Printed as Preached

Fourth Sunday of in Ordinary Time

2012-01-29T14:44:00.000-08:00

The Face of God – Christ The New Moses

The People of God in the Old Testament had encountered God on the holy mountain, manifested by thunder and fire. In a way, such an encounter with God was too overwhelming for them. Who could look upon the face of God and live? Their request that a more tangible way of encountering God might be available is heard. Moses assures them of God’s promise that "A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen.”

This new Moses would show the people the face of God in such a way, that instead of fear, love would be evoked. Jesus Christ, the new Moses, has reveled to us the very face of God. Whereas the old Moses was a friend of God and could only see God through the cloud and smoke, Jesus the “New Moses” is not called a friend of God. Rather, he is the Son of God; the intimacy of a relationship with his heavenly Father is a union of love so perfect that to look upon Jesus is to look upon the very face of God and not to be afraid.

Because the divine nature of God is, in a way, “hidden” in the humanity of Jesus, waiting to be revealed, we do get glimpses of Jesus power as God. These are not just in the miracles and wonders he did, but on that mountain top where his whole body was transfigured in the light of his divinity. And who was there, as if having stepped through the corridor of time, but the old Moses, now able himself to look upon the face of God in bodily form, in the form of Jesus of Nazareth.

In the Old Testament, the holy prophet would have had to repeat the words of God, prefacing them with “Thus says the Lord”. But now in the New Testament, Jesus speaks literarily as God and prefaces his own words with “I tell you solemnly.” Conscious of this difference, not just in style, but in substance, we hear in the Gospel today, that “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.”

Although, the people who encountered Jesus did not know him as yet as “God with them”, the demons knew. They even shouted out in horror and fear, for they knew that through the eyes of Jesus of Nazareth, God was looking right at them! Jesus silenced them, not because they knew him to be God in bodily form and that they were “giving away” the “secret”. Christ silenced their confession because “he did not wish that the truth should come forth from an unclean mouth” (St Anastasias to the Bishops of Egypt”). Christ would wait for Peter to make his confession, not out of fear, but out of love and as a gift from God.

When we gather around this altar, we do so within the context of the history of salvation. The candles and the incense we use can evoke those sacred images of the smoke and fire on Mount Sinai that announced the presence of God. This altar, the central focus of our Sunday worship is like that mountain top that Moses climbed to speak with God and negotiated a covenant. But now we see this altar/mountain top in a new light – that of Calvary were Jesus Christ revels the very face of God in the sacrifice of the new and eternal covenant sealed in his own body and blood.

So that we may see the face of God and live, may our preparation for Holy Communion with our Lord always begin with a careful examination of our souls, in the light of Christ’s teaching and of His Church through which the Spirit of Truth is revealed for the sake of our salvation and that of the whole world.

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (1962 Calendar)

“Senor, salvanos, que perecemos! Levanto’se entonces Jesus e impero’ al viento y al mar, y siguio’ una gran bonanza.” Mientras el evangelio manifiesta la divinidad de Jesus, reclama de nuestra parte una fe cada vez mayor en su divino poder.

The Holy Mass teaches us today about the virtue of overcoming fear with confidence in God’s word. As Christians, we do not deny that danger exists. For this reason, the Church prays “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”.

Although the Introit, Gradual, Offertory and Communion verses sung by us are the same as last Sunday’s and will be the same until we get close to Lent, they take on, in a way, a different “color” as they are sung and prayed from a different perspective. In the background, there is a storm brewing (the Gospel). In the here and now, Christ is no longer sleeping in the depths of the boat. The Introit reminds us that he is seated on high, in the heavens. While we find ourselves caught in the storm, our prayer must rise to the heavens from where our help comes.

The Collect Prayer comes to the point. We will find ourselves in danger and we are often not up for it. We need help from on high. But that help comes to us as God’s grace, infusing in our minds, bodies and souls the strength we need to find our way, with God’s help, out of the entanglements we often allow ourselves to drift into.

This leads us into the Epistle. St. Paul shows us clearly what we have to navigate through and what to avoid if we are to reach safe harbor. But what propels us forward is not fear of God’s wrath; instead it is love of God and our neighbor.

As we negotiate the storms around us, as Christians we must remember that we are also being examples to the world, especially those who are not Christian or part of the Church. The Gradual and Alleluia reminds us of our responsibility to lead the way, so that the nations and the whole earth may turn to God in reverence and in joy. And we get a sense of that joy in being rescued in the Offertory Verse – a sense that being plucked out from the storm and now set down on dry land, we now know how blessed we are and how valuable our lives are – that God saves us for a reason.

And then that Secret prayer of the Priest – like our Blessed Lord in the Gospel, hidden from sight, a reminder to us what is truly happening behind the scenes. We pray that Christ, who offers himself in sacrifice so that we can reach our destination of home safely, will not only cleanse us from sin, but also be our protection until we reach our heavenly destination.

Yet having said that, if Christ points the way homeward through the great and often daunting oceans of life, we cannot go by instinct or feeling. The Communion antiphon will remind us as part of the “crew”, be must listen and accept the clear directions and directives from the mouth of God. He alone knows what waits for us beyond the horizon. He must trust his judgment. And so the post-communion prayer will be appropriate. Our faith in God in the midst of uncertainties, attaches us to Christ who gives us a new kind of strength to use to battle the storms of life. It is Holy Communion, the Bread of Angels. He is our strength, our nourishment, our way home. Fortified by His Body and Blood, we can be courageous in our faith – we go forward – homeward bound.

Third Sunday

2012-01-22T17:10:00.000-08:00

Free to be Faithful

The Old Testament reading for today speakers of creating the right environment in our community whereupon we can repent of our sins. The Gospel speaks of responding to the call of Christ who asks his disciples to free follow him and be faithful to His Message. Repentance of sins and the freedom to follow Christ's call are the bedrock of our faith. The opportunity to freely respond and be faithful to our heart's desire for God is enshrined in our American history.

Our Declaration of Independence reflects our nation's founding principles of personal and religious freedom - the freedom of one's own conscience to direct our own lives in the direction of truth. It clearly states (and we know these words, and we should know them by heart): "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

This is ironic. Although the birth of this great nation owes its beginning to a pilgrim people who sought to find a land, an environment, free from government interference in their religious beliefs, and thereupon set up this unique structure of government to protect religious freedom, during this past week in particular, with one stroke of a pen, the government in Washington has now turned off the oxygen on religious freedom and freedom of conscience.

This is dangerously reflected in a decision by President Obama's Administration now demanding that sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and artificial contraception be included in virtually all and every health care plan. Take, for example, the health care plan offered by a religious institution, such as a Catholic school or a Catholic hospital. Our Catholic institutions are now being forced to provide coverage for abortion drugs and sterilizations. The administration's edict gives one year for religious institutions to revise their health care plans. In the words of the archbishop of New York, “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences."

And these are the words of our former metropolitan Archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal Mahoney, and he spells it out load and clear. He says, and I quote,

"For me there is no other fundamental issue as important as this one as we enter into the Presidential and Congressional campaigns. Every candidate must be pressed to declare his/her position on all of the fundamental life issues, especially the role of government to determine what conscience decision must be followed: either the person’s own moral and conscience decision, or that dictated/enforced by the Federal government. For me the answer is clear: we stand with our moral principles and heritage over the centuries, not what a particular Federal government agency determines."

The Cardinal continues, reminding everyone that clergy, of course, do not recommend political candidates. He also adds, and I personally concur, when he says, "My vote on November 6 will be for the candidate for President of the United States and members of Congress who intend to recognize the full spectrum of rights under the many conscience clauses of morality and public policy. If any candidate refuses to acknowledge and to promote those rights, then that candidate will not receive my vote."

And I agree. I would also add, that when these issues are brought up in the public square by a clergyman or a religious institution, you can expect that many of those who are opposed or indifferent to the protection of vulnerable human life, and especially many of those who might benefit financially by sponsorship or endorsement from abortion-providing organizations, will cite the "separation of church and state." This has nothing to do with the institution of the church and the state. This has everything to do with the individual and the state, the pregnant mother and the state, the rights of very man, woman, child and baby, regardless of their religion, and the state.

The crisis in our nation is not an economic crisis. It's a moral crisis, the crisis of a great nation that came into existence and is held together by religious freedom and freedom of conscience.

After receiving an honorary doctorate from Notre Dame, President Obama stood in front of the graduating class of 2009 and said, referring to health care reform, "Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause". A couple of months later, the president reiterated, “.. my underlying position has always been consistent, which is I’m a believer in conscience clauses. I was a supporter of a robust conscience clause in Illinois for Catholic hospitals and health-care providers. I discussed with Cardinal George (the archbishop of Chicago) when he was here in the Oval Office, and I reiterated my support for an effective conscience clause in my speech at Notre Dame.” It is my observation, sadly, that the president has broken his word and went back on his promise.

As a pastor of souls, I would suggest that all of us, from the holder of the highest office in the country, to the priest in this pulpit, to every Catholic in the pew, as recorded in the Gospel today, to take heed and respond to the very first word uttered by Christ as he began his public ministry, ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel".

Epiphany of the Lord

2012-01-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

MEDITACIÓN
SOBRE LOS PRESENTES
DE LOS MAGOS

I. Los Magos ofrendaron mirra a Nuestro Señor para honrar su humanidad. Jesús es Hombre, y lo es por amor nuestro, porque por amor nuestro tomó un cuerpo semejante al nuestro. Amémoslo, pues, y ofrendémosle nuestro cuerpo. Este cuerpo es vuestro, ¡oh Jesús mío!, disponed de él como os plazca, sano o enfermo, vivo o muerto. ¡Qué feliz sería si pudiese sufrir con Vos para reinar un día también con Vos! Me habéis rescatado todo entero a fin de poseerme todo entero (San Agustín).

II. Jesús es hombre, mas también es Rey. Por eso se le ofrenda oro. Es el dueño de nuestros bienes, Él nos los dio; debemos servirnos de ellos para honrarlo, para engalanar sus altares, para socorrer a los pobres. Ve a Jesús en sus pobres, con la fe de los Magos que, contemplando en el pesebre a un niño pobre y abandonado, lo reconocieron como a su Rey y a su Dios. Si eres pobre, ofrece a Jesús tu pobreza; esta ofrenda le será más agradable que todos los tesoros de la tierra.

III. Los Magos ofrecieron incienso a Jesús, y reconocieron así su Divinidad. El incienso que tú le debes presentar es la oración que eleva a tu alma hasta Dios. Humíllate ante este Soberano, ofrécele todas las potencias de tu alma, adóralo, témelo. Acuérdate sobre todo que los Magos volvieron por otro camino; cambia de vida a ejemplo suyo, y después de haberte dado a Jesucristo, no te des más al mundo. Por el cambio de ruta entendemos el cambio de vida (Eusebio).

The season of Christmas is extends until next Sunday. It is not a one-day affair on December 25^th. How can it be? The birth of Christ was a long time coming. How long? At the very first moment of the universe, the chain reaction of events and wonders of creation all pointed towards, and in preparation, for the God. The architect of the world enters his creation. Nature herself takes notice. She responds to the presence of God. It was a star that announced the birth of Christ. An eclipse of the sun and earthquake proclaimed his death. Light and darkness, natures own language of theology and spirituality. As humanity cries out to its messiah for healing so too does all of nature groaning for salvation.

So when we celebrate today the Epiphany - the event that "show forth" God's plan of salvation for the whole world, we try to take in the bigger picture, the implications, the universality of the Christ event for the whole world. The mysterious magi, the visitor to Bethlehem from the Orient - we call them the "wise men from the East", or the three Kings - who they actually where, what lands did they really come from - that is not too important.

What their arrival on the scene of the birth of Jesus revels is the countless multitudes of peoples, nations and cultures searching for God. “Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament.” CCC 528

Which path leads us to Christ? It is never the road of presumption. St. John Chrysostom comments that the chief priests and scribes knew the Hebrew Scriptures inside out, even concerning the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem but they are unmoved, and the birth of Jesus seems uninteresting to them (Gospel of Mathew, Homily 6.4). And St. Gregory the Great reminds us that Herod represents all those, who with false devotion, seek Christ without actually finding him (Forty Gospel Homilies 10.2).

Today's celebration of the arrival of the Magi, demonstrate that the journey, and where our life's journey ultimately takes us to, can never truly be predictable. In a society where we are so used to being in control of our destinations, setting our goals and accomplishing the tasks we set out to do, this important celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord can remind us that we must also be humble before mystery and learn to step back in wonder and awe when we sense that there is something greater than ourselves. We are not the center of the universe. My dear friends, in our celebration of the Mass, we enter into mystery - a mystery that cannot be contained by our human understanding or knowledge.

When the wise men, who represent all humanity, encounter Christ, they did not arrive with a complete revelation as to the plan of God for them or the world even though their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh represented - gold for a king, incense for the worship of God and the bitter herb myrrh, a reminder of suffering and sacrifice.

They not doubt left Bethlehem, not with disappointment that all their own questions were not answered, but more likely, with a sense of wonder and amazement that all is not what meets the eye. Christian Faith does not provide quick answers and remedies, or scientific proofs or explanations. Rather, it offers the believer a sense of true mystery and beauty, which, because we cannot control it, can be as painful as it is mysterious.

In this sacred mystery we celebrate here each Sunday we approach Christ through the veil of the Eucharist, hidden behind what we perceive from the outside as bread and wine.

We arrive at the house where Christ waits for us, but we must not do so empty-handed but bearing our own gifts. When we accept and encounter the unfathomable mystery of his life, death and resurrection, we can not return by the same road we arrive – for we approach God in all humility, can never look at the world in the same way again.

Mary, Mother of God

2012-01-01T20:20:00.001-08:00

In the timeline in this season of Christmas, the Gospel tells us it is eight days after this birth, that is today(remember in the Jewish reckoning of days, the day begins when the sun sets) we are told that the baby Jesus was to be circumcised, and formally given the name Jesus. The religious ceremony attached to the baby's circumcision brings the child into the family of the chosen people. And even though the tiny drops of blood shed by the Son of God as a baby is sufficient, God's love compels this child to win our hearts. This baby must grow strong in earthly wisdom and strength to become the savior of mankind and to convince us to turn away from our sins. Do this does not happen overnight, nor within a vacuum.

Today the Church acknowledges the unique role given to Mary, not only because she willingly accepted to conceive a baby by the Holy Spirit, becoming pregnant while remaining a virgin. God does not simply use Mary as a means to enter into our world. That would make Mary simply a surrogate. Instead, God the Father trusts Mary with the nurturing, formation and relationship necessary for his Son to receive as any newborn as they grow and mature. In short, Mary is entrusted with divine motherhood.

Try to think of the great significance of this and you will understand the great dignity that Mary is given in the Church. God, the creator of the universe gives Mary human existence. Her baby is God in human form. God entrusts himself, his physical wellbeing to her. He trusts her with himself. He allows himself, small and vulnerable, to be subject to her, influenced by her. God allows himself to be mothered by Mary!

And, in the same manner, this baby that Mary holds close to her, from her perspective this baby is her child, even though she knows herself to be still a virgin. This is still her baby, she is the mother of this baby even though this is the Son of God made flesh and blood. The relationship Mary has with the baby Jesus is that of any mother to her newborn, instinctively close, protective but most of all, a relationship of adorable love she has for her newborn.

And one can think of these two sensations of Mary as she holds the baby close to her. First she knows the child to have no human father. She knows the baby was formed inside of her from the breath of God himself. So as she holds this baby, she knows she holds in her arms a divine child worthy of true adoration and worship. Yet, for nine months she was a mother expecting her baby. Now this baby has been born. In her heart Mary adores and she nurtures. For this reason, she is rightfully called Mother of God.God not only had to suspend the laws of nature that Mary might be a virgin mother, God also became vulnerable, small, dependent on Mary. God gave Mary rights over himself. He had made her his mother and he, himself, he had made himself her Son. God trusted himself and his whole plan of salvation completely to Mary's motherhood and in doing so allowed her to cooperate in our salvation. The angels of heaven must have stood back and said to each other, " Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array" (cf. Song of Songs 6:10)

To this end, we can confidently pray, as we do instinctively to her as our mother, Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus...

Nativity of the Lord 2011

2011-12-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

Throughout our year we are accustomed to celebrating many types of holidays and with them we associate different symbols, colors and even cards. From New Year’s Day mistletoe to St. Valentines Day chocolates, St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks to the Thanksgiving Day turkey. In our popular imagination, there are many things we associate with Christmas.

