most beautiful of all of God’s creation-Mary, who is the fairest honor of the human race-she who because of her unique vocation and her intimate relationship with Christ enjoys even now the fruits of the resurrection, shows us what lies in store for those who persevere in faith.

       In celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord and we are strengthened in hope as we “look forward to the resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come…Amen”.

Howdy, Church fans! Here’s this week’s offering. The video of the homily can be viewed on our YouTube Channel by clicking here. The whole Mass can be seen on our Facebook page. Just click here. A summary of text is below.

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     We sometimes make mistakes when we first start something new. It is part of the learning process. So it was that immediately after I was ordained, I was assigned temporarily to my home parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. That summer, this same set of readings came up.  Musing on Elijah’s experience in the crossing the desert and how God provided a hearth cake and jug of water, I mused, “What is in this hearth cake? It has to have over 5000% of every vitamin and mineral known to man! After just two helpings, Elijah walks forty days and forty nights across some of the most inhospitable territory on the planet!” Then came my mistake.  I asked, “If anybody has the recipe for this hearth cake, please let me know!”

       The baked goods began arriving the next day. Soon they covered the kitchen table and then the countertops. The dining room table was next. There were enough carbohydrates to feed a small village for a month and then some. The crown jewel as Mrs. Rita Wichorek, a lovely woman from Bavaria, who presented me with a confection weighing at least ten pounds. As she placed it on the table she exclaimed, “Vell, fater! I don’t know vat a heart’ cake is, but vould you like a German apfelkuchen!”

       I learned that day to be careful what you ask for from the pulpit, because through his people, God will provide all that you need and more than you can imagine. 

       This is echoed very loudly in the gospel as we continue reflecting on the Bread of Life Discourse. In the wake of feeding the multitude, Jesus reminds his listeners that just as God provided for the Hebrews, so he had provided for them in the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. It got their attention, but now he is upping the stakes. He is moving beyond bodily food to the “bread from heaven.” Those who eat this bread will never die.

       I cannot help but imagine Jesus pointing to himself as he says these words. He is indeed the Bread from Heaven.  He is all we need and more than we can imagine. Eventually, this will become concrete in the Upper Room when he transforms the Passover Supper into the very Eucharist we partake of in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. As such, it is appropriately referred to as “The Lord’s Supper.” 

       At their last meeting, the Pastoral Council recommended that we celebrate our 50th year as a parish reflecting on and celebrating the gift of the Eucharist.  It truly is the source and summit of all that we are and do as a parish family.  It is through the Eucharist that we receive all that we need and more than we can imagine.