Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe - 2023

No doubt, everyone has faced that dreaded “Zero-hour”. Usually our first experience with “Zero-hour” is exam time in school. And finally, the teacher says, “students, put down your pens, time is up”. Some of you may have done so with a confident smile, but the rest of us where in a panic. “Oh no! Why did I not take more time to study? I know better, but just had to go out and party the night before”. And so it goes, many, many time through life. Even when you finally become seniors you have to pass that testing to renew your drivers license. Well the liturgy, today is meant to be a day of examination. Not a final exam however, more like a midterm – thank God. Today the liturgical year ends with this glorious feast of Jesus Christ the King. The gospel passage for this year A presents us with an image of Judgement Day. We hear Jesus describing how the standard of our accounting is to be measured by the Works of Mercy.     “For I was hungry and you gave me food, <> I was thirsty and you gave me drink, <> a stranger and you welcomed me, <> naked and you clothed me, <> ill and you cared for me, <> in prison and you visited me”. From this the Church has derive the Corporal Works of Mercy and with these we are most familiar. But to these has been added the Spiritual Works of Mercy; also seven in number, compiled from Jesus teachings found throughout the gospels. They are no less important:      To counsel the doubtful <> instruct the ignorant <> admonish the sinner<> comfort the afflicted <> forgive offences willingly <> bear wrongs patiently <> pray for the living and the dead. In Matthew’s account of the Corporal Works, we see how people are surprised by how they are judged, asking: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?” It is even more surprising when we are held up to the standard of the Spiritual Works. But these are no less important. Our Holy Father, in Misericordiae Vultus, the Vatican document which announced the Year of Mercy, described the Spiritual Works this way:     Our Holy Father writes, “We will be asked if we have helped others to escape the doubt that causes them to fall into despair and which is often a source of loneliness; if we have helped to overcome the ignorance in which millions of people live, especially children deprived of the necessary means to free them from the bonds of poverty; if we have been close to the lonely and afflicted; if we have forgiven those who have offended us and have rejected all forms of anger and hate that lead to violence; if we have had the kind of patience shown by God, who is so patient with us; and if we have commended our brothers and sisters to the Lord in prayer." Holy Father ends with: "Let us not forget the words of St. John of the Cross: ‘As we prepare to leave this life, we will be judged on the basis of love,’ on how concretely we showed love to others — both those in need spiritually and those with physical needs”. Advent begins next Sunday – a new gift of time, a time to prepare, a time to examine our lives, a time to resolve to get down to work in all seriousness. Yes, there really is a day of accounting – and the standard of judgment is the standard of love.

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Thirty-third Sunday of the Year - 2023

Today we move another week closer to end of the Liturgical Year, and each liturgical year brings us closer to the end of our own personal faith journey . This has been Year A, of the three-year cycle in which the main gospel source has been Matthew. Last week we began chapter 23, the last chapter before the passion narrative of Matthew begins. Matthew concludes Jesus teachings with two parables – last week the parable of the Ten Virgins, and today the Master’s Slaves and the Talents. The lesson taught in this chapter is clear, the time is now – prepare for the Day of Accounting when we must all stand before the Lord. So next Sunday the liturgical year ends with the glorious feast of Christ the King. In its gospel, Jesus reveals how the standard to be used for the accounting of our life is to be measured by the Works of Mercy. As we listen to Jesus speak to us, the lesson Jesus gives is clear – don’t be a fool – time is precious and short – use it wisely. Next Sunday’s gospel gives us a picture of that Day of Accounting: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, <> I was thirsty and you gave me drink, <> a stranger and you welcomed me, <> naked and you clothed me, <> ill and you cared for me, <> in prison and you visited me”. From this text the Church has derived the Corporal Works of Mercy and with these we are most familiar. But to these has be added the Spiritual Works of Mercy, also seven in number, compiled from Jesus teaching found throughout the gospels. They are no less important: To counsel the doubtful <> instruct the ignorant <> admonish the sinner<> comfort the afflicted <> forgive offences willingly <> bear wrongs patiently <> pray for the living and the dead. In Matthew’s account of the corporal works, we see how people are surprised by how they are judged asking: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?” It is even more surprising when we are held up to the standard of the Spiritual Works. Our Holy Father, in Misericordiae Vultus, the Vatican document which announced the Year of Mercy, had this to say: “We will be asked if we have helped others to escape the doubt that causes them to fall into despair and which is often a source of loneliness; if we have helped to overcome the ignorance in which millions of people live, especially children deprived of the necessary means to free them from the bonds of poverty; if we have been close to the lonely and afflicted; if we have forgiven those who have offended us and have rejected all forms of anger and hate that lead to violence; if we have had the kind of patience shown by God, who is so patient with us; and if we have commended our brothers and sisters to the Lord in prayer. In each of these “little ones,” Christ himself is present. The Holy Father ends with: “Let us not forget the words of St. John of the Cross: ‘As we prepare to leave this life, we will be judged on the basis of love,’ on how concretely we showed love to others — both those in need spiritually and those with physical needs”. The time is NOW, the time is measured, let us determine to use wisely each moment that remains for us. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. 1Thes. 5:

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Thirty-second Sunday of the Year - 2023

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.  As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.  But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those young women got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other young women came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. POINTS FROM A SERMON BY ST. AUGUSTINE ·         This parable relates to the whole Church – ten virgins are all members. ·         Such souls have the Catholic faith and have carried out good works in the Church              of God. ·         Number five relates to the body’s five senses. ·         The ten are called virgins because they have not sinned through the five senses. ·         They have lamps, by reason of their good works. ·         The oil for lamps signifies the virtue of  Charity – true love in the heart. ·         The ten virgins know the Groom is coming and are seeking his second coming. ·         The Bridegroom delays – to allow the fulness of time to unfold. ·         The virgin’s sleeping is their natural death in the body. ·         Midnight is the unknown hour for the day of judgement. ·         The trumpet calls all to rise from their graves. ·         The five wise virgins carry the oil of Charity in the vessels of their hearts. ·         The five foolish virgin’s hearts are only filled with pride. ·         The oil of the foolish virgins is the praise of others, people of rank, sellers of                       flattery. ·         Now in death the foolish virgins have no one to peddle them praise. ·         The five wise virgins are of good conscience with hearts of Charity, yet they do not              presume to judge themselves. ·         The time for mercy is now – a time to repent before Bridegroom comes. ·         Then comes the time for judgement – too late for repentance – meaningless empty            lamps. ·         Thus did the Gospel close; Watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour. But if         we are all to sleep, how shall we watch? Watch with the heart, watch with faith,              watch with hope, watch with charity, watch with good works; and then, when you          shall sleep in your body, the time will come that you shall rise. And when you shall        have risen, make ready the lamps. Then shall they go out no more, then shall they            be  renewed with the inner oil of conscience; then shall that Bridegroom fold you in        His spiritual embrace, then shall He bring you into His House where you shall                never  sleep, where your lamp can never be extinguished. But at present we are in           labour, and our lamps flicker amid the winds and temptations of this life; but only           let  our flame burn strongly, that the wind of temptation may increase the fire, rather       than put it out. Full text of St. Augustine's Sermon [ . . . LINK . . . ]

November and all the Saints

November is commonly thought of as the month of the dead. Many cultures around the world observe various rituals honouring the dead. November itself with the dying off of all the beautiful summer plants, the shorter days and longer nights, the many animals migrating away or hibernating out of sight all have a certain resemblance to death. The Church also uses November as a month to reflect on death but with a radical different perspective. What began in the Easter season with its focus on resurrection and new life is now in November viewed not as being lost but rather as being fulfilled. Of all the things that we face in life death is the most haunting - but not for the believer. Death as a destroyer has itself been destroyed by the Prince of Life. The transformed mind of the believer sees death not as a grave but as a door, as door through which one passes to gain even more life, the fulness of life. As you listen to the voices of the saints you hear them speak of a kind of longing for death. Some people see this as being a sign of some kind of mental distortion in the saints thinking. What these critics do not see is what the saints do see – life and more life, life without end. As our faith deepens, we too will be able to speak of death, not in a morbid, fearful way but as that threshold, that stairway, that open doorway in which we see these open arms of so many beckoning us. Saint Bernard, abbot speaks so convincingly of this in a sermon which the Church sets before us as the second reading in the Office of Readings for the Solemnity of All Saints. From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot "Let us make haste to our brethren who are awaiting us." Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honors when their heavenly Father honors them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning. Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them. Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ; we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts on such glory. When we commemorate the saints, we are inflamed with another yearning: that Christ our life may also appear to us as he appeared to them and that we may one day share in his glory. Until then we see him, not as he is, but as he became for our sake. He is our head, crowned, not with glory, but with the thorns of our sins. As members of that head, crowned with thorns, we should be ashamed to live in luxury; his purple robes are a mockery rather than an honor. When Christ comes again, his death shall no longer be proclaimed, and we shall know that we also have died, and that our life is hidden with him. The glorious head of the Church will appear, and his glorified members will shine in splendor with him, when he forms this lowly body anew into such glory as belongs to himself, its head. Therefore, we should aim at attaining this glory with a wholehearted and prudent desire. That we may rightly hope and strive for such blessedness, we must above all seek the prayers of the saints. Thus, what is beyond our own powers to obtain will be granted through their intercession.

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