But the most important and enduring sign of this event is captured in its very name, “Christmas” – the Mass of Christ. Often we will hear the saying, “Keep Christ in Christmas”. I would dare to say “Keep the Mass in Christmas”. If we take Mass out of Christmas, then Christ is far removed from you and me, he is a simple idea, a revered figure from history, a figurine in a nativity set. If we take the Mass out of Christmas, all that is left on the day after is an empty box and a dead tree, – both will probably reflect the state of a human soul, a soul that hungers for the bread of life, True Bread from heaven, a soul calling out to be filled.

Of course, we can pray at home, in secret, throughout our day. But here in this place, our religious imagination in enkindled, our souls are touched at a much deeper level. We make connections, not simply with each other – we make connections with God through the carefully chosen words, the signs and sacred symbols we use when we pray together as a Church. In the Mass there is a language that allows our souls, not only to pray, but also to be opened up to reach into the mystery of God who has humbled himself to share in our humanity. By way of our sacred language in this holy ritual of prayer, we are assured through the Mass, that God has indeed visited his people, not simply as a past event, but also now in the present.

In the past, he placed himself in a stable, a place of food and nourishment, in a village called Bethlehem that literally means “House of Bread”. In our mind, we can think of the baby born to declare the love and peace of God – a child vulnerable, a little lamb. And here we see a cross, a man stretched upon it, still vulnerable – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Prince of Peace, born in a stable, placed in a manger (a feeding trough for cattle). And here at this Mass, reaching across the centuries the King of Kings is placed upon the altar of sacrifice, offering his body and blood as the anecdote of death, his risen and glorified body he offers us as the medicine of immortality.

May the words that we hear tonight/today, the images they suggest and the sights and sounds we notice, stir up the longings of our soul to remind us that we are searching, hungry for the face of God. In the sacrament of the Holy Mass we celebrate here tonight/today and every Sunday, God is with us. And when we hear the bell rung, its language will tell us that Jesus Christ has entered into our world and at this altar, the meeting place between heaven and earth, he is as real to us here this hour as he was to the shepherds of Bethlehem two thousand years ago. May we always have the courage seek, find and look upon the very face of God and live. We welcome Christ in the Mass. O Come let us adore him – Christ the Lord.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

2011-12-17T21:28:00.000-08:00

From the very beginning of recorded history evidenced by timeless pyramids and the ruins of ancient temples and sacred shrines, the past bares testimony of humanity longing to reach out in the direction of the heavens. But before we could even point to the stars, our Heavenly Father stepped into his own design, creating, fashioning, building humanity up out of the very dirt of the earth. And into these building blocks He breathed His Spirit forming man in the divine image. God was not distant. Our heavenly Father walked with our first parents in that garden, recognizable and distinct from the unspoiled splendor of the universe. In those days, before the foolishness of Adam and Eve, before sin contaminated creation, God was visible.

But because of the arrogance of fallen humanity, our history has seen the attempt of man to either play God or capture the divine. Although King David’s intention to build a temple for God is commendable, he is reminded through the prophet Nathan not to rely on a temple made by human hands. A temple made from bricks and cement will be destructible. God's Presence, the prophet announces, will instead be enfleshed in a future descendant of King David.

CCC 269 Si Dios es Todopoderoso "en el cielo y en la tierra" (Sal 135,6), es porque él los ha hecho. Por tanto, nada ale es imposible (cf. Jr 32,17; Lc 1,37) y dispone a su voluntad de su obra (cf. Jr 27,5); es el Señor del universo, cuyo orden ha establecido, que le permanece enteramente sometido y disponible; es el Señor de la historia: gobierna los corazones y los acontecimientos según su voluntad (cf. Est 4,17b; Pr 21,1; Tb 13,2): "El actuar con inmenso poder siempre está en tu mano. ¿Quién podrá resistir la fuerza de tu brazo?" (Sb 11,21).

And when the fullness of time would come, as recounted in the Gospel, the creative God is seen at work again, building within the womb of the Virgin Mary, using her cells and DNA as the building blocks, the new bricks and cement forming the new body and blood of an individual that through every instance of his existence and development in her womb, a tiny developing temple of the living God, was being built to endure forever. This embryonic baby of Mary will not be the earthly temple of God made by human hands, or out of human initiative. It will be the very presence of the heavenly God dwelling among His people on earth. In Jesus, God walks again among us as He did with Adam and Eve in a restored creation.

As St. Irenaeus says, “Being obedient Mary became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.” "Maria, por su obediencia fue causa de la salvación propia y de la de todo el género humano": what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.” Comparing her with Eve, we call Mary “the Mother of the living” because “Death came through Eve, life through Mary.” "la muerte vino por Eva, la vida por María". (LG. 56) .c.f. CCC 494

And as creation having now tasted God’s presence again and cries out for the fullness of salvation, bread and wine from the old order of creation, become now the substance of the new order – Jesus Christ. In Holy Communion, our own body becomes a living temple of God, a tabernacle for the Most High. By responding with total openness to her vocation, Mary was the first disciple to receive Holy Communion from God. For this reason, she is our model for how to prepare ourselves, physically as well as spiritually to receive Holy Communion worthily, to make a room ready, to prepare a place for God to dwell in our bodily lives, so that we, like Mother Mary, can also present the savior of all humanity to a waiting world.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (1962 calendar)

…a Isaías, que manda a los cielos nos envíen al Justo en suave rocío de bendición; a Juan Bautista, que nos exhorta a terminar de preparar el camino del Señor; y a María, llena Ella de gracia y llenas sus entrañas con la carga santísima de Jesús. Y puesto que nuestra Madre la Iglesia da hoy por casi terminada su misión de prepararnos para Navidad, ¡examínate, cristiano, si tú estás ya preparado para salir al encuentro del Salvador!

The introit sung by the choir as the procession began petitioned the heavens to send down rain upon the parched earth. It is therefore our prayer that the seed of faith that often remains dormant, now being watered by the heavens, will grow and from the soil of our lives, the Savior will blossom.

But we cannot force Jesus Christ to come forth. And so the first prayer that the priest makes in the collect, the opening prayer, petitions that that God will come to help us and that our sins might be cleared away in his mercy. But too often when we think of sin, we tend to think of the big sins, the mortal sins, the previous sins against God. Opening prayer seems to have in mind those “Little sins” which we often fail to address.

But the first reading, the epistle, seems to be God’s immediate answer to our prayer. We are reminded that we are “stewards of the mysteries of God”. The whole treasurer of Christ’s life and death and resurrection has been unlocked and given to us. The epistle should cause us to reflect on how well we have used the gifts of God given so freely by him to us. We are reminded that the all-knowing God would really the secret of our hearts.

The Psalm that was sung tonight encourages us, to call upon the Lord with a true heart. And the alleluia verse has us asking the Lord to come without delay to release us from our attachments to sin and to all that would prevent us from recognizing Jesus when he comes.

To help us in our preparation John the Baptist, by way of the Gospel, helps us to focus on the one who is to come and to recognize that Christ comes with saving power.

As we prepare the gifts at the altar, the bread and the wine, the sung offertory antiphon will naturally have us turn to Mary whose body and soul was perfectly free of every earthly attachment. She was the one tabernacle on earth fit for the all holy God to dwell in, for she was, is full of Grace. We naturally we look to her to help us in our detachment of the things which crowd are on minds, body and soul.

In the secret prayer of the priest, in other words, the prayer which the priest will make most intimately to God it is therefore fitting that we pray that these offerings may help us in our devotion and in our salvation in the same way as Mary offered for complete self to the will of God.

And so it makes sense that the Communion antiphon will remind us that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son”–the fruit of her womb. We are also to conceive Christ spiritually in our souls, the fruit of our faith. And therefore, in our prayer after communion like Mary we must find room in our lives. In the same measure as we have made room for him, will be the same measure his grace will take root in out lives.

Third Sunday of Advent

2011-12-10T15:26:00.000-08:00

"El Señor está cerca". He aquí el anuncio que nos hace hoy la Iglesia, he aquí por qué nos incita hoy a la alegría y por qué se viste Ella misma hoy de fiesta, con ornamentos rosados, con flores en los altares, con acordes del órgano. Está la Iglesia impaciente por recibir al Señor, y nos contagia a nosotros de esta santa ansiedad. ¡El Señor está cerca! Más aun: "Entre nosotros está Uno a quien muchos no conocen". Esta queja amarga del Bautista desgraciadamente es también hoy verdadera. ¡Un año más llamará a nuestras puertas el que puede remediar nuestras necesidades. Y muchos estarán dormidos!

“There is one among you whom you do not recognize”. These are the words of St. John the Baptist. He sparks curiosity, even a hint of excitement that the Lord is near, that he is actually here, but he is, for the time being, hidden. “There is one among you whom you do not recognize”. Although, St. John the Baptist, knowing that the Messiah is soon to be revealed, is delighted with this prospect, a number of those whom he shares his joy with, are not very much moved, nor very concerned.

If we were to be informed that the Lord was somewhere in our vicinity, walking among us, in disguise, and was about to stand out from the crowd and lift back his hood and reveal himself – would that generate in us a sense of excitement, joyful anticipation. Or might there be fear, that we are not ready to face our Lord. Rather than welcoming him as our savior, some of us would perhaps fear him as our judge. This would mean that we have not taken to heart the earlier call of St. John the Baptist that we prepare a place for the Lord. The Lord is near. Do you have your place ready? And place is, your soul. Is your soul a good place for the Lord to enter into?

How we answer this question might be best reflected in how we approach Holy Communion. The Lord is near. He is our salvation, he is the one who we ultimately hunger and thirst for. If we recognize him as the one who comes to save us, then we will make our soul a worthy place for our encounter with him. St. John the Baptist has reminded us to “get our household in order”. Through careful preparation, an examination of conscience, confession of grave sins and the priestly assurance of forgiveness – only then will we sense the true joy, not fear, of Christ approaching us, to heal, not to harm - to free us, not to hinder us - to reward us, not to threaten us. He comes to bring a springtime, not a dark winter (c.f. First Reading).

“There is one among you whom you do not recognize”. We know who the One is – the one and only Lord. Some are indifferent, because underneath it all, they really don’t believe that God can approach us and reach out to you and me personally. Some are afraid of God, and maybe rightly so, because of sins committed and commandments broken. But during the time of Holy Communion the Church will chant the words of the prophet Isaiah who reminds us all to liven up, not to be afraid. Yes, the Lord is coming but he does so to save his people and to give himself to them. “Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come, and he will save us.”

This is indeed a reason to join our hearts to Our Blessed Mother Mary, who, when she found out that the God would visit and save his people, there was no indifference or panic. We have sung this Sunday as our psalm her words and must seek to make them our own, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”.

The Immaculate Conception

2011-12-08T16:12:00.001-08:00

Much of the attractiveness of our Catholic Faith comes from its deep beauty. I say "deep" because of its richness. Our Catholic faith draws us deeper and deeper into the dynamics of the divine mystery of God and how he relates to his creation and his creatures. Since its beginning, God has unfolded so much beauty in the universe, not only in what we can see around us, but also from what is being gradually unveiled to us of distant stars, clusters of galaxies and distant worlds. For millions and millions of years they were unseen by man, and only now, as their light has become visible traveling for millions of years towards us over such vast distances, we are given a real-time glimpse into the secret depths and the beginnings of God's vast universe. This has only been possible today because of worthy advances in science and technology.

In the same way, as the beauty of God's distant universe can be brought closer, so too can the inner universe of the sacred sanctuary of the human body. CAT scans, an MRI and 3D imaging can show the wonderful complexity of the human body, its organs, muscles, blood vessels, the human brain and pumping heart. Incredibly we can now see blood cells, atoms and molecules as we never saw them before.

However, in the unseen universe, the most wonderful and beautiful image captured in amazement is a real life image of the very moment of conception. In that very instant, when a new human life begins, everything about this newly created human being is determined and set in place. Whereas in the field of biology and science, we have only of late come to appreciate this as scientific truth, the Church has always known this and defended the sacredness and beauty of human life, from this first moment. Why? Because at the very beginning, at the moment of conception, not only does a human being exist and their genetic makeup is determined, but God has also determined who this unique person truly is, what kind of person this individual will be, and what their role in the universe will be. At the first moment of conception, regardless, of the circumstances, what the biologist calls fertilization, not even waiting for implantation in the lining of the womb, a unique individual human being has been conceived, and God brings into existence someone who he has loved before time began.

On December 8th, we celebrate the great revealed truth when God brought the universe into existence, millions and millions of years ago, in his divine mind, along with everyone who has walked this earth, you and me, and all future generations - before the first instance of creation, he was especially thinking of the Virgin Mary. Why? She is the one who would, on behalf of all of future humanity signal the readiness of mankind to be saved.

That signal for God to initialize his plan of rescue and salvation of humanity had to be pure, signal, worthy, without any attachment or influence of sin. That signal that announced to the waiting heavens that we were ready for salvation was the very existence of Mary. And when did Mary come into existence? Not when she was born. Not four months before her birth or not even when she was the smallest little embryo. Her existence, her whole complete life, began at the moment of fertilization, the instant she was herself conceived in the body of her own mother.

Unknown to her own parents, when her mother Anne conceived and became pregnant, they were not aware that this small little embryo was resonating perfect holiness. At the first instant of her existence, knowing of the salvation Christ would bring to all creation (including time), God made it so that Mary was brought into existence without being touched by original sin. Her existence was in itself such a delight to God. She was perfect, as Eve was before sin. Mary was brought into existence as the New Eve. And of course, her Son, the new Adam! Paradise lost would be paradise restored. She was in that perfect state of humanity, as if we never had fallen. On our behalf she calls out to God, "come and save your people." She calls out, because she does so perfectly, and God listens and responds. Her prayer is a perfect prayer. Because of her perfection and perfect prayer, God sent his only Son.

The Immaculate Conception which brought into existence the most prefect and immaculately pure Mary most holy, is a reminder to us of how much we are in need of being cleansed from sin. Of course, when we were baptized we were returned to a state of being sinless. But we know ourselves influenced by sin that we need to be continuously cleansed in order to enter into God's presence. We beg the most perfect Virgin to pray for us so that the wounds of sin in our own lives will heal and God will find in us a worthy place to reside.

Second Sunday of Advent

2011-12-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

(The Entrance Antiphon and Collect)

The entrance antiphon, the verse of scripture sung, chanted or even read at the beginning of the Mass, sets the tone of the message the Church asks us to meditate on. “..behold the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice hear, in the joy of your heart”

He will come to save the nations. That is something very public – it affects the whole structure of society, the way we conduct our affairs. By calling upon the Lord who will “save the nations”, we are asked to reflect on what our nation needs to be saved from. Only in our arrogance would be maintain that our system of government, our laws and our way of life have been perfected to the point that we do not need God. We are not speaking about what is commonly called, the “separation of church and state”. Instead, we must reflect on how far our nation is willing to abandon the principal, that religious faith and spiritual values should be protected, because they do in fact contribute to the common good of our nation. Our public prayer, during this Holy Season of Advent, wedded to the cries of the prophet Isaiah, cannot ignore that our various values and society at large is in need of salvation.

At that same time, the Entrance Antiphon reminds us, that God will save us all, not simply in a forced destruction of what displeases him. We are told, “the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart”. Here is where the Advent of God begins, in our heart, in our own conversion – in our ability, even in the darkness, to recognize his voice. And even though we may at times feel as if our hands are tied, our mouth is gagged and our eyes are blindfolded, “if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”!

This is how we prepare for the Lord to come and “save the nations”. It begins with a truthful examination of our own conscience and attitudes in the light of the teachings of Christ’s holy Church, what the Collect prayer might call the, ”learning of heavenly wisdom” (cf. CCC 1798). To help us to get our own household in order, the Church’s liturgy offers us the guidance of St. John the Baptist.

St. John the Baptist is given to us as an interior designer! We bring him in as a consultant to help us make a place ready for the King of Kings when he arrives into our home. What does John say when he inspects our interiors? Pointing to this and that, he might say, “this has to go. And, you need to take this down and throw this out. While you are at it, you need to rip this out too. This has to change. You have to update this, replace this and redesign this. You need new wallpaper and a fresh lick of paint, you need better lighting and this here has to be brought up to code. Oh, and here’s how much it will cost!!” It’s easier to judge our society and the state of our nation and the spirit of our elected bodies than it is to assess the state of the union between our own body and soul.

The description of John the Baptist, living in the desert, clothed in animal skins, living on locusts and wild honey might seem at first extreme – in comparisons to our own standards of living. (St. John Chrysostom here allows us to reflect the depiction.) But if we allow the eyes of our soul to see through the dust, St. John the Baptist becomes strangely symbolic of what humanity will be restored back to, with advent of Christ.

