Thirteenth Sunday - 2024

 

Bishop Barron's Homily 

For the Thirteenth Sunday of the Year

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Feast of Peter and Paul - 2024

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When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi

he asked his disciples,

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,

still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter said in reply,

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.

For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my Church,

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;

and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

This gospel passage for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, contains two of the most important questions we may ever be ask to answer. We might characterize them in this way; 

• the first is about religion ( “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” )

• the second is about faith (“But who do you say that I am?” )

Few questions receive more attention than questions about religion. What people say about religion can vary greatly: 

• about God, is there a God or not?
• if there is a God what is God like?
• are there many gods?
• why does God matter to us?
• which religion has got it right?

So many questions like these make up the discussion, or the debate, or the argument about religion. In places like the Middle East, religion and conflict seem to go hand in hand. Here in our country the question seems to have become more muted, deciding instead that it no long matters that much, or just keep it to yourself if you have an opinion about religion.

In the gospels, we see Jesus very much engaged in the religion questions of the day, but his purpose is to get to the deeper question, the question of faith, for it is what you believe that shapes the way you conduct your life. It is one thing to form theories and have opinions about religion, it is quite another to embrace with certainty what you are convinced is true. St. Paul made it quite clear when he said, that if it is not a certain fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead, our whole faith structure collapses into nothing. (1Cor. 15:14)

It is the official position of our liberal, democratic society not to have a definitive answer to the questions of religion. As long as we do not impose our beliefs on others, or deny them their rights granted them by law, we can practice what ever religious beliefs we have. It is our country's guarantee of religious freedom under the law. So question one asks, "... what are people saying about ...?"

After exploring the question of religion, Jesus turns to the question of faith. Jesus has come into the world to bring together and form a communion of people over which he will be the head. ("I will build my church." ) The nature of this communion will be to have a real yet mystical union with Jesus as head and a true and fraternal union with one another. Their instruction will come, by way of revelation and inspiration by the Holy Spirit forming and guiding their minds and hearts. ( “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.”) Their purpose is to live holy lives and be a sign and example for all the world to follow. (Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.)

In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him. 1 John 4:8-16

The fact that in this county we have the freedom of religious belief and practice, which we respect, and see as a blessing, does not diminish the importance of the fundamental question: What do you believe - "who do you say I am?". And if your answer concerning Jesus is the same as Peter's, what is the state and condition of your "communion" in the Church that Jesus builds in the world?

And so I say to you, you are Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my Church,

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

Twelfth Sunday - 2024

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. Jesus said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mk 4:35-41 ! ! ! And so it is in these days ! ! ! Some Points for Reflection and Prayer The disciples have listen to Jesus gracious words - teaching like nothing they have ever heard. They are strongly attracted, and begin to seek after Jesus to hear more. Consider your own attraction to Jesus and the Catholic faith - what is it that is attracting you - why do you stay with it? They have witnessed healing power result from his prayer. Spirits obey his authority. Consider your own experience -  what moments of convincing experience stand out as strongly persuading for your faith?  A raging storm overtakes them on the sea - the boat is rapidly taking on water - sinking appears immanent - they are seized by fear. Jesus presence is not in doubt but his behavior is unexplainable - he is sleeping - sleeping!!! ".... do you not care that we are perishing?” Consider your response in your "stormy times" - what is the measure of doubt that overtakes you - are you confused by the thought of Jesus being present with you, yet seeming to be of no help? Jesus "awakens", takes charge and the storm abates. “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Consider that storms are real, fear comes naturally - so how do I know my faith is faltering - when I say "DON'T YOU CARE!"   View Bishop Barron's Homily https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5DZdbT00pg

