Okay, so I’ve been a little busy working for the bishop lately as we are putting together our guidelines for opening the churches and other parish facilities in the Archdiocese. Like the butcher that backed into the meat grinder, I got a little behind in my work. So what follows is the texts of the homilies from the last three weeks. They are quite good actually. As always, the videos are on the St. Pat’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stpatsak) and our YouTube channel. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCce6fxZKR1vqgyhuTO7e7VA/)
Fourth Sunday of Easter – Having Life Abundantly
I learned a lot on my first Engaged Encounter. I particularly remember the talk given by the senior couple about what it means to be “pro-life” in a Christian marriage. What was striking about their talk was that they approached it from a multi-dimensional perspective. Being pro-life does not mean just being “pro-baby” or “pro-birth.” Being “pro-life” for married couples and indeed for all Christians involves not just the passive receiving of the gift of life, but perhaps even more to be active in “life-giving” in all aspects and at all stages—not just physically, but also morally, spiritually, and emotionally, just to name a few. The best advice I have ever heard about being life-giving was imparted during that talk. The husband said, “The question before you do ANYTHING in life, let alone in marriage is this: “Is this decisions life giving or not? Does it make life possible or does it keep it from happening? Does it enhance the life of others, or does it diminish it in some way? Does it preserve life, or take it away? The answer to that question will determine what you should do.”
It’s good advice for all of us, principally because it is rooted in the life-giving mission and ministry of Jesus, who came “so that they might have life and have it abundantly.” (Jn 10:10) Jesus did not just affirm life where he found it, he is the ultimate life-giver. He instructed the ignorant. He healed broken bodies and broken spirits. He fed the hungry. Finally, he conquered sin and death and opened for us the way to eternal life.
What about us, the Body of Christ? How might we emulate the Lord in this ministry in our own lives in the present moment? Using the questions I have mentioned, let’s take a look at some of the moral decisions we are called to make this days.
While there are signs of hope, we are still in the midst of dealing with the COVID-19. Our daily lives have been greatly modified, disrupted even. When we choose to isolate or distance from those we would normally associate with; when we choose to wear a mask—are these decisions not life giving? Do they not preserve life? The answer is pretty obvious. We do these things, not because we like to or even want to, we do them because they are life giving. And we are here so that they may have life and have it abundantly.
What about our relationship with others? When we check in on our neighbors, when we buy groceries for a high-risk friend, when we donate to the food bank or give a pint of blood, is this decision not life giving? Does it not enhance the life of others? We do these things often because they make us feel good. We are here that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Perhaps most sacrificial of all, when we stay away from church, at least for now; when we arrange a home chapel; when we take time for prayer after the evening meal; when we find new ways to make the Sabbath holy; are we not preserving the life of our parish community; are we not preserving the life of the parish for the future? We make these sacrifices out of a sense of duty to the common good. For we are here that our parish community may have life, and have it abundantly.
Things will not remain this way much longer. The coming weeks will see a gradual reopening of our churches for prayer and eventually for limited gatherings and then even for Mass and Communion. Until then, let us choose to be a life-giving in the present day and in that part of the Kingdom where Christ now needs us most.
Fifth Sunday of Easter – A Place at the Table
“If evolution really works, how come Mothers only have two hands?”
-Milton Berle
How fitting that we pause today to honor motherhood in general and all our mothers living and in eternity. This celebration is actually kind of special to us priests. You will recall that Our Lord said, “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more.” (Mt 19:29) So we get hundreds of mothers throughout our lifetimes, even the Mother of Christ! So Mother’s Day is pretty special for us priests
Today, I’d like to concentrate on the words of Jesus when he says to the Apostles, “I am going to prepare a place for you.”
At first I was going to try to do this against the backdrop of Mother’s Day, but it just doesn’t work. All that comes to mind is that Joan London commercial about “A Place for Mom” and I just don’t want to go there.
But this notion that Christ has prepared a place for us is very compelling.
I think there are two ways that we can approach it.
As a future reality and as a present reality.
It is very comforting to know that there is a seat waiting for you and for me at the heavenly banquet. Our reservation is confirmed. All we need to do is show up!
But there is also a bit of a caution called for here as well. Sometimes we can get so fixated on the future that we forget the present. I think of the person that is so much looking forward to retirement that they don’t pay attention to what is right before them in the present moment.
It’s important to keep in mind that Kingdom of God is at once a present and a future reality. It is “already” and “not yet.” Christ came preaching the Kingdom and it has been continually unfolding ever since. We have a place in that Kingdom, but it is not just some distant, future reality.
The Kingdom of God is in your grasp!
We have a place in the Kingdom, right here, right now.
As I look at this Gospel passage, I see Christ speaking to the apostles at the last supper, telling them that he is going to prepare a place for them. But I also notice that they already have a place at the table in the upper room.
It was true for them and it is true for us.
Christ has already prepared a place for you. Look around you right now…go ahead…take a good look. This is your place in the Kingdom right now, physically, spiritually, psychologically, sociologically.
Just like the rest of the Kingdom it will unfold and develop over time, culminating in the fulfillment of your vocation and taking the place in heaven that has been prepared for you since the beginning of the Age.
During this COVID inter-Mission, we have all been given the gift of time
Hopefully, we have used some of that time to reflect on what is most important, or perhaps more importantly WHO is most important,
and about our place in grand scheme of things.
During this time, for the health and safety of others, we have withdrawn from certain activities and interactions
Perhaps this has given us a new perspective and a new appreciation
For family
For friends,
For Church
For the Sacraments.
Most of you have already read Bishop Bellisario’s letter informing us that this time we have had will be gradually coming to an end over the coming weeks and months. In due time, we will once again take our places here in the Sacred Assembly,
first in very creative ways,
and then, hopefully, as time passes in a more normal fashion.
In the coming days, with the parish staff and the liturgy committee we will be putting our safety plan together for the incremental reopening of the Church and a return to the sacraments, albeit in somewhat limited and creative fashion. I’ve mentioned some of that in my column in the bulletin, but on Wednesday or Thursday log onto the parish website for details of the Plan.
We need to get a few things in place and make sure we have all the necessary supplies, but my hope is to begin opening the Cloister and the Church for prayer and devotions on Tuesday, May 19th and begin with small daily Mass right after Memorial Day on Tuesday, May 26th.
Given the restrictions on space in the Church, I don’t see us having public Masses in Phase II. If we can get the FM transmitter in time, I think we will have a drive-in Mass on Saturday evenings and then a livestreamed Mass on Sunday mornings, each followed by the distribution of Holy Communion. That would begin on the weekend of Pentecost. So stay tuned and log onto the website for details.
We most definitely live in interesting times. But that’s been true in very era of the Church, why should we be any different.
Our place in history is here.
Our place in the Kingdom is here.
It has been prepared for us since the dawn of time.
And will bring us to eternity.