In a way, like Adam and Eve before their fall, John does not till or plough the earth, or from the sweat of his brow, he does not work for his food. It is easily sought and prepared. “From his garments he might teach us that we free ourselves of human needs, and need not be bound to this earth, but that we may return to the pristine dignity in which Adam first lived, before he had need of garments or of clothing.” This might be what our Collect Prayer alludes to when we pray that no earthly undertaking will hinder us from setting out in hast to meet Christ.

The Gospel message does not push us or force us onto a pathway that takes us to God. As with Abraham, Moses and the Chosen People, God points us, guides and gently moves us without force or coercion, helping us to leave behind the sins that weigh us down and to find the right path and to help us make it straight, so that it will ultimately lead us out of the desert wastelands on a journey that will purify our mind, body and soul so as to look upon the face of God. May this sacred liturgy that we now celebrate give us a taste of our journey’s end and sense of the beginning of eternity Christ invites us into.

Advent Parish Reconciliation & Penance Service

2011-11-28T15:31:00.000-08:00

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

The Lord be with you

And with your spirit.

My brothers and sisters,

Advent is a time of preparation, when we make ready to celebrate the mystery of our God coming to redeem us by entering into human history two thousand years ago and living among us.

Advent also moves us to look forward with a renewed hope that the Lord will come a second time, this time – to bring the eternal plan of salvation to fulfillment.

We are also reminded that the Lord will come to each one of us at the hour of death – this fact we know for certain, but we do not know the hour.

This service of confession, reconciliation and penance is to make us ready in mind, heart and soul for the coming of Christ, which we will soon celebrate in the Mass of Christmas.

Let us pray that when he comes, he might find us awake and ready to receive him.

Lord our God, maker of the heavens, as we look forward to the coming of our redeemer, grant us the forgiveness of sins.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings

Romans 13:11-14 Luke 21: 25-33

Homily

The season of Advent is our immediate preparation for Christmas -- the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, when God became seen and recognizable to the naked eye. Our faith tells us that he will come again and will be finally visible in all his glory. When he came to us in Bethlehem, he was like a tender lamb. When he returns to us on the clouds of heaven at the end of time, he will be like a powerful lion. His first arrival 2000 years ago was humble and quiet. His coming at the end of time will be majestic and terrifying.

During our celebration of Advent, we find ourselves caught in the middle of his two public interventions in our world's history. His first coming would have been in vain and his final coming fruitless unless he could be found in the here and now -- coming to us in his "invisible" presence, assuring us of his friendship, sharing his life with us still. We there cannot take this friendship for granted.

This is why, even though the days become shorter and, what the Church calls, the "Day of Wrath" approaches, we need not be afraid if we are in a true relationship with Jesus as our Savior. He is the bridegroom who visits the Church, his bride. He never abandons his loved one.

But we also call the Church "mother". And during this time of Advent, Mother Church offers us through the liturgy, selections of Scripture passages which are meant to "perk" us up, to awake him from sleepiness. When you come across someone injured, you tell them to "stay with me", "don't fall asleep". Our instinct is to keep talking with them so that they do not fall into unconsciousness and slip way into the darkness and the false comfort of death. Likewise, Mother Church shakes us a little at times. These are opportunities to stay awake, not to slip into sleep -- the sleep induced by sin which, if ignored easily becomes vice, and if left unchecked can become habitual - leading to the eventual destruction of mind, body and soul.

For this reason, the practice of the sacrament of confession is encouraged especially in our preparation for the Arrival of the Lord as we go fort to meet him, especially in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

When we confess our sins, we do so to a friend -- we do so to Jesus. The priest is simply a stand-in for Christ. As in any friendship worth its salt, we don't try to explain all the details of our life, or justify our behavior with excuses or by pointing the finger at someone else. In that sacred moment of friendship with Christ, all it takes is the acknowledgment of particular sins we be know we have committed, an apology for the sin, and the commitment to mend and strengthen the sacred relationship is given.

Even though there are similarities in the spiritual practices, one feature of this season of Advent that distinguishes it from Lent, is a word of gladness and joy which we do not refrain from saying or singing -- "hallelujah". Even though the vestments and colors are purple and the nights are longer, we do not forget that Christ is already here, even in the darkness, that the invisible Christ waits for us in the visible sacraments. Christ sees through the darkness. indeed , he was born in a dark place, and on a holy night - a night brighter than any midday sun. In the Sacrament of Confession, we welcome our friend divine, into the darkness of our lives. Come, Lord Jesus Come!

Silent Meditation

Act of Repentance

Christ our Lord came to call sinners in his father’s kingdom. Let us now make an act of sorrow in our hearts and resolve to avoid sin in the future.

Give us the strength to turn away from sin. Lord have mercy.

Help us to be sorry for our sins and to keep our resolutions. Lord have mercy.

Forgive our sins and have pity on our weakness. Lord have mercy.

Give us trust in your goodness and make us generous in serving you. Lord have mercy.

Help us to be true followers of your Son and living members of his Church. Lord have mercy.

God does not want the sinner to die, but to turn to him and live. May he be pleased that we have confessed our sinfulness, and may he show us his mercy as we pray in obedience to his Son the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father…

(As we move in the direction of individual Confession, the examination of conscience printed and provided by the parish may be helpful.)

First Sunday of Advent

2011-11-26T14:58:00.000-08:00

For hundreds of millions of years, God gently allowed the universe to quietly unfold according to his predetermined pattern. In the timeline of creation, it was only recent when Adam and Eve and humanity leaped forward from their surroundings. The first book of the bible, Genesis, shows us Adam and Eve attempting to run, before they could walk. Because of their pride, we have, in a spiritual manner, been walking with a limp for tens of thousands of years.

However, God, who knows the past, present and future, secures his plan for our salvation by sending, at the appointed time, his Son to teach us, among other things, to "run again" towards our heavenly goal. For hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, God sent messengers to coach and prepare humanity for his arrival. Preparation for the advent of God would be threefold.

1. Be cleansed of sin so that, when God approaches, we might be able to approach him.

2. We must desire to be saved and wish with all our heart to be rescued from sin and corruption.

3. We are duty-bound to provide the right environment for God, not just in our souls, but also in our lives and in the life of our society and culture.

During the course of the next four weeks, the Church assigns us special mentors to help us, with God’s help, realize these goals. Our first guide is the prophet Isaiah. He spoke up against the corruption of society and culture and the loss of the sense of the sacred. The prophet Isaiah’s words are to help us build up an appetite for the holy, the divine and the sacred and recognize it in our midst.

We are reminded that God comes into the darkness of this world and the darkness does not understand him. Yet even if we find ourselves entangled by sin, our own darkness must reach out to the gentle light of the new dawn, and surrender to its rays. But this is not only an interior awakening of the soul. Christ comes to set free everyone, all society, from the chains and compulsions of sin and fear.

The Church, the Bride of Christ, begins a new year even as the days become darker. Our first prayer, the Collect, sums it all up. We prayed for the resolve to move more and more the direction of Christ. We do so, when our actions reflect truth in all our relationships. The more we initiate, with the help of God’s grace, good works in our lives, the more become compatible to the things of heaven. The more we let go of darkness our lives, the more the eyes of our soul are adjusted to the approaching light of heaven.

Advent teaches us not afraid to say to God, “Come”, come closer and guide our steps “as we walk amid passing things,” This Holy Season teaches us “to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures”. Once we have completed our journey through the shadows of the night, let our hope joyfully point us recognize our savior when we see him face to face when the final day does come.

What to say before a King!

2011-11-19T20:52:00.000-08:00

The Church today celebrates the great solemnity of Christ the King. We do while preparing for a change in language in the way we will pray the Mass. Maybe, today’s theme of Christ as a King might help us to appreciate that in the presence of a King, our language and choice of words would be anything but casual. The new translation reflects how we might address a sovereign, a king – most importantly, the King of Kings. Before entering into the Royal court we would be instructed how to dress appropriately, how to behave, how to address the king. In the context of the Mass, we enter into the royal court of heaven! We speak differently here!

The first thing we are aware of is our sense of unworthiness. Previously we had confessed our unworthiness before each other with the words, “I have sinned through my own fault”. Yes, we know we are sinners and we do in fact sin– but when we say this, we risk easily taking it for granted.

But when we stand before our sovereign God, in His light, His purifying light, we see all our sins we see every sin, big and small and recognize the ugliness of very sin. (You presume your kitchen is hygienic and your carpet is clean. Look at it under ultraviolet light and prepared to be shocked!)

In the same way, lets not be superficial about our souls. To stand in God’s light, everything is shown up, the smallest sin casts a deep shadow. In the new translation I will acknowledge therefore, that I have “greatly sinned”. And as if to waken us up to our senses, three times I will say, “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault”.

Is this an attempt to rub our noises into our sins and wrongdoing – an exercise in catholic guilt? No! When I repeat, “through my fault” three times, it is good to recall that I sin, not against a generic, impersonal God. Instead, I have wounded my relationship with my heavenly Father – my fault. I have wounded my relationship with Jesus Christ, my savior – my fault. I have wounded my relationship with the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life, my very breath – my fault, big time!

The Creed

After listening carefully to the Scriptures, and the explanation of our faith and religion as extolled in the sermon, our King asks us to state our allegiance. We respond by making by declaring our faith.

Whereas we used to say, “we believe”, now, based on a simple translation of the verb “Credo”, you and I will say, “I believe”.

Although most Christians share a common faith together (“we believe”), it is also crucially important that each of us be given the opportunity to declare our own personal conviction to the tenets of the Christian faith.

When it comes to our Christian Faith, we do not, and should never hide in the crowd. We should never be afraid to say, “I believe”, and mean it.

Notice in the creed some other examples of the new translation. Previously we had said that God, the Father almighty, he was the maker of heaven and earth of all that was seen and unseen. Now we have translated it to declare, he is the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

Think about it. I have never seen Australia. As far as I am concerned it is unseen. I have never seen that other side of the moon. What God has created does not depend of whether I have seen it or not. His creation is either visible, such as the universe (even though we have not seen all of it) or his creation is invisible, such as angels and the saints of heaven.

Notice also, we will be describing Christ as “the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.” The Son of God was born before all ages, born before time has begun. He became visible 2000 years ago. So, how can Christ be born “before” time began? – This is why we use the word “begotten”.

The Son of God is of the same substance as God the Father. The word we describe Jesus with is consubstantial. He is not a human person, but a divine person. And this divine person who existed eternally before time began – when did the Son of Man become the visible Jesus? When he was born? No. Nine months before – at the moment of conception. In Mary’s womb, God the Holy Spirit entered into the “stuff” of what humans are made of. We call this, the “incarnation” – another word we shall get use to saying – “that the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary”.

You’ll also notice in the creed we say after professing belief in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, we use the word confess – “I confess one baptism”. To confess something, is to declare publically the truth. Baptism is not a private and secret affair. Do not be ashamed of acknowledging, confessing publically by your actions that you are a baptized Christian. In other words prove it by your actions!

And nearly in the same breath in the creed, you and I will also say, “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead”. That is a bold statement of faith, that I am not afraid of death and that I live my life in the direction of my final goal of reaching heaven.

Invitation to prayer

Once the gifts of bread and wine have been set aside and offered to God, the priest will say, “Pray brothers and sisters, that MY Sacrifice and Yours will be acceptable to God, the almighty Father”. Although you and me enter into the one, eternal sacrifice of Christ – we do so differently.

Remember the prayer “the Lord be with you – and with your spirit”. The ordained priest must enter into the sacrifice of Christ in such a way that his own hands become Christ’s, his very life becomes Christ’s, that the priest must embody in his own life the sacrifice of Christ the Bridegroom who gives his life for the Church his Bride. That’s my sacrifice.

Your sacrifice is as a people set apart, to offer your lives to Christ allowing him to use you as agents of the kingdom of God, to sacrifice your lives to transform this world we all live in.

And notice, your response to this invitation – by acknowledging that the Church is holy. Yes we are all sinners, but the Church is holy – the Church is the “sea worthy” vessel – she needs to be holy to get us sinners to heaven.

Notice also, that in the Holy, Holy, Holy, prayer, which reflects a vision of heaven, we describe God as the “Lord God of hosts”. One of the meanings of the word “host” is “a great company, a crowd, a multitude” – We can imagine God and the great hosts of angels and saints around him.

Finally!

Notice that the priest will say “Behold the Lamb of God” not “this is.” When we lift something up and say, “This is…. “, Our attention is naturally drawn to the shape, the color, the dimensions of what we see, what this is. By lifting up the Most Blessed Sacrament and proclaiming “Behold the Lamb of God”, behold is bigger than “this”. To behold something is to step back and see the whole big picture in context. We behold the Lamb of God, Christ Passover lamb, the Lamb of the wedding banquet of heaven. In other words, we pull back a curtain and “behold” heaven and at its center, the glorified and Risen Christ. And, our response to this vision of Christ in all his glory that we behold with the eyes of faith? Humility. Recalling the words of the pagan officer who approached Jesus requesting a cure for his servant, “only say the word and my soul shall be healed”. We are never worthy and often embarrassed that Christ should walk into our messy homes and lives. What would he see?

Today the Last Sunday of the church’s calendar year, the Gospel reminds us that we stand the hallway of heaven, where we meet the King of Kings. In his presence we know our place, our actions and words reflect this.

Other reflections on Christ as king take us to the time when he was imprisoned, naked and hungry. When the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate belittled the King of Kings with words of sarcasm. And while our Lord was enthroned upon the cross, wearing his crown of thorns, words of scorn and bitterness were hurled at him. Now Christ has taken his throne of glory as the King of Kings. As we enter into his presence, let us choose our words carefully, speak them reverently and appreciate the beauty of a language fit for a King.

(1962 Calendar) 24^th Sunday after Pentecost - Last Sunday of the Church Year

Se cierra el Ciclo litúrgico con la semana última del año eclesiástico y, con él, la historia del mundo, que se nos ha ido recordando desde sus comienzos (en el Adviento), hasta su fin postrero (en el Domingo 24º después de Pentecostés).

En ese día venturoso, por medio de nuestro Senor Jesús, rendiremos un culto eterno a la Santísima Trinidad, diciendo: ¡Gloria al Padre, y al Hijo, y al Espíritu Santo! Como en el principio, y ahora y siempre, y en los siglos de los siglos. Amén.

On this last Sunday of the church's calendar year, the rich prayers of the mass and the Scriptures provide for us a kind of real personal for the final event that brings to a close, eventually, not only our own lives but the life of this world. All things are truly passing.

In the same way that the day will come when we bust return to our Creator, the liturgy of the church prepares us in mind and soul, to enter into the one and eternal sacrifice of Christ, and that's to actually return to our Redeemer. In this holy Mass he comes to us to save us lest he might return unannounced, and unprepared he will condemn us. So in a way we prepare for his return by wheat harvesting, in so many words, the scene of the final judgment - why do we have time, and before time runs out.

It would be natural to be afraid to approach God as our judge. But surprisingly, while the priest and the altar boys ready themselves at the foot of the sanctuary to make the prayers in preparation to approach the altar, the words of the choir for the introit, the entrance hymn, reassured us with the words "the Lord says, I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction you shall call upon me, and I will hear you call him and I will bring back your captive people from all places".

It would be well to remember that the Mass assures us of mercy all the time. As an example, before the priest ascends to the altar of God, he confesses his sins to the ministers around him. But then the tables are turned. Having heard my appeal for mercy, the ministers do not accuse me or point fingers at me -they defend me, even before God, and tell Him in so many words, "if you're going to take him, you'll have to take us to".

Fear is replaced by faith. And St. Paul assures us in the epistle, we have been redeemed, snatched out all the power of darkness by Christ our Savior at the cost of his own blood. The liturgy all this final Sunday in the Church's year assures us of final victory, but more important, because all the Mass, we are assured of present victory -for this is where we meet God and stand on the shores of eternity itself. We have not only glimpsed, but through the holy sacrifice of the Mass and the redemption won for us by Christ, we experience in anticipation, the coming of Christ our judge. Let us not be afraid -he comes to save us and take us home.

As the darkness deepens, let us pray for the Souls of the Faithful Departed.

33rd Sunday

2011-11-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit

Last week I introduced you to the upcoming new translation of the Mass in English. I also described the complexity of translating into present day English, the ancient Latin prayers of the Mass, used by the Church for prayer for many hundreds of years.

Here is a question? Can we have two different versions of English, one for common conversations we would have with each other, and the other, a distinct version of English used as a sacred language we talk to God in? In short, yes. And we have already been doing so.

Take for example the prayer we are all familiar with, the "Our Father". We say "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name". Who do you know in your circle of friends who uses in their casual conversations the words "art", "hallowed" or even "Thy"? (Unless you are part of a drama club practicing Shakespeare!!)

Interestingly, if we were to translate the "Our Father" from its Latin - " Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum", into our everyday English, we would say, "Our Father, who is in heaven, your name is sanctified, your kingdom is to come...”