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Sunday June 16 - 2024

This past Thursday, June 13, was the feast St. Anthony of Padua. On June 13, 1985 I had the privilege of celebrating this feast with the people of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Kincardine ON. as their newly arrived pastor.  This year the gospel readings for Ordinary Time are taken from Mark's gospel account. In chapter 11,  the gospel text includes the account about Jesus cursing a fig tree.  The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, "May no one ever eat of your fruit again!" Mk. 11:11  St. Anthony gives us some excellent insight into the meaning behind Jesus action. In the Office of Readings for the feast of Anthony, referring to preachers and teachers, Anthony says: “Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. We are full of words but empty of actions, and therefore are cursed by the Lord, since he himself cursed the fig tree when he found no fruit but only leaves.” As Christians, we might be full of words about religion but empty of the actions that demonstrate the truth of which we speak. The fig tree Jesus encountered was not in season, and so not expected to bear fruit. But for us, disciples of Jesus, every season is in season – in season for us to bear fruit – the fruit of the Spirit which we received in baptism. Listen to Jesus charge to St. Timothy:  “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.… 2 Tim4:2 We are in one of those times. More and more the message of the gospel is falling on deaf ears. Now is a time for our actions to speak louder and louder. Paraphrasing St. Peter in his First Letter he exhorts:  “Knowing we are all residence of this world only for a time, do not let yourselves be lured into a life of indulgence. Living as we often do among unbelieving neighbours, you must conduct yourselves honorably. Then even if they accuse you of acting wrongly, they will come see your honorable behavior as the true way, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 1 Pt. 2:11 Taking direction from Jesus in these scriptures, let us spread the seeds of our true and honorable good deeds wherever we go, that a harvest of goodness may come to pass.

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History clearly demonstrates the truth of the principle of, "divide and conquer", which Jesus sites in his defense. But Jesus is not talking about politics, rather about spiritual warfare - the battle between Satan and the Kingdom of God that Jesus is bringing into the world. The most powerful weapon that Satan has in his arsenal is DIVISION. It is deployed by spreading falsehood, lies that directly oppose the TRUTH. Today it has been given an interesting new title, "Alternative Facts". Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’? ” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen 3: Jesus makes clear how destructive a weapon this is. To call falsehood truth (thus making the Word of revelation from the Spirit appear false) is blasphemy, and as long as one embraces it they cut themselves off from salvation. From earliest times, the Church has suffered trials over theological disputes among Christians that have caused divisions within the churches, thus weakening the effectiveness of their witness to an unbelieving world. But in recent times genuine efforts have been undertaken to reach out and heal these divisions. St. Paul, addressing the Christian community in his second letter to Timothy writes; Remind people of these things and charge them before God to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen. Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation. 2Tim. 2:14 It would be most helpful for each of us to examine our own contribution to the work of healing and reconciliation among Christians today. We are not the enemy, Satan is, and he works tirelessly to divide the Church and discredit the gospel message. Today "Alternative Facts" comes largely through the proponents of atheism. As deniers of God, they relentlessly harp on the faults of believers, with the result that this emerging generation is less and less drawn to the Church. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. Mk 3:27 The question we must ask ourselves in light of today's gospel: am I becoming bound by "disputes over words", "alternative facts", and the many controversy's that we encounter today? For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. 2 Tim 4:3 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ..... For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Gal 5:

Corpus Christi - 2024

 

As the Easter celebration come to a close, the liturgy adds two special feast days, Corpus Christi and the feast of the Sacred Heart. The last chapters of the gospels give the accounts of Jesus resurrection and the disciples encounter with the risen Lord. In Matthew we read: “And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.” Mtt. 28.17

Luke tells it this way; 

As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Lk. 24.36

The key here is REAL. “…See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see;” St. Paul tells us that if Christ is not raised, our faith is useless. This is the real truth upon which the very existence of church stands. The feast of Corpus Christi focuses on this essential truth; Jesus is really and truly present in his Church for all ages.

There were three main characteristics that made up the first encounters with the risen Lord, and these continue to be with us today. They are:

·       THE GATHERING IN CHRIST’S REAL PRESENCE

·       THE REVELATION OF GOD’S PLAN

·       THE COMMISSIONING OF THE CHURCH

“When two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst. Mtt. 18:20. Jesus is gathering and forming his church around his real presence. He remains with them to lead and guide them in every age to come. The principle sign/sacrament of that “gathering in his presence”, is the liturgy of the Eucharist. Only Jesus himself can cause such a profound personal faith to arise in another. It is essential that we “encounter the risen Christ”.

 (The two disciples on the road to Emmaus) returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Lk. 24:33

The SECOND ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC of the Easter encounters is the instruction. Jesus teaches the disciples the meaning of his resurrection; for them and for the whole world. He guides them through the scriptures, showing how he is the fulfillment of all that has been promised, and how he has been sent to lead them into the fullness of all truth. 

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, Lk. 24.46

Now with their hearts refreshed by this "communion" in Jesus presence and enlightened by his instruction, the THIRD ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC follows; the commissioning of the Church to go out into the whole world and proclaim this good news of salvation. “Go and announce the gospel of the Lord!” With these words the Mass ends and the work of evangelization begins.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of the Eucharist to the very existence of the Church. Clearly, as the gathering at the Eucharist declines so does the very existence of the church decline with it.