But, somehow, it's just too casual - and it would take a very long time to get used to this. Yet, when we say, “Hallowed be thy name", we know instinctively what these rarely used English words mean when we pray them, even though we would have difficultly giving the dictionary definition. In other words, particular words give us a “sense of the sacred”, even though we cannot fully nail it down! (Cf. St. Augustine in answering the question about what is time. He replied, “I know what it is until you ask me!)

Here is another example of us already using English phrases in the Mass that we do not use in common conversations. During the course of the Mass, five times the priest calls out "The Lord be with you". Why not "The Lord is with you"? The reason is very simple! There is only one time in the New Testament when someone is told, “The Lord is with you.” The words of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, “Hail, Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee”.

Could these words be addressed to you and me with the same certainty? Of course not! When addressed to you and me by an ordained minister, the words “The Lord be with you” are not the words of a greeting. It is a prayer. Because we are sinners, and “fall short of the glory of God”, the priest’s first prayer in the Mass is a prayer for the people before him, and he prays it numerous times, that the Lord will be with you. And be with you more and more and more!

The present response to this prayer, (that we have become so accustomed to) has been “And also with you”. However, the response of the people of God for over a thousand years to the ancient prayer of the priest, “The Lord be with you”, or as it was called out in Latin, “Dominus vobiscum”, was “Et cum spiritu tuo”. This does not translate into “And also with you”, but “And with your spirit”. And is a change we will be responding with in a couple of weeks time – “The Lord be with you – And with your spirit”.

What does this mean? Why will the people respond to the ordained minister with the words “and with your spirit”, and not with the words, “and also with you”?

Simply put, it’s not about “me”. I, myself, my personality, my likes and dislikes, my mannerism and accent, my style or appearance – this is not what the Mass is based on. It is founded on the stability of the Christ’s priesthood, His priesthood, his sacrifice. It is the priesthood of Christ that is exercised here in this Mass. It is in the spirit of his priesthood that I preside over this Holy Eucharist. I pray that “the Lord be with you” - that his presence will increase in your life. You respond praying, “And with your Spirit” – that the spirit of Christ’s priestly sacrifice will increase more and more in my life so that, configured to Christ I may be able to say that “It is not I who live, by Christ you lives in me”. The Lord be with you. And with your spirit.

Of course, again when the ordained minister calls out, “The peace of the Lord be with you also”, this is also a prayer. It is the prayer of Christ that his gift of peace, a peace of mind, body and soul, be able to grow stronger and stronger in your lives. And again, the response is “And with your spirit”. The spirit of Christ’s priestly sacrifice that offers to the world true peace and reconciliation – this is the spirit in which the peace of the Lord is expressed.

Here my friends are the greatest challenge to the art of communication – what we do with our hands! An illustration. In the older form of the Mass, before the priest said to the people “the Lord be with you”, or “peace be with you”, he would place his hands on the altar and kiss it. He would then join his hands together, turn to face the people, and as he said, “The Lord be with you” or “Peace be with you”, he would open his hands, as if opening a curtain! But interestingly, as he does so he avoids eye contact with the people. Why? Is he being impolite?

No. The priest is not communicating himself. He is communicating God’s heavenly presence. As Christ’s priest, his hands have been consecrated, configured to Christ’s hands and as such he can pull apart the curtain that separates the people from God (Remember the curtain of the temple being pulled apart when Christ died on the cross). Hence he opens his consecrated hands to send forth the Lord’s peace and presence.

(I would therefore suggest that instead of the mimicking the priest’s anointed hands which communicate the heavens being opened, that everyone assembled might simply bow your head in acknowledgement of “receiving”. In a way, if someone blew you a kiss, you would not send it back to the sender. Instead, you would symbolically embrace it with joy!!)

Let’s not get too personal with these simple words least we begin to distract each other with our own unworthiness and sinfulness. Instead, let us see in these gentle words of prayer a communication between heaven and earth. The words of Christ the Good Shepherd to his flock, from the Bridegroom to his beloved Bride, words from Christ the High Priest spoken to the people he has redeemed with his own blood.

"The Lord be with you"

"And with your spirit."

22^nd Sunday after Pentecost (1962 Calendar)

Es estos últimos domingos del año litúrgico evoca la Iglesia el día de Cristo, que será el del fin del mundo, cuando vuelva a juzgar. Nos invita a esperarle con confianza, no apoyándonos en nuestros méritos, pues el hombre ante Dios no es más que miseria, sino asiéndonos a la misericordia divina, y recordando que no cesa el Omnipotente de proseguir hasta su consumación la obra salvífica que ha comenzado en nosotros.

Next week will see the last Sunday of the Church’s year. It is typical that the themes of the Mass correlate to the natural seasons of the year. As the days become shorted and the storms pass by, the Church reminds us about the spiritual conflicts and battles of life, not just in our personal lives, but even the spiritual combats that takes place for the very soul of man.

This is very apparent in the Gospel this Sunday. Navigating through a dangerous minefield we follow Christ. He leads the way. He demonstrates that he is the ultimate judge over human affairs and in the gospel, not even his enemies can lure him into their trap.

As we bring our soul to the judge of all humanity, we must allow Our Blessed Lord to inspect it closely and ask us “whose image is this likeness?” Will he see is own face reflected in the coin or some worldly image?

We must first recognize that from our baptism our souls have been imprinted with the image and likeness of God and that the face of Christ must be reflected in our lives. As we examine our conscience in the light of God, we should not be afraid of giving back to Caesar “only” what belongs to Caesar, and to God “everything” that belongs to God.

Tonight’s Gospel, indeed all the prayers and readings, if meditated on in this light, will provide good preparation for us all to stand before the Judge of our souls.

Preparation for the revised Roman Missal

2011-11-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend sees our Local Church, the Diocese of San Diego celebrating its 75th anniversary. As a church, our history is not defined by the building of churches, Catholic schools, hospitals or universities. Important as they are for the good of souls, as a Catholic people in this part of the world, we are defined by how we pray as a Church. The manner of how we pray and the words we use every Sunday have evolved and changed over a relatively short period of time.

It might be a surprise to many of our younger parishioners to know that in the two thousand year history of the Catholic Church, the Mass prayed in our own language is relatively recent phenomenon. Before 1962 everything you heard the priest say at Mass was in the ancient language of Latin. And all the responses to the prayers were also in the Latin language. Although not used as much today in the typical parish as it used to be, Latin has and is still the Church's unique and sacred language for prayer.

If you walked into a parish before 1970, it was seldom you would find books in the seat. Instead, many Catholics owned their own prayer book and brought it to Mass every Sunday. Even though the Mass was prayed in Latin, some of the old prayer books used by families would be completely in English. But because Catholics are so familiar with how the Mass visibly unfolds, even though the Mass was in Latin, one could easily follow it with the help of an English prayer book.

These prayer books were called Missals (from the Latin word for the Mass, Missa). Some missals, would have Latin on one side and English on the other. Some would even have pictures of that was happening at various parts of the Mass.

With the help of a prayer book, and because it was also important to be attentive to what was going on at the altar in order to participate interiorly in the spiritual dynamics of the Mass, using a prayer book as an aid to worship meant there was less opportunities to allow the mind to wander too far away or become distracted unnecessarily as can happen the best of us.

When the Mass is celebrated in another language, you have to be very perceptive and use all the senses to discern what the priest and the Mass are communicating. This takes a bit of work, it takes time and effort (the word ‘liturgy” comes from a Greek word denoting “the fulfillment of an obligation to to perform a pubic duty). It's not on our terms it involves effort- in a way we have a duty to learn the unique unspoken language of the Mass which points us towards communion with God.

Even though, in the past, the majority of Catholics throughout the world attended Mass in a language they did not necessarily speak, with time and effort however, like getting used to wearing new glasses, the missal prayer book was a great tool to help understand, appreciate, pray and meditate on the meaning of the sacred words and actions of the Holy Mass.

When in 1962, the bishops of the world gathered in Rome with the pope for a General Council (commonly called Vatican II), among many other things, they recommended greater use of native languages in some of the parts of the older Mass in addition to the sacred language of Latin. By 1965, parts of the Mass were now spoken for the first time in English, especially the Scripture readings and some other parts such as the Creed, the Holy, Holy, Holy and the Our Father. However, the central part of the Mass, the Eucharistic Prayer (which includes the consecration of the bread and wine to become the heavenly Body and Blood of Christ) was still prayed quietly and intimately in the Church's traditional sacred language of Latin.

It wasn't until 1970 that a new order of Mass, completely in English which we use today, was presented to Catholics. Not only had various elements and parts of the older Mass used in the1960's been removed, some of the ancient prayers were replaced with new compositions. Within this new template, the modern Mass could now be, as needed, spoken by the priest and the people in the common language of modern English.

However, because we were celebrating a new Mass for the first time in our own common language, it has taken us a good thirty years to understand the complexities of translating from the ancient and sacred language of Church Latin into the modern common language of the home, street and coffeehouse. As an illustration, when you translate poetry from one language to another, not only can you change its meaning unintentionally, but you can also loose the rhythm and the poetic flow of the words. Sometimes, words from one language do not translate at all! Translated from an ancient language to a modern one, a poem, like a prayer, can arrive at your doorstep flat, uninspiring and even misinterpreted.

Put this in the context of worship. The English language is a living language. Because particular words are used constantly in everyday circumstances, over time words they can change their meaning and evolve according to fads, fashions and needs. Because the official language of the Church is Latin, a dead language - (and this is not necessarily a bad thing!) it no longer evolves, the meanings of its words do not really change, their meaning is somewhat fixed. In a way, the flavor is "locked in"!

So, how do you translate an ancient Latin word which has a fixed meaning, into modern English which is spoken differently, not only from coast to coast, but has different rules and meanings in American as it has in Australia and is spoken differently in Ireland as it is in the United Kingdom? How do you translate ancient sacred prayers from Latin that have remained the same for hundreds and hundreds of years into a modern language that changes and grows with every generation? In short, very carefully!

Next week, we will take a look at some examples of the new English translations we will be using soon!

Why is this important? The more fully we understand the meaning of the prayers of the Mass and allow their words to inspire us to look towards heaven, the more confidently can we unite ourselves with our Catholic brothers and sisters throughout the whole world, together professing the one true faith that has been handed down to us intact, generation after generation from the time of the apostles, and by the Church through every century.

Saint Diego, Patron of the Diocese, City and County

St. Diego is living proof that God "chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27).

As a young man in Spain, Diego joined the Secular Franciscan Order and lived for some time as a hermit. After Diego became a Franciscan brother, he developed a reputation for great insight into God’s ways. His penances were heroic. He was so generous with the poor that the friars sometimes grew uneasy about his charity.

Diego volunteered for the missions in the Canary Islands and labored there energetically and profitably. He was also the superior of a friary there.

In 1450 he was sent to Rome to attend the canonization of St. Bernardine of Siena. When many friars gathered for that celebration fell sick, Diego stayed in Rome for three months to nurse them. After he returned to Spain, he pursued a life of contemplation full-time. He showed the friars the wisdom of God’s ways.

As he was dying, Diego looked at a crucifix and said: "O faithful wood, O precious nails! You have borne an exceedingly sweet burden, for you have been judged worthy to bear the Lord and King of heaven" (Marion A. Habig, O.F.M., The Franciscan Book of Saints, p. 834).

The city and the Diocese of San Diego, California, is named for this Franciscan, who was canonized in 1588.

21st Sunday after Pentecost (1962 Calendar)

La ley de la caridad y de la misericordia, que nos recuerda el evangelio es de una exigencia absoluta: "¿No debías haber tenido compasión de tu compañero como la he tenido yo de ti?" El perdón de las ofensas y el amor al prójimo son la réplica necesaria y como la prolongación en nuestra vida del magnánimo perdón que nos otorga Dios.

En Dios encuentra el cristiano la ley de su vida: "Sed buenos porque yo soy buen. Sed perfectos como lo es el Padre celestial. Amaos los unos a los otros como yo os he amado.

Our Lord teaches us in the Pater Noster: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Also, Our Lord reminds us to "Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect". How is God perfect? He is perfect in love and mercy, which is everlasting. It is with this love and mercy, radiated out to us by God, that we in turn pass on.

The gospel reminds us of the absolute requirement to show mercy and charity at all times. "Should you not have had mercy on the one who offended you in the same way as I forgive you?” is asked in the Gospel. If it is our Christian nature to forgive, then the Kingdom of God's mercy is extended. Forgiveness does not mean we forget the wounds of past offenses. Forgiveness means not holding the offender responsible for ones present suffering.

To know God, not as a concept or idea, but as our heavenly Father to reaches out to us in tender kindness and merciful love, allows us be formed in a new manner of interacting with the world, not based on simple practical standards. Instead, our standard is modeled on a real live person the God the Son, Jesus Christ, through his Sacred Heart, his teachings, his life, his death, his resurrection and his merciful and loving intercession to God the Father, he still pleads, intercedes for you and me sinners. We owe him nothing but humble gratitude.

Day of the Dead, All Souls Day

2011-10-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

On this day and during this month when we remember the souls of the faithful departed, our thoughts naturally resist thinking of death, our lives are often stubbornly focused on living and our goals are often set on working towards accomplishments.

Death is a consequence of sin. Though our physical nature is mortal, death was not part of God’s design for us. Therefore God experienced death and defeated it. The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave is now for us the prototype of what eternal life should be for each of us after our death. Every Sunday in the Creed we profess our belief in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.

However, life everlasting is not necessary heaven. It can be life everlasting separated forever from God’s sight. “We can not be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves.” To die by our own free choice unrepentant, in a state of mortal sin (with a fixed attitude of active or passive rebellion against God) is to be cast into “Hell”. (cf. CCC. 1033). God will never force us to enter into heaven. Instead, as long as there is time, he provides continuous opportunities to walk in the direction of heaven. Not only do we bear the responsibility to get to heaven, we are also responsibility for the salvation or damnation of those whose lives we touch or influence. The choices we make for our children, the influences we have n our family, the impact we can make in our society will also be taken into account when we face our maker. Thank God, for us here and now, there is still time.

When we pray for the dead, for the holy souls, we acknowledge that our love is never wasted, that friendship and love can reach out over the dark expanse of death. Out of this close bond of affection and love we pray for our dead, that as they approach the judgment seat of God, that they will not be afraid but trust all the more that God is a merciful God. And if they are judged worthy for heaven, we pray that before entering the purity of God’s presence, they may have the courage to let go of all attachments to their former lives. When we depart this world, even the memory of sin in our minds must be purged and our focus must be completely and freely directed towards God and God alone. This purging, we call “purgatory”. It is the final pilgrimage of the soul into heaven, in the gentle dawn of heaven’s light, the soul is cleansed and purged of imperfections. For in heaven there is no place for any lingering shadows.

Purification in preparation for heaven can be as painful as it is beautiful, like the blows of a sculptor’s chisel against the hard rough surfaced rock as the beauty is slowly reveled and defined. And we can take some of the hard knocks for them. In the economy of salvation, we can focus our own extra efforts to pray and make extra sacrifices for the holy souls instead of ourselves, to ease their pathway to heaven, to provide encouragement for them as they journey towards God.

For this is the reason we are alive, in order to get to heaven – to look upon the face of God in Jesus Christ our Savior. Let us pray for our beloved dead that they will see God and rejoice in his presence forever. Let us pray for ourselves that as we approach the hidden Lord through the veil of the Sacrament of the Mass, that one day we will see him face to face and with all our loved ones, whom we pray for in particular during this month of November. We do so because we know our love can reach beyond death to the shores of heaven itself.

All Saints

2011-10-31T15:40:00.001-07:00

Today’s solemn feast day of All Hallows or All Saints is celebrated every year with serious attention so that we do not forget what our life as Christians is about. It is all about salvation. We exist for one reason – to be ultimately joined to God in heaven.

The Christian believes in heaven. All who are in heaven already we call saints. What makes a human being compatible with heaven is “holiness”. Holiness allows, not only able to approach God and see him face to face, holiness also allows us to notice how the things of heaven are also every much alive and active in the world, but especially in the sacraments of the Church. In this building, we encounter the very person Jesus Christ to gathers all his disciples around him still, whether they be in heaven or on earth. If we are to be numbered among them, we are called to be saints too – for where Christ is present, so too are the saints.

Saints are those who have reached home before us. They are our heavenly brothers and sisters, our extended family in heaven. When we look upon a picture of them and ask them to pray for us, we long to see what they now see – we ask them to show us whom their gaze is fixed upon.

While they walked this earth as members of the Church, they sought to be faithful to God and loyal to the Church, not simply in the big events of their lives. More importantly, they were as much authentic Christians when nobody was watching them, when they were alone and away of the public eye.

And that’s the difference between sainthood and knighthood! The Church bestows recognition of a certain person with the honor of being called a saint, not because they where champions and heroes and did great things. The Church recognizes a Christian as a saint because, even in the secret of their lives, beyond the glimpse of spectators, these men and women led lives of authentic prayer, sacrifice and devotion to God. For this reason, there are more saints in heaven whose names we do not know and whose life’s stories have and never will be told. To be included, one day, in their company, is all we need to pray for.

To inspire us to be authentic Christian disciples, of course, we look to Mary (CCC 2679). To be united with her in prayer, as were the first disciples of her Son, we pray that with God’s grace, one day she will take us by the hand and lead us through the gates and into the very heart of heaven, and in the company of all the saints, to look upon the face of Jesus Christ, her Son and our Lord and God.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

What is a virtue? Often the phrase, "patience is a virtue" might come to mind. It reminds us that virtues have something to do with the development of our character. In various ways, we are tested, and how we respond to, for example, various challenges show forth what we are made of - our strengths and our weaknesses in given circumstances. Virtues, are, of course, particular and personal strengths which allow oneself to seek the good, often going against the tide.

In our Catholic tradition we recognize four cardinal virtues. Prudence: the ability to choose wisely and to walk carefully and never recklessly the correct path and course, through the various complexities of life. A person who is prudent, is never impulsive or quick to judge. Instead, a person who has developed the gift of patience, is like a tried and tested captain of a ship who, weighing up all the pros and cons, is able to guide his vessel through a field of icebergs without risking the safety of the passengers.

The second cardinal virtue is justice. The one who is just is distinguished by a life marked by respect for the common good of all, a person who promotes the appropriate balance of relationships which fosters goodness and respect. The virtue of justice allows a person to see the big picture of our actions - the ability to take responsibility to promote and protect the rights and obligations of each human life, conscious of the present and future consequences of the failure to do so.

The third cardinal virtue we call fortitude. In the midst of obstacles, distractions and difficulties, fortitude is the virtue to hold your ground, to maintain a moral compass, to be able to "conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions." (ccc1808) This does not come from stubbornness but from a firmness of conviction in the pursuit of what is truly good and worthy.

The fourth cardinal virtue is temperance. This virtue protects a person from being enslaved by the pleasures of this life and ensures they do not allow natural instincts and impulses to compromise personal freedom. Temperance, recognizes the power of the passions and how the exaggeration of natural pleasures, particularly food, drink, sex and even gambling, can dangerously become addictions leading to moral and spiritual bankruptcy.

How do we acquire the human virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance? Practice, practice and practice! Virtues are built up into our character, strengthen us in the battlefield of this world when we preserve in our efforts to seek that which is good and seek to avoid what is evil. Granted, we are often weakened by our personal sins, discouraged by past mistakes and afraid of being vulnerable. "Christ's gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow the call to love what is good and shun evil." (ccc1811)

So, how do we go forward. We must do so with a sense of humility which means recognizing that any virtues we have or aspire towards are ultimately gifts from God. Without humility, all virtue collapses. Does God give us a model, an example of humility? Of course, he gives us himself. He came to us in the humility of a small baby boy. As he grew, he did so in virtue. And he demonstrated these virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance in the life he lived in the midst of human conflicts and in his battle with satan on our behalf. His death and resurrection signals the victory of humility and the beginning of a new era for humanity - the gift of supernatural virtues- the God-given virtues of faith, hope and charity.

As we close the month of October, dedicated to the Holy Rosary, we are reminded that our Blessed Mother Mary was always conscious of her complete dependency on God, all she was and all she had was a gift from God. Her virtue of true and perfect humility before God won God's favor. The humble he exalts.

Christ the King (1962 Calendar)

La fiesta de Cristo Rey proclamar solemnemente la realeza social de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo sobre el mundo. Rey de las almas y de las conciencias, de las inteligencias y de las voluntades, Cristo lo es tambiñen de las familias y de las ciudades, de los pueblos y de las naciones; en una palabra, Rey de todo el Universo. Es el reino divino de la Santa Iglesia, en el que se proporciona la salud a los enfermos, la luz a los ciegos, la libertad a los cautivos. Sus habitantes tienen poder para hacerse hijos de Dios, para vivir una vida divina, para gozar de la libertad; aparta del yugo de Satanás y nos comunica los bienes divinos.

Todo ello, en virtud de nuestra unión vital, de nuestra unidad de ser con Cristo, que es nuestra Cabeza, el Fundador de este reino, el que lo constituyó con sus enseñanzas, con sus ejemplos y, sobre todo, con su muerte de cruz. "Adquirió la Iglesia con su sangre". "Digno es el Cordero que fue inmolado, de recibir poder y riqueza, y sabiduría y fortaleza, y honor. A Él la gloria y el imperio por todos los siglos de los siglos amén."

The Church celebrates today, in it’s older calendar, the observance of Christ the King. The Church proclaims Christ Lordship over the world. The earth belongs to him. As King, he is to be given dominion over our souls and consciences. He is head of our families, the chief overseer of our city, all peoples and nations. Today’s Mass solemnly proclaims the universal and rightful jurisdiction of Jesus Christ.

"Yes, I am King, Jesus said to Pilate, for this I was born and came into this world, to bear witness to the Truth." Of course, His kingdom is not of this world, that is, it is not a temporal kingdom. It is "a kingdom of truth and life, the kingdom of grace and holiness, the kingdom of justice, of love and peace " (Preface).

However, we are to see these virtues, attributes of the Kingdom of God reflected in the physical reality of the Church as it contributes to the common good of the world. We see this practically in our contribution to education and the arts, providing health care to the sick, being an advocate for the those without voice, particularly the unborn baby and seeking the protection of marriage and family life.

Formed by his teachings, his example and, above all, his death on the cross, our allegiance to Christ comes from our debt of gravitated that he has paid a king’s ransom for our freedom from the slavery of sin. The King’s blood was spilt on the battlefield, not of defeat, but out of his strategy of love for his people. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever amen."

We must therefore say with St. Paul: "We give thanks to God the Father who made us worthy to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light. He delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” Viva Christo Rey - Long Live the King - Eternally.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

The Church gives us today’s liturgy so that we might meditate on the essential themes and gifts of unity and Christian love.

From the Gospel we hear the question “which is the greatest commandment?”

The word “commandment” to the casual ear might seem to appear quite constraining. But in essence, “commandment” means something that is handed down from one to another as a responsibility to fulfill. In this setting we look upon a commandment as something we do for the sake of our relationship with God. It forms a sacred covenant.

We keep God’s commandments in order to show our determination to be always united with Him, as expressed in all our relationships. What comes to mind immediately are the Ten Commandments? These are formal expressions of the divine law. But what does law, in all its forms, both divine and civil attempt to accomplish? Order and unity! However, divine law is ordered towards the perfection of love. We can clearly see this if we look at its opposite. Lawlessness points towards fear, division and self-centeredness.

The law of God has been revealed to us in order that there be unity and harmony to the whole universe, in all relationships. This is accomplished by freely responding to the invitation to be obedient to the law of God, and doing so in a spirit, not of fear of God’s anger, but rather out of love for the One who loves us with a love beyond our greatest hopes and imagination. It is only this sacred form of love, a gift from God that has the power to unite our heart and soul and our mind, enabling our lives to resonate with the very life of the Holy Trinity.

19th Sunday after Pentecost

Yo soy la salvación del pueblo, dice el Señor; en cualquier tri- bulación en que clamaren a Mí, les oiré; y seré siempre su Señor. Salmo 77, 1. Escucha, pueblo mío, mi ley; presta oído a las palabras de mi boca

Todos los hombres están llamados a entrar en el reino de los cielos, y a nadie se excluye del festin nupcial en que celebrará Dios las bodas de su Hijo con la humanidad rescatada por su Pasion.

The King who sends out invitations is of course our heavenly Father. The banquet is to celebrate the wedding of his Son, our Blessed Lord. We are the privileged guests.

During the course of his thirty-three years with us on this earth, our Blessed Lord did not take a wife. He remained celibate. While he walked the roads of the Holy Land he dedicated the whole of his life to his announcement of the Kingdom of God. His mission, however, was not simply confined to the years he lived among us. He gave to the Church the task of continuing this work.The Church is his Holy Bride. This Holy Mass is the wedding feast.

Unlike any other type of religious service or ritual, in the Holy Mass, we dare respond to the invitation to be part of a Wedding Banquet between heaven and earth. For in this place heaven and earth are wedded together in the one eternal offering Christ the Bridegroom, who from the Cross, gives his life for the salvation of his Bride, the Church, thus making her here on earth holy and true. (The final words of Christ on the cross illustrate the total giving of himself to his bride, the Church. John 19:30 records him as saying “te-telestai” – modern translations render it “It is finished”. But a more literal translation would better render Christ’s dying words on the Cross as “it is consummated”.

téleios (an adjective, derived from télos, "consummated goal") – mature (consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e. developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey).

In the Holy Mass , we make present again the Sacrifice of Christ the New Adam who gives his complete life to his Bride, the New Eve, without holding back anything. The two become one and new life is given.

Bread and wine from the old order of creation, is transformed by the Holy Spirit to become Christ’s Glorified and Heavenly Body and Blood, the first fruits of the new creation. You and I are also changed when we are open to the embrace of Christ in Holy Communion and allow nothing to get in the way.

In the same way nothing must interfere with the total giving and receiving of love between a husband and wife, we cannot allow sinfulness to get in the way of Holy Communion with the heavenly Lord. The language of the Gospel reminds us, we are to enter into this sacred place clothed in the virtues that make us compatible with the things of heaven.

In the same way as we regularly wash our clothes and even buy new ones, so too must we regularly examine the way we live our lives, and see the need to cleanse our souls from the soil of sins. This is accomplished, not with a quick prayer, but through the deep cleansing grace of the Sacrament of Confession.

So as not to loose our place at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb of God, the garment we should always be conscious of wearing in this holy place “should reflect a pure heart, a good conscience and a faith true and strong” (St. Augustine).

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-15T16:36:00.001-07:00

The People of Israel were exiled far from home. Persecuted, discriminated against they were forced to lay low. The huge mechanism of the imperial state and government they found themselves living under, did not crush their souls. They prayed quietly for deliverance. It came as a surprise. The first reading from today’s Sunday mass demonstrates that God can use whom ever he pleases to be his instrument of salvation – even the pagan King Cyrus. God heard the prayers of his people. Maybe the question we must ask is, does he hear our prayers? Do we pray for our legislators that God will guide them?

In today’s Gospel, our blessed Lord was careful to give respect to the civil authority office of his day. But, at the same time, our Lord reminds us that the state does not enjoy absolute power and dominion. As ordinary citizens of this land, even as Christians and as Catholics, we recognize that we have a contribution to make to the political system for the common good of everyone.

The bases of this is not the dogmas and doctrines of our religion. We share with every single person a relationship with a natural law that governs our instincts and intuitions, natural rights and responsibilities of each of us to protect the weak and the vulnerable. This, of course, includes the protection of the right to life from the first moment of conception, which every person who has breath is a natural advocate of, even if it is only just (unfortunately) for themselves!

Every right that we hold dear in civil law is stands upon the foundation of the fundamental right to life, to be alive. Take away the natural right to life of every conceived human being, then every other natural right we presume we have, easily crumbles like a house of cards. For this reason, you cannot support or even turn a blind eye to abortion while advocating your own right to live. To do so is pure selfishness.

The right to life is not a religious issue, and it’s not a political issue. The right to life, the right of a conceived child to live, is ingrained in the very law of nature, written into the very core of our biology.

When our blessed Lord in the Gospel said “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” he was not telling us, his followers and disciples, that our Christian faith is somehow a private affair - that is to be kept within the confines of a church building or a private home. We are to be model citizens, examples, honest and true, able to distinguish the difference between right and wrong, what is true and what is false, what is natural for human flourishing and what is contrary to Natural Law, and willing to make sacrifices for the common good of society.

In our defense of the most vulnerable human lives, from a child conceived in the secret of the womb, to our responsibilities to care for sick and the elderly, defending the natural role of male and female who come together to complement each other as a husband and wife to be a mother and a father, the natural right of children to expect stability in their family, to trust their parents natural instinct to see to their education by sharing with them their own values and insights.

In the human family we do have an influence on each other -for good and for bad. But in our conscience, formed well by reason not emotion, we have a common duty to seek that, which is truly good and worth making sacrifices for.

As Christians we are obliged to pray for those in government. In the same way as the pagan king Cyrus, unwittingly and even unknowingly collaborated with God’s plan to return the chosen people home from exile, then we too should pray and seek God’s gentle grace to open the hearts and consciences of those whose role is to protect and to serve to common good of humanity.

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost "

Todos los cánticos de la misa de este domingo están tomados de una antigua liturgia de dedicación y se refieren a una consagración de iglesia. Expresan la alegría del cristiano al poder venir a la casa del Señor a ofrecer la sola alabanza y el solo sacrificio dignos de él.

All the prayers of the Mass this Sunday are taken from an ancient ritual of the dedication and consecration of a church building. Without the touch of God, the Church, like a paralyzed man, is frozen. It sees the world, but unable to touch it because the sins of its members weigh it down. When the common mortar of faith binds them together, the Church becomes alive and strong.

In the Gospel, Jesus, seeing the faith of those who brought the paralytic said 'Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven'"

As we approach the end of the Church's year there is a sense that we have grown in maturity. In our youth we regarded perfection an easy to accomplish. As we grow older, we are more conscious of our sins and personal weaknesses. As the days become shorter we pray for redemption. We implore God’s Mercy to direct our hearts (Prayer) in the evening of our life (Offertory).

Our soul’s prayer is ultimately for peace. We need to reflect carefully and honestly on the condition of peace in our own heart and soul, in our daily life, our family life, with our neighbors. We can even reflect on the stability of peace in our own nations?

When we reflect on the big picture of the world and the close-up picture of our own lives, we know each one of us must call out to God asking for the grace to be in right relationship with him and the world around us.

The paralytic was unable to do anything for himself. Did not Jesus cure him; absolve him from sins, only when his friends and neighbors brought him to the Lord. He saw their faith. What faith will he see today? If our world is to change and be transformed, Our Lord must see us courageously bring what is broken and paralyzed to him, with faith that He can heal, He can restore and make new what we know we are powerless to change by our own strength.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

The King who sends out invitations is of course our heavenly Father. The banquet is to celebrate the wedding of his Son, our Blessed Lord. We are the privileged guests.

During the course of his thirty-three years with us on this earth, our Blessed Lord did not take a wife. He remained celibate. While he walked the roads of the Holy Land he dedicated the whole of his life to his announcement of the Kingdom of God. His mission, however, was not simply confined to the years he lived among us. He gave to the Church the task of continuing this work. The Church is his Holy Bride. This Holy Mass is the wedding feast.

XVII DOMINGO DESPUÉS DE PENTECOSTÉS

"Amarás al Señor tu Dios, y al prójimo como a ti mismo". He ahí el precepto del amor de Dios y del prójimo, del amor práctico que la Epíslola y el Evangelio nos inculcan. En amar a Dios y a los hermanos consiste toda la ley y los profetas.

Oración. El amor de Dios quiere ser puro y sin particiones; excluye cuanto a él se opone. – Concede. Señor, a tu pueblo, evitar las asechanzas del demonio, y seguirte a ti, único Dios, con puro corazón.

The Church gives us today’s liturgy so that we might meditate on the essential themes and gifts of unity and Christian love.

From the Gospel we hear the question “which is the greatest commandment?”

We keep God’s commandments in order to show our determination to be always united with Him, as expressed in all our relationships. What comes to mind immediately are the Ten Commandments. These are formal expressions of the divine law. But what does law, in all its forms, both divine and civil attempt to accomplish? Order and unity! However, divine law is ordered towards the perfection of love. We can clearly see this if we look at its opposite. Lawlessness points towards fear, division and self-centeredness.

The law of God has been revealed to us in order that there be unity and harmony to the whole universe. This is accomplished by freely responding to the invitation to be obedient to the law of God, and doing so in a spirit, not of fear of God’s anger, but rather out of love for the One who loves us with a love beyond our greatest hopes and imagination. It is only this sacred form of love, a gift from God that has the power to unite our heart and soul and our mind, enabling our lives to resonate with the very life of the Holy Trinity.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-10-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

Commenting on this portion of the Gospel, Saint John Chrysostom like many of the ancient commentators of the Scriptures sees this passage as symbolic for the whole history of salvation. Our heavenly Father “planted a vineyard, set a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it and built a tower. [When you think of it, he left little for us to do] except take care of what was there - preserve what was given. Nothing was left [by God] undone - all was accomplished” (Homily 68.1) Just, look after the vineyard. Don’t get lazy. Keep it looking new. If you patiently care for the vines, in time they will respond with fresh grapes with an abundant harvest.

In a way, it’s a bit like what we have to do here. Our little gem of a parish church is like a vineyard. When we arrive here for Mass each Sunday, the place is immaculately clean, the grounds are well kept, the books are in order, the candles are trimmed, the ministers of the altar, the altar servers and the choir – everything seems just to flow, move so naturally. But we cannot take any of this for granted. We know as well, that in order to celebrate a harvest of choice and fresh produce, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to insure there will be abundant fruit.

A little team of cleaners discreetly slips into the church on Saturday morning, scrubbing, polishing and sweeping. They return again on Monday morning to do the same after we have left, picking up what we leave behind. Sacristan arrive at the crack of dawn, open up the church, irons the linens, sets out the vestments, measures the wine, counts out the hosts, checks the microphones, readies the books. The altar servers spends afternoons and evenings, practicing their movements, learning their prayers, how to care for the sacred vessels and walk with candles without dripping wax, or lighting charcoal without burning fingers. And the choir, on practicing on Thursday nights studying the sacred art of listening, repeating, breathing and praying. I could go on, but you know the point being made. The vineyard of the Lord is not a captured picture on a postcard frozen in the height of its glory. Nor is it the vineyard of the Lord a resort, a theme park or convention center where crowds move through to be dazzled by a carefully rehearsed program.

The Vineyard of the Lord is instead the Church throughout the world. But we experience the Church most concretely, (not in picture books, television documentaries, news reports, movies, blogs or sound bites, but instead we experience the Church most concretely) in this parish church when each of us is simply being faithful to what God calls us to be in life, using our particular vocations as fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, priests and nuns, as sons and daughters to build up the Kingdom of God. What we do here and what we become through what he do here, gives us a taste of what God wishes to be the future harvest of his vineyard for the whole world.

But this is hard work. And usually the hardest work and the greatest sacrifices made are often times hidden, in secret, but should never be taken for granted. The sacrifices of parents for their children, spouses for each other, families for the sake of each other and countless individuals who make great personal sacrifices for our comfort, our security and our future.

But all this fruit means nothing, unless it is attached to Christ the true vine. At the cost of his great and eternal sacrifice and out of the depths of love that only God truly understands, He offers us, through the sacrifice of the Mass, the fruit of his own labor in the vineyard – his body and blood - the anecdote of salvation, the medicine of immortality, the remedy for eternal life. This we take for granted only at our peril.

Whether one receives Holy Communion or not, we have to do our part, we must continue to make our own personal sacrifices but most importantly seek their true value, in them being united to Christ’s sacrifice, made present again in this Holy Mass.

Let us also ask our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Rosary, who placed her whole life in the hands of God, to inspire us with a renewed strength to continue to work in the vineyard of the Lord, with courage and perseverance “for our own good and the good of all his Holy Church.”

26th Sunday: Capital Campaign Wk 2

2011-09-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

This is the second week of our capital campaign to pay off our debt.

I want to thank many of you who responded positively

to the message I spoke last week,

to those who offered me encouragement in what I’m trying to do,

thank you!

I have not made a direct appeal for financial help in eight years,

since the time we gathered the funds

to build this church.

I don’t know if I’m

out of practice or not, but I’m sure time will tell!

The reason I have not talked about church finances in eight years

is because I presumed (and some would say foolishly)

that, eight years ago, I though

that if we got a loan to build this church,

then, after building it and moving into this beautiful building

using it and worshiping God in this holy place

with reverence and a great sense of the sacred,

respecting our Catholic tradition

and what has been passed on

from the generations of Catholic who came before us

– I presumed that everyone who would came here on Sundays

would respond generously,

that many hearts and souls would be moved

to offer a sacrifice in response to God’s presence

and that in no time, our debt would be paid off.

I am beginning to think that “no time” is turning out to be “eternity”.

Like the parable last Sunday, Our Lord offers us another Gospel to meditate on -

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:

"What is your opinion?

A man had two sons.

He came to the first and said,

'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'

[This first son] said in reply, 'I will not, '

but afterwards changed his mind and went.

The man came to the other son and gave the same order.

[The second son] said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.

Which of the two did his father's will?"

Like last week, let me paraphrase the Gospel into our present context.

“A parish priest said to two Catholics,

“Go out and work in the vineyard so we can keep the parish running”.

One Catholic said, “I’m sorry Father, I’ve mouths to feed at home”.

But afterwards that Catholic, because he had a good conscience,

later thought about it, and changed his mind.

Then there was the other Catholic who said “Yes Father I’ll help,

keep up the great work, I’m praying for you”,

then the following Sunday, that same Catholic

started going to another parish for mass,

just in case Father would ask him again.

So, which catholic did the right thing?

You see it’s all about accountability. Both of us are Catholics.

All of us are accountable to God and God’s Holy Church.

Now, if you went to Catholic school

or had a good Sunday School Teacher

you would have been taught

the Five Precepts of the Catholic Church.

And you would have been taught that

if you did not fulfill the five precepts,

it is indeed an offense against God and His Holy Church

– in other words

a sin!

So let’s go through the checklist, the five precepts.

1. [Unless you are sick or it is phyisically impossible for you to do so, ]

"You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation

and rest from servile labor."

2. "You shall confess your sins at least once a year."

3. "You shall receive Holy Communion at least during the Easter season."

4. "You shall observe

the prescribed days of fasting established by the Church

5. "You shall help to provide

for the needs of the Church

each according to his or her own ability.

The fifth precept, let me repeat it:

"You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church,

each according to his own ability”

- according to one’s own ability,

not according to the minimum.

And what did I say, at the beginning? We were taught

that if you did not fulfill the five precepts,

it is indeed an offense against God and His Holy Church

– in other words

a sin!

If you are able,

not if you want to,

but if you are able

to offer back to God,

to respond to God’s blessing in your life with a sacrifice

– you have to do so.

You might say, “I can’t”

but then you might think about it later and say,

“well, maybe I don’t need all those channels I never watch,

maybe I can commit to not eating-out as much,

maybe I don’t have to spend all those bucks

on movie theater tickets and junk food.

Maybe it’s time to budget for my Church every week

Coming to think about it, if I make a plan to do so,

I can use it as a tax deductable.

“Sign me up for those envelopes, Father!”

He came to the first and said,

'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'

He said in reply, 'I will not, '

but afterwards changed his mind and went.

Accountability to that

what should be the ultimate priority in our lives also applies to me.

I am accountable, not just to the bishop and to you,

but I am accountable also to God,

to ensure that,

not only I will feed the flock he has entrusted to me,

but also I am accountable to God

to be an authentic priest in his presence.

In March I will have been a priest for 20 years.

I have been in this parish for ten of those years.

I have to be able to discern

if I still have the particular gifts and graces

to ensure that I can be a good shepherd of St. Margaret’s

and an authentic priest to God.

I have to

not only pray and worry about your salvation,

but also my own.

If I can not ensure that the parish’s needs are being looked after

and that the future of this church is secure

– if church finances become for me an unnecessary distraction,

to the point that I become distracted from my prayers

and my everyday life as a priest,

stressed out to the point of exhaustion or derelict of my responsibilities –

then I too would have to discern,

for the sake of my own salvation and accountability,

that maybe there is another priest out there

that God has given a special gift

of being a pastor good at fundraising.

When I suggested this to someone in the parish,

their reaction was, “Father, are you threatening us?”

I said “No. God is”.

In being faithful and fruitful in my ministry as a prieat and pastor,

I would rather be threatened by God

than by the bishop!

At least I know

that God is very forgiving!

The bottom time is,

if we can not fulfill the mission of the parish

to offer the sacraments to all those in need,

to provide for the catholic education of our children,

to respond with the appropriate resources

for the many people who come to us wishing to be Catholic,

if we will no longer be able

to invest time and energy to maintain this sacred environment,

then what you and take for granted here at St. Margaret’s

will of course have to be reevaluated.

I am, ‘a little optimistic”

I take encouragement that some have called the parish office

to enquire the best way to help with the debt.

I know too that there will be

some of those capital campaign envelopes

from the special folders

that will be returned and placed in the offering basket today

when it comes round.

I know that there are a few of you who told me

you are going to talk with you’re the person who does your taxes.

These are good and encouraging signs

that work is being done in the vineyard of the Lord.

And finally, you will remember last week I gave everyone a special folder

outlining the campaign and the needs of the church.

If you did not get one,

After Mass there will be someone in the piazza

and the far exit doors with a folder for you.

If you didn’t get one, please take one.

Even if you are not a parishioner –

Still take one – we are all Catholics (part of the same church)

And even if you are not catholic – what are you waiting for !!!

To parishioners, if you were not here last week,

And this is important, please go to the outside table after mass

and take your sticky address label

if you haven’t done so.

Not only does this ensure me that you are not missing,

but it will save me a phone call.

Once again, along with the Gospel Message from Our Lord,

I invite you to respond to the invitation to work in the vineyard of the Lord.

If you say yes, I pray that you will be generous and faithful.

And if you say no,

I pray you will have a good think about it

And later change your mind!

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-09-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Invitation to Working in the Vineyard

Dear friends, you’ll remember last week, that I announced we would be staring our new capital camping to pay off our debt, the result of the building of our church. At the same time, we cannot afford to sit on our hands, while the interest in our debt increases the size of the hole we are in.

As well as paying our regular bills, there are some projects that can not be delayed any longer, such as some landscaping issues that need to be resolved, some repair work here and there, preparing for a new translation of Mass and with it new hymns and prayers – that means new books in the pews. Although our long-term goals are to get a convent of nuns up and running, there is also a genuine and immediate need for another priest to help on Sundays, in particular with confessions (and this is a “good problem”). Now, I did say last week that I was going to address all this in the piazza after Mass – a kind of town square event. You’ll forgive me, if I do it now. This is the proper place, and just before the final blessing, I going to have distributed, special folders and information about the capital campaign.

So why am I going to talk to you here and now about this campaign? It is because it is part of the Gospel – the gospel we just read and listened to. So, everyone, open up again the gospel we have just heard.

If we could condense the whole history of our parish into one day in the light of the Gospel, what would be see? Follow along with me:

“Jesus told his disciples this parable:

The kingdom of heaven (within the walls of this church building, we come face to face with the kingdom of heaven) is like a landowner (that would be the pastor) who went out at dawn (dawn would be the beginning of the parish back in 1977) to hire laborers for his vineyard (those laborers would be the first parishioners, back then).

After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, (the graces of the sacraments) he sent them into his vineyard (Back in 1977, the vineyard of St. Margaret’s was a regular house near Oceanside Blvd and El Camino Real. The first workers in the vineyard were former parishioners of St. Mary’s, Star of the Sea. And it was in the garage of that house off El Camino Real, that the first Mass of St. Margaret’s was celebrated)

Going out about nine o'clock (if dawn is 1977, so nine o’clock would be the 1980’s), the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace (that would be potential new parishioners), and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. (Now with new parishioners joining the parish, Mass had to be moved out of the garage and into the cafeteria of Mira Costa College)

(Read on) And he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. (Noon - this would be the mid-1980’s, when this parcel of land we are on was bought, and the center of the parish has moved significantly east.

Notice that, in the biblical language, 12 Noon to 3pm is the hottest part of the day. Imagine working in the heat the day, the great sacrifices that have to be made. Great sacrifices where made, by parishioners back then. At midday, the parishioners raised the funds to build the hall, which would serve as a parish community center.

At 3pm in the life of the parish, more workers were called into the vineyard, so much so that we needed to build this church. In the heat of the day, a credit to the resourcefulness and sacrifices of many parishioners, some, who would never see the fruits of their labor - funds were raised to finally begin the building of our parish church.)

(Read on) Going out about five o'clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'

They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' (Five o’clock in the afternoon is a nice time of the day. All the hard work is done – it’s the time we arrive home to a bit of comfort. I think 5pm in the timeline of our parish, marks the opening of the doors of this church in November 2007. Since then, as the parable shows us, many new parishioners have joined us in the work of the vineyard. Whether you arrived at daybreak, 9 o’clock in the morning, midday or late in the afternoon, we are all equally part of the same parish, and we all share in the common history and work of this parish.

(Back to the Gospel) When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' (Dear friends, this is the evening, a time to look back on the day in the life of our parish.)

(It continues) When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. (What does this tell us? That since that first day, early on, when the parish opened in 1977, and to this day, everyone receives the same graces, and the same sacraments. God promises us all the same salvation, whether we are young or old, whether we come from “up the road” or from “over the hill”, whether you are nervous about the economy, trying to make end’s meet, working towards retirement, or enjoying a comfortable social life. God gives each of us the necessary graces, according to the circumstances of our lives, in order to achieve holiness and salvation.)

(Back to the Gospel) And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' (Now here is human nature – I know that, in beginning this capital campaign to pay off our debt, there are more than a few here, who have already made great personal sacrifices, that allowed us to put money in the bank to qualify us for the loan to build this church. But each one of us, all of us, have a history of making sacrifices – be it for our own families, or for the common good of the whole Church, be it here at St. Margaret’s, or if you are new to this parish, I can only presume you also have a history of making sacrifices in your own life. Asking for a sacrificial contribution is not something that should be new to any of us. To be Catholic, is to be part of a great family, where we always chip in and go the extra mile whenever we are asked, even when we might not see the fruits of our own labor – a case in point is the great generosity of this parish to the missionary appeals.)

(And the final portion of today’s gospel) He said to one of them in reply, 'my friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?

Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last." (To make this point, to highlight, not only the generosity of those who come here on Sundays, but also to show the faith that there is in the direction we are going, during this past 6 months, I sat down with various parishioners, some who have been here since the early days, others who are more recent in the parish, some who live in the immediate area, others who travel great distances simply to be part of this church family, young and old – when I sat down with this great sampling of Catholic faithful and explained our financial circumstances, the reason we have a debt, and highlighted that, in this vineyard of the Lord, even at the close of the day, that there is still work to be done – the response from them? “Father, we will help you bring in the harvest”.

The only priest here, a pastor of what used to be a small parish somewhere between Oceanside and Vista, I have found great faith and encouragement in the generosity and support of all those who worship here in this church. Once again, as your pastor and as a priest at this altar, I am asking you to support our campaign to pay off our church debt, so that, in the words of the Mass, this our sacrifice, may be acceptable to God, our almighty Father.

Thank you for privilege and for this “happy burden” being your priest and your pastor.

2011-09-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

September 11^th, 2001

A Priest Reflects Back Ten Years

How the Daily Scriptures at Mass

Carried us through a week of tragedy

Tuesday Morning, September 11^th

First Reading: Col 2:6-15 Gospel: Luke 6:12-19

The images of hijacked planes, collapsing buildings and unspeakable carnage turned over again and again in the mind. It fell to the readings of the morning Mass to carry the heavy burden of try to reflect on all of this in God’s light. Saint Paul told us first to be rooted deep with a strong unshakable foundation, but to build upon Christ as well as to be beware of deceivers in our midst. We were reminded, by the Apostle to the Gentiles, of how we were buried with Christ and that God would disarm the principalities and powers.

We were asking the Lord how we could have allowed this to happen on our own doorstep. The morning’s Gospel from St. Luke reminded us that the Lord, who chose at daybreak his Twelve Apostles, included in this intimate company of disciples, a traitor whose own life would end in suicide. And yet, in the same portion of Scripture, we also would read that Christ’s ministry of healing continued undeterred, and “those who were troubled with unclean spirits were healed”.

September 12^th

First Reading: Col 3:1-11 Gospel: Luke 6:20-26

The Scriptures for Wednesday were timely too. No doubt the continual barrage of reports and the switching back and forth from one news channel to the next had numbed our senses. We needed words of heavenly comfort as the number of the dead began to be estimated. Saint Paul continued to advise us this time to look beyond what we take so much for granted in our earthy lives. And, as if to drive the point home further without subtlety, he added, “You have died!” We were plunged without notice into the depths of the Lord’s passion and reminded to continuously die to our sinful nature lest it catch up with us. The saint asked us that morning to put aside anger and quick temper and to see all our fellow citizens as our heavenly Father would see them – without the ethnic stereotypes and racial biases we easily use. Instead we were now all one in Christ. St. Paul, himself a former religious zealot, was watching out for us. He had been there, done that! But it was the Gospel for that day, the Beatitudes that set the seal of God’s Word triumphant over tragedy.

“Blessed are the poor, the hungry, those who mourn”. These words are “gospel”, good news. Not just for our comfort, these words guide us home. When the wind had been robed from our sails, when the air had been knocked out of our lungs, when our eyes had been blinded by dust and debris, the Gospel pointed us in the right direction. God’s Word challenged us to recognize our blessedness even when we are poor, vulnerable, and heavy with loss. When, what we hold on to as precious and sacred, is untimely ripped away still we are to be called “Blessed”. On Tuesday we experienced the agony of Calvary’s Cross. Now the burden and weight of the tomb pressed down heavily upon us. We could only pray that tomorrow, would see us rise with Christ to the new challenge, leaving behind the old played out destructive attitudes of the past. This was our new challenge, empowered by the “Eucharistic Beatitudes” to bring to this fragile world, burnt deep by the fire of hatred, Christ’s ministry to bless and to heal in the midst of injustice and neglect.

September 13^th

First Reading: Col 3:12-17 Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Thursday came. I think we we’re gradually coming out of our shock, our emotions were frayed at the ends, and we were tired and speechless. Much had been said. It was St. John Chrysostom’s feast day. When we priests had all but run out of things to say, here was a saint, renowned for his preaching and able to put the right words together for to explain mystery itself. But strangely enough, no preaching was necessary on our part, no commentary needed. The Gospel said it all that morning: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you; bless those who maltreat you… for the measure you measure with will be measured back to you” (Luke 6: 27-38). There are times when great preaching is accomplished by standing back, not saying a word but listening attentively.

September 14^th

First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9 Second Reading: Phil 2:6-11

Gospel: John 3:13-17

With Friday the pictures of the tons of crushed concrete and twisted metal, all scrunched up into a pile of smoldering wasteland begged the question of possible survivors. Countless civilians, firefighters, police and rescuers lay buried deep, crushed amid the bloodied rubble. Throughout the nation, the national flag was hoisted high and then to half-mast. However today the Church unfolded its own banner, the Cross of Christ. Again, it was timely.

The Friday Feast day was called the “Exaltation of the Holy Cross”. Its roots lay back in the early fourth century with the rediscovery of Calvary and the empty tomb, buried under tons of debris and dirt heaped upon it after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. A story tells us of how St. Helena discovered the wooden Cross of Christ amid the wreckage and waste uncovered at the scene of Golgotha. Earlier, her son, the Emperor Constantine, marched into battle with the image of the Cross, assured of victory under its sign. Although we still debate his success and the spoils of his war, one thing is for sure; at the heart of the destruction wrought against great cities like Jerusalem, Beirut, Sarajevo, Washington or New York, the Cross of Christ claims it’s stumping ground there in its midst. Even in Rome, the Good Friday stations find their way around the Coliseum, now in ruins, it’s ruble and stones saturated with the blood of countless innocent victims of persecution.

Friday’s Scripture encouraged us to look towards the glorious and triumphant Cross for healing and salvation. The Cross would not become the tattered flag of defeat, but the sign of victory even when life’s wounds are deep.

September 15^th

First Reading: Heb 5:7-9 Gospel: Luke 2:33-25

Saturday’s liturgy offered consolation to all the wounded. We celebrated on this day the memorial of “Our Lady of Sorrows”, a reminder of the families now torn apart and devastated by man’s inhumanity to man. What fitting patron to dedicate broken hearts to than Our Lady pictured at the foot of the cross, holding close to her own body the bloodied body of her son. The Gospel message recalled the prophetic words of Simeon to Mary, that her own heart would be pierced through with a sword. The pains of birth must give way to life, and death to life eternal. Although our faith and hope looks forward to that new life promised, for those who embrace Christ’s cross, this day was a reminder of the tenderness of our wounds and the need for authentic healing. The image of Michelangelo’s Pieta easily comes to mind – for out of the painful blows of the sculptor’s chisel inflicted upon the hard and stubborn rock, an image tragic as it is beautiful is revealed to us.

September 16^th

First Reading: Exodus 32:7:11, 13-14 Gospel: Luke 15: 1-32

And so we came to Sunday knowing our churches would be filled by men, woman and children still shaken and wounded with many questions to ask of God. We priests stood at the altar like chaplains to the nation knowing too well we carried on our shoulders the prayers of the faithful. We were all exhausted, our senses worn out from the constant media blitz that exposed us to the enduring images of destruction and mayhem from every angle. At a time when our armed forces were standing on alert and the finger pointed to the east the Sunday Scriptures revealed the bigger picture and a Gospel-remedy lay at hand.

The First Reading from Exodus showed us Moses pleading with God on behalf the Hebrew people. He reminded God of the covenant he made regarding the land given to Abraham, land promised to his descendents Isaac and Israel. In the Middle East, the land is crucial for survival of tribe and flock. Equally sacred was the position of the first-born son who stood to inherit. Although Isaac was not first-born, he was God’s choice. His older half-brother Ishmael was driven from the Promised Land and into the wilderness, no doubt angered by this loss. Understandably, the Arab Muslims look back to him as their father. It seems that the sons of Ishmael and Isaac, both sons of Father Abraham, are still fighting over this inheritance.

And as if to provide the anecdote, Jesus presented us with a gospel parable that we have come to call the Prodigal Son. But it’s not just about a father and a son; it’s again about two brothers torn apart and estranged from each other, again over land. We see this played out between Jew and Muslim, Serb and Bosnian, British Loyalist and Irish Republican - the conflict over land.

Did the older brother eventually make peace with his younger brother, or did his anger turn to bitterness and provoke him to violence and revenge. We are not told. Maybe, this is because we, ourselves, are responsible for the outcome. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we are now part of the family, adopted sons and daughters of the one heavenly Father. Our ministry in the present circumstances is clearly marked out – to bring about the reconciliation of two brothers and the healing necessary to close the wounds left open by bitter memories.

Concluding thoughts

So often we priests hear from the flock how difficult it is to understand the Scriptures and where best to begin with them. The daily Mass readings for the week often provide a good place to start. But as important a good Biblical commentary and sermon is to appreciate and understand the context of the Holy Scriptures, our life and times, united to the Holy Sacrifice of the Cross, provide only too clearly the relevance of God’s Word today and every day.

Father Cávana Wallace

Pastor,

St. Margaret Parish, 4300 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, CA 92056

Parish webpage: www.oceanside4christ.com

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-09-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

The theme of reconciliation, found in today’s Sunday Gospel, will be carried over into the power of Forgiveness in next Sunday’s Gospel. One clearly sets the stage for the other. Reconciliation comes from God’s effort - forgiveness, from His love. Both are uniquely wed in Jesus and as Christians, we are expected to imitate him in our efforts to love as he does. Unfortunately, we often fail, if not continuously in this regard.

In the Old Testament period of today’s first reading, the People of Israel were far from home. They were driven from their land, forced to leave their sacred and holy city Jerusalem. The priestly prophet Ezekiel was appointed by God to secure the their safe return. This was to be, not only his mission, but also his personally responsibility. This first reading from Scripture shows how “anxious” God is make sure that His people are given the opportunity to hear his voice. He is a God who desperately wants to get his message through, to give his people every possible opportunity to come to their senses. God even goes so far as to threaten the life of his own spokesperson if he leaves any bit of the message out; so crucial it is for our salvation.

Like a prophet, a Christian has concern for the welfare of others so that their freedom from any sort of captivity can be secured. However, often the challenge we face is to be credible witnesses of reconciliation. Too often, our own sins can often be distractions, not simply to those we wish to be an example to, but also to ourselves. So that it would not have a power over us, on the cross Christ looked face to face with every sin and fault of this world and paid the price on our behalf so that we would be “free from fear and save from the hands of our enemies”.

Too often we will presume to know exactly the solution to rid sin from our own lives and the lives of the others. But this can often be according to our own standards, not God’s. Remember Our Blessed Lord reminded his disciple to take the plank of wood out of his or her own eye first before attempting to take the splinter out of someone else’s. And because of this attitude, in our own arrogance, we fail to admit to our own shortcomings and weaknesses not only to our loved ones, but also to God. Too many relationships are rotted away when people stop talking to each other. Too many souls fall into the allurement of sin because they refuse to examine their souls in the light of God’s law which can untangle the confusion of mixed messages.

Taking our cue from Christ’s words in the Gospel, sinfulness is not eradicated from our midst by “fixing” oneself or ones neighbor. We are not broken - we often "messed up". But when we try to "fix" someone, it is seldom done out of love or justice. Usually it’s just trying to get even and is often out of a response of anger. Our Lord reminds us also that we have to, at times, allow the wheat and the weeds grow together, if there is a danger of destroying the good while targeting the bad.

We have all been loved imperfectly by this world’s secondhand love - by parents, spouses, family and friends, by everyone who has ever reached out to us or we in turn, to them. To often, we have been burnt and so our hearts have hardened (Ps 95:8), closed up in fear. It is only when we realize that we cannot love perfectly or love unconditionally and not expect from each other what can only be expected from Christ, can two or three humbly gather in Christ’s “saving name” to experience the healing power of God’s perfect gift – perfect love, that is the love of Jesus Christ. By entering into this Holy Eucharist, we are invited to abandon our own efforts to save ourselves and instead to look to the one, the only one who truly knows how to love perfectly and unconditionally. Because from the Cross-, the gift of reconciliation is offered to the world. Let us pray for the humility to accept and embrace it more and more.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-08-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

The Scriptures speak convincingly of the centrality of the cross in the drama of our salvation. In the Old Testament reading, the prophet Jeremiah has been imprisoned by the very ones he has tried to save, and even though every fiber of his body has been punished by his captors, the prophet - true to his vocation, can not abandon his mission.

The torment and persecution of Jeremiah prefigures what Christ must do in a most sublime way in faithfulness to the will of his Father for the eternal salvation of the many.

St. Peter does not understand that Christ, in his role as High Priest, must face suffering and death. St. Peter who was chosen by the Lord as the Rock, upon which the Church was to be built, is not allowed to be a stumbling block. Nothing or nobody must prevent Christ from reaching the top of Mount Calvary where he will cry out from the agony of the cross for the salvation of humanity.

Keeping all this in mind – the backdrop of Christ’s upward journey should remind us of Mount Sinai of the Old Testament. On that holy mountain of the Lord, on that secret hidden mountaintop wreathed in smoke and light, Moses spoke secretly to God who chiseled into rock the Commandments. On Mount Calvary the Son of God was stretched out between the heavens and earth, and spoke to His heavenly Father on our behalf with every fiber of his being. A new commandment – “love one another as I have loved you” How does He love us, how does he show us how to love? To love with forgiveness and with sacrifice and offering up to heaven on behalf of others, the pain we must sometimes have to endure.

It is no wonder that St. Peter’s first reaction was to try to prevent the cross from happening. But, painfully he learned its value.

St. Peter was also crucified on a cross, upside down, on a hillside outside the old city walls of Rome. He was buried in its shadow. That hill was called by the Romans, the Vatican Hill. Let us pray for the courage to embrace Christ’s cross in all our own trials and all our tribulations of life.

11th Sunday after Pentecost (1962 Calendar)

Signos de la Alianza. El pueblo elegido recibe de Dios signos y símbolos distintivos que marcan su vida litúrgica: no son ya solamente celebraciones de ciclos cósmicos y de acontecimientos sociales, sino signos de la Alianza, símbolos de las grandes acciones de Dios en favor de su pueblo. CCC 1150. Signos asumidos por Cristo. En su predicación, el Señor Jesús se sirve con frecuencia de los signos de la Creación para dar a conocer los misterios el Reino de Dios (cf. Lc 8,10). CCC 1151

In his ministry of loosing tongues and opening ears, the Lord anticipated a time when all nations would hear and speak of God visiting his people. But in order to do so, barriers must be overcome and walls must be breached. For this reason, the Lord ‘looked up to the heavens and groaned, and said, ‘Ephphatha! (Be opened)”

This is not just the physical opening of the ears and mouth to receive and speak the Word of God. This miracle is also a parable for another deafness and impediments of speech that affects us all at times. Christ would often lament that his disciples lacked understanding of who he was and what his ministry was about. Remember what he said to Philip, “Have I been with you so long and still you do not know me?’

Pope St. Gregory the Great, who put into formal practice the way we celebrate this Mass, provides a beautiful image for us of tonight’s Gospel. He reminds us that “the Holy Spirit is called the finger of God. When the Lord put his fingers into the ears of the deaf mute, he was opening the soul of a man to faith through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” (Homily on Ezekiel, Homily 10)

Sometimes we prefer to be deaf. You have an excuse for not listening and you can blame other people. I know how difficult it is to tell someone they are deaf, especially when they do not want to listen to you? Sometimes, like Christ in the gospel, out of charity you have to poke them in the ear! A deaf person hates that. They will become angry and irritable. I know that myself! So, you can imagine the reaction of the man in the Gospel tonight when the Lord did just that.

My dear friends, when God taps you on the shoulder or pokes you in the ear with his finger, sure it might hurt and there might be a bit of bruising for a while. But there is a reason that this is the way it is sometimes done – to break down that wall of resistance, the fortifications we sometimes hide behind or built up even high, often because we do not want to be hurt or suffer.

The man in the gospel who was deaf and mute was, because of his condition, estranged from his family and friends. But when Jesus finally got into his head, literally, who do you think this man would have run to first? Naturally, his mother! Our blessed mother Mary witnessed so many miracles at the hand of her son, she waits for us to tell her of the all that God has done. She always has an ear for her children! Our Lady of Consolation, pray for us.

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-08-20T14:24:00.001-07:00

Our Holy Father Pope Benedict is in Spain to meet with Catholic young people from all over the globe who have arrived in the capital Madrid to celebrate World Youth Day. Numbers just released by the Spanish authorities have confirmed that over one million Catholic teenagers and young people are now with the pope this weekend and attending Sunday Mass.

Whether we gather for Sunday mass in whatever numbers, as Catholics we do so in union with our extended family in union with Benedict our Pope, and Robert our bishop. This is the hallmark of our Catholic faith, our Catholic culture and our particular way of life - the great emphasis on family and community.

Our faith, although personal, is never a private affair. It spills over into the life of our family, touches the hearts of our friends and it can even be seen and even recognized from the streets! What holds it all together, and has done so throughout two thousand years, is a gift from God. It is our family loyalty - from the truth of our Catholic faith that has been handed down to us from the apostles. And it is from the special role and grace God has given to St. Peter and his successors to look after the Household of the Lord, the family of God, the flock of Christ, the Bride of the Lamb – the Church.

To understand and appreciate the position of authority given to Peter by Christ, the First Reading from the Old Testament provides an introduction. It sets in context the circumstances by which God hands over the keys of his house to a new occupant.

From the First Reading we hear that Shebna was the master of the palace in Jerusalem. And as such, in those days of old, he was in a position not unlike a Secretary of State. But in the face of war and political rivalries, instead of falling back on the strength that God promised the Chosen People, Shebna sought political alliances and compromises with the pagan enemies. He fell back on his own strength, his own intuitions and resources. Instead of trusting God to defend his people, he was arrogant, presumptuous, easily influenced by the opinions and religious and military strategists of his day. He was “master of the palace”, he was distinguished in the eyes of the world, he knew that when he spoke, it carried weight and respect from those who either feared him, or from those who sucked up to him for titles and prestige. “No”, says God. This is not one who can be like a “father” to my people. This is not one who can be faithful to my word, but this is instead someone who corrupts my revelation to the People of Israel with his own words, not mine. Shebna was sacked!

A mere servant, Eliakim, replaced the master of the palace and was given by God authority to speak on behalf of the Almighty, to guarantee faithfulness to God’s revelation of himself in the covenant established between the heavens and earth. Let no worldly power or ambition, speculation or novelty speak on behalf of God, but only the one to whom God has given the keys of his household!

Because the apostle Simon Peter knew his weakness and vulnerability, his frailty in the presence of God, heaven was able to speak through him. At the baptism of Christ, God the Father spoke loud and clear that “This was my beloved Son”. Here, in Caesarea Philippi, in an area heavenly influenced by pagan culture, again God the Father spoke, and this time through the voice of Peter declaring that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter had spoken with infallibly.

The keys of God’s household, given to St. Peter (our first pope) by Christ, have been handed down without interruption for two thousand years from the hand of one pope to the next, each given the responsibility to look after the family and the needs of the children. But where there not sinful popes who gave scandal. Indeed. And, in those times when “papa” was distracted, preoccupied or even sometimes absent from the table, it was those noble and older sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters the saints, who often came to the rescue to help feed and shelter the younger children. That what family does! And was, no doubt, hard at work behind the scenes!

In these days when our Catholic faith, identity and family way of life is often challenged, let us today look with renewed hope to the million youth who have travelled a long journey to Spain to support and encourage each other in the family faith. Let us pray for them and for our Holy Father Pope Benedict who, as a kind and loving father, has gathered the family around him to tell them of the wonderful stories of our salvation passed down from one generation to the next, unlocking, in his kind, gentle and loving way, the secrets of the Kingdom of God.

The Assumption of Mary

2011-08-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

"In 1950, on November1 , Pope Pius XII solemnly declared as a divinely revealed dogma that at the end of her earthly life, Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, virgin for ever, was taken up into the glory of heaven with both her body and her soul.

In the whole of creation she is the first one to obtain the full glory of the new and restored creation. She is the first one who is not only definitively in heaven-for the canonized saints also have this glory-but she is there completely – in body. She is the first one to whom it is applied, Christ's complete victory over sin.

Mary’s glory will become fully ours at the second coming of Christ and after our last judgment. Her glory will be partly ours after our death, when we reach, please God, heaven. It is already ours now in hope, for our bodies are being fortified by the sacraments we receive -- it began at our baptism.

If we where to look into heaven itself what would we see? We would see our Lady as the greatest sign and hope for humanity for she is the perfect example of Christ's victory over sin. We can therefore take inspiration, be lifted up by her example, to imitate the Immaculate Mary as the first of all human beings to achieve a full share in the glory of Christ. He is the conqueror of sin and death and has become the New Adam. By his side, Mary, the New Eve. Through them Paradise is restored for humanity. "

Twentieth Sunday

2011-08-13T12:26:00.001-07:00

The themes of offering are dominant in the Scriptures today. The Old Testament reading speaks of the Prophet Isaiah bringing to the holy mountain of God burnt offerings and sacrifices to be placed on the altar on behalf of all God’s people. The conversation recorded in the gospel between Christ and the Canaanite woman talks about the bread which was to be typically placed on the table of the Lord as an offering for the salvation of the Chosen People and how even the crumbs left over can bring God’s grace to all who know themselves to be hungry for salvation.

In the very early Church, there were various ways in which the bread and wine were prepared at the altar. Parishioners would have sometimes brought the bread and wine themselves, and sometimes other food to be distributed to the poor or for family assistance. As time went on and numbers increased, the present practice of passing around the basket became more practical. The bread and wine, rather than brought from home, the priest himself would purchase it so that it would have the correct ingredients. Only unleavened bread is used, as well as wine made only from grapes with no additives.

In sacred language, what we see as the bread, we call a “host”. Think of a host as someone who offers what they have for the benefit of others. In the prayers of preparation, the bread and wine become the host - in a way they offer themselves, place themselves at the disposal of God’s power.

Is this not what Christ became, our host, offering himself to his heavenly Father as the sacrificial victim on our behalf on the cross. To remind us of this, when incense is used, the priest makes a sign of the cross with the smoke, three times – a reminder of the three hours Our Lord suffered on the cross. When incense is used and its sweet smoke rises upward from over the bread and wine, we prepare ourselves visibly for the direction the host will give itself. You might notice that the priest would also use the incense to “draw” three circles above the hosts on the altar.

We are reminded that the bread and wine are the first elements in all of creation that will be changed, not only into the substance of the Risen and heavenly Jesus Christ, but also through him, with him and in him, brought into the very life of the Holy Trinity itself.

Because we are invited into a sacred and heavenly banquet, we can no longer see every crumb that falls from the master’s table as insignificant or something to simply clean up and dispose of with the swipe of a brush. The Sacred Host in Holy Communion carries the actual substance of salvation and eternal life.

For this reason, every crumb and visible particle is worthy of adoration and reverence, yes, even worship. Notice the attention the Church directs her priests to account for every crumb as the sacred vessels are purified after Holy Communion. By the same token and example, for those who put out their hands for Holy Communion, must likewise ensure they are spotless and they are extremely cautious about even the smallest crumb (cf Matthew 14:36) for even priests imprisoned in Nazi Concentration Camps or jailed by the communist governments, heroically offered Mass in their prison cell using as a host, only a crumb of bread and a drop wine smuggled in inside a thimble.

Christ praised the faith of an outsider who understood the language of salvation. May he too find praise for you and me who can often presume we are entitled to this gift and that our salvation is easily given.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-08-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

In the first reading from the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah was challenged with identifying which language from nature could be best used to describe something of the nature of God - the language of a tornado, an earthquake, a raging fire or a clam breeze? A “tiny whispering sound “announced” his mysterious presence. In the earliest days of the faith, the disciples used their common and limited language to describe what they perceived and knew of Christ. The New Testament authors borrowed the Old Testament language describing God to describe Jesus. Only God could manipulate the properties of nature and in the language of the Gospel, Jesus of his own power, walks on water. Only God can halt a storm in an instant. And Jesus is described here as doing so at his own command. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is described with personal divine privileges, adjectives that were only used in the Old Testament to describe God.

And this is the problem we often encounter when we talk about God. Our human language - no words can describe with true satisfaction the nature of God. We give people names, parents name their children, we name countries and towns and streets and even pets! In doing so, we exercise a certain ownership over what or who we have named. But who is in a position to give a name to God? It is for this reason when Moses asked him what name he might call him, God did not allow himself to identified with a name in the same way as pagan gods were identified such as Zeus or Apollo. God simply said when asked who he was by name, replied “I AM who I AM”. Jesus also identifies himself as the “I Am” who existed before time began. But because we do not speak the language of heaven, our earthly human language always seeks describe it. And when we face the limitations of words, we naturally use other means of communication which is so characteristic of our Catholic culture. One of the many ways we communicate the sacred is through, for example, body language – reaching our hand into the Holy Water, making the sign of the cross, going down on one knee before the Presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle, joining our hands together like a arrow and pointing our prayer and attention upwards. The way one receives Holy Communion can also visibly communicate if one truly believes one receives the actual heavenly Body of Christ. How we dress, how we present ourselves to others communicates something.

When we look at Christ we see carefully reflected in his body the very the language of God, the Word of God made flesh. After the resurrection of Christ from the dead, Thomas would eventually stand back and declare, not his astonishment, but his faith in Christ calling him his Lord and God. Thomas was moved to silence in the presence of God – a profound sense of respect and reverence for God, for between two people who are in love, the language of silence is never feared.

And, of course, the model of communicating reverence and respect for the sacredness of God is our Blessed Mother, Mary. The Month of August is dedicated to her Immaculate Heart. Her heart is communicated through her body. Her soul is communicated through her physical presence, her actions, her good works. Her ultimate Body language is the fruit of her womb, Jesus, the Word made Flesh. Let us pray that we will allow our soul's desire for union with God will be communicated authentically through our actions and do so, praying to the Holy Spirit to rekindle in our lives a renewed sense of reverence and respect for all that is sacred and holy.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-07-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

Every good teacher is careful to have periodic reviews, not only to keep his students memories filled with facts, but also to deepen the realization of those truths they have already learned. In a like manner the church seems to think that a retrospective survey of the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist would be quite timely for us today not only to renew our remembrance all those tremendous things that happen to our souls but also give us a deeper insight into their meaning here and now in our everyday living.

To set the stage for her teaching, the Church tells us the gospel story relating how Jesus fed the people who have followed him and how they were so intent on listening to his teaching that they had “nothing to eat”. The Lord was “moved with pity for the multitude” because, he said, “if I send them back to their homes fasting, they will grow faint on their journey”.

This Gospel story may be applied to show us that the mystic reality of the incident, takes place rights here in our Mass. We are the “multitude” gathered around the Master, who is “moved with pity” for us also, since he sees how actually “faint” we are for want of supernatural strength.

In the sacrifice of the Mass, he comes into our midst through the words of consecration. He takes our little bread that we ourselves have brought and present to Him in the offertory. He blesses it and gives it to the apostles (the priests) to “set before the people” – Holy Communion. And as the multitudes that day “ate… and had enough”, so also we, who are ready today partake in Holy Communion, are “filled” with divine life.

I say, “ready” to partake. Not all of us, at all times are read to partake of the Christ, the Bread of Angels. In order to be filled with divine life, we have to be emptied of the “junk food”. In other words, we have to fast, be purged of giving into our sinful appetites, which poison our soul with false contentment. In confession of our sins, we pledge to full a better spiritual diet. By fasting and abstinence we can de-tox our souls. By fulfilling our penance and sacrifices we exercise our will power to direct our hunger towards true spiritual nourishment so that when we do approach Christ, the Living Bread from Heaven, and taste the sweetness of Christ himself, we will be truly satisfied, content and at peace.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-07-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

“Our family treasure”

It might surprise many to learn that the Scriptures were written, not with the idea that they would be read by as many people as possible, and printed into book form. The inspired authors first wrote them so that they could be read out loud and be listened to - like an audio book! We must remember that the majority of people could not read or write. But they could all listen, and learn to understand what they heard. For this reason, the ancients were very used to memorizing large sections of passages they heard. After all, it didn’t cost anything to repeat from memory a story you had heard and so pass on the details in an oral tradition.

So, in the early Church, the Holy Scriptures was not studied in the modern sense of a Bible Study. Instead, portions of Scripture were used for meditation and prayer and always within the context of developing one’s relationship with Christ. For example, an ancient Christian writer, Origen of Alexandria, who died in 254 AD reflecting on the Gospel for today, likens the search for hidden treasure in a field, with exploring the whole bible in order to find the true nature of the hidden Christ within its pages. And when you find Christ himself, he is not a chapter and verse. You cannot just simply copy, cut and paste him from one place to another or lift him out from his surroundings. You have to buy the whole field – he comes with everything.

The best word to describe the big picture of our relationship with Christ is “catholic”. The word “catholic” describes “everything, everywhere, things in relationship to other things, nothing in isolation, unrelated – it’s big, universal, touches everything, wonderfully messy but it’s all together”. To claim the pearl of great price hidden in the soil, we do not dig it up and slip it into our pocket and say “mine”. We buy the whole garden, invite every one into it, uncover the treasure with much excitement and declare it to be “ours”. That’s the “catholic” way- that is our Catholic culture.

We find the meaning of the word “culture”, in its various uses associated with making the land ready to bear fruit. This is “agriculture”. We “cultivate” the earth. As Christ is the vine, and we are the branches, our heavenly Father, cultivates our soul, so that the whole vineyard bears fruit, fruit that will last. Each person receives his or her true value only insofar as each person remains attached to Christ the true vine, the pearl of great price.

Throughout the centuries the Catholic faith and tradition has influenced the big picture of the world, not just in the areas of theology but in philosophy, law, art and music, health care and education. May we never fail to embrace the big picture of our Catholic faith and culture in such a way that within and throughout the vastness of the Church’s history and the wealth of her experience we may rediscover the true value of this family treasure we hold, the pearl of great price.

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Colecta.- La acción de Dios acompaña al hombre en todos sus caminos y aumenta constantemente el bien que en él ha creado, y, una vez aumentado, le protege. He ahí la gran providencia divina, llena de vigilante bondad.

“OH Dios de la fortaleza, fuente de toda perfección el bien que en nosotros hay, y merced a nuestro fervor, guardes esos mismos bienes que en nosotros has ido regando con tu gracia. Por nuestro Señor Jesucristo.”

Every good teacher is careful to have periodic reviews, not only to keep his students memories filled with facts, but also to deepen the realization of those truths they have already learned. In a like manner the church seems to think that a retrospective survey of the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist would be quite timely for us today not only to renew our remembrance all those tremendous things that happen to our souls but also give us a deeper insight into their meaning here and now in our everyday living.

To set the stage for her teaching, the Church tells us the gospel story relating how Jesus fed the people who have followed him and how they were so intent on listening to his teaching that they had “nothing to eat”. The Lord was “moved with pity for the multitude” because, he said, “if I send them back to their homes fasting, they will grow faint on their journey”.

This Gospel story may be applied to show us that the mystic reality of the incident, takes place rights here in our Mass. We are the “multitude” gathered around the Master, who is “moved with pity” for us also, since he sees how actually “faint” we are for want of supernatural strength.

In the sacrifice of the Mass, he comes into our midst through the words of consecration. He takes our little bread that we ourselves have brought and present to Him in the offertory. He blesses it and gives it to the apostles (the priests) to “set before the people” – Holy Communion. And as the multitudes that day “ate… and had enough”, so also we, who are ready today partake in Holy Communion, are “filled” with divine life.

I say, “ready” to partake. Not all of us, at all times are read to partake of the Christ, the Bread of Angels. In order to be filled with divine life, we have to be emptied of the “junk food”. In other words, we have to fast, be purged of giving into our sinful appetites, which poison our soul with false contentment. In confession of our sins, we pledge to full a better spiritual diet. By fasting and abstinence we can de-tox our souls. By fulfilling our penance and sacrifices we exercise our will power to direct our hunger towards true spiritual nourishment so that when we do approach Christ, the Living Bread from Heaven, and taste the sweetness of Christ himself, we will be truly satisfied, content and at peace.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

2011-07-16T17:27:00.001-07:00

Particularly in the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, the Holy Mass has given us portraits of Christ so that we might come to know him better as our Lord and Savior and as the Church’s Divine Spouse. However, we find in today’s Mass, as like last week’s, the spotlight is directed more and more on us. After all the great things that God has done and all the blessings and graces that he has given us, what is the state of our lives like?

Even though our Lord has enriched our soul with many blessings and graces. We read in the Gospel that while we were sleeping, under the cloak of darkness, an enemy has infiltrated sacred territory and has sowed seeds of destruction.

Those who listened to Jesus talk about this image where people of the land and who depended on the land and its produce for survival. The weed Jesus talked about was “cockle-seed”. In its early stages it looks very much like wheat and even to the farmer, it is practically impossible to tell the two apart. Only when it matures does it reveal its true nature. If it makes its way into the grain, because of its toxicity, it can have disastrous effects on any product with wheat.

The Early Fathers of the Church saw Christ’s description of these toxic seeds being sprinkled in with good seeds as a metaphor of the devil mixing falsehood in with truth and patiently allowing both to grow until the bad seed, like a virus, becomes mature and takes over the whole harvest. For example, what better way to corrupt the minds of a future generation than to sprinkle into the reading material of unsuspecting children, some little half-truths and small amounts of poison? Like the weeds masquerading as wheat, it might look all innocence at first, but when the young offspring matures, so does the poison and the destruction an entire crop has been effected. The future promise of a harvest has been ruined. What was to be fruitful and to multiply, has become sterile.

When we see the seeds that the devil has sown in the Lord’s rich soil threaten the rich harvest, Christ asks us to be patient. We do not sit back and let it happen. We have to assess the best way to separate the weeds from the wheat in a way that causes the least amount of destruction and contamination. We do not want to unwittingly release more harmful seeds from the weeds while uprooting them.

For this reason, we have to learn how to distinguish truth from falsity, what is good from what is evil, what is wholesome from what corrupts, in the shows we watch, the books and articles we read, the opinions and speeches we listen too. And not to be intimidated by the anger of the devil, who voices his discontent in so many ways. How do we respond to the evils we see before us and around us?

We must, first and foremost, secure and influence with goodness, the rich fertility of our own lives and especially the environment of our family. It is necessary to examine the territory of our own lives. This is what we call an examination of our conscience, how far our actions respond to the dictates of our soul’s desire. Of course, the regular practice of the Sacrament of Confession will help us see the truth about our own lives and help us, with God’s grace, to better our lives so that they can truly be fruitful so we can influence the environment we live in. It is our duty to do so.

Even though we stand before the altar of God with all our human weaknesses and with the bruise marks and scars from our own many sins, the seed of faith which has been planted deep in our souls needs help to grow and mature, so that in due season, it will bear fruit and blossom. This is where the Sacrifice of the Mass we are about to enter into is an invaluable help.

As a seed must be buried and must die in the darkness of the earth, we must join Christ in his death, unafraid to offer with him the sacrifice of our own lives to Our Father in heaven in atonement of our sins. At the consecration, Christ unites our lives to his own perfect sacrifice. The result, in so far as we allow it in our lives, the sins of our human frailty are burned away, so that our lives, like a harvest, might be truly productive and fruitful and able to renew the face of the earth.

Let us take courage that our savior has won the battle over sin and has defeated the devil. The meantime we ask the Holy Spirit to help us be courageous in creating an environment conducive to an eternal harvest.

Fifteenth Sunday in  Ordinary Time

2011-07-16T14:50:00.001-07:00

One can be tempted to listen to Jesus speaking in parables and using pictures and images to make a point, and wish he would just speak directly. Indeed, there are precedents recorded in the Holy Scriptures, from the Book of Genesis when God simply said, “Let there be light” and there was Light and in the Gospels we also hear of episodes when Jesus was approached and asked to give a simple order that a sick person might be healed, and it was done. Indeed, we should not be surprised that God can act instantly. Likewise, let us not be surprised if God chooses to take his time and asks us to do likewise. There is a time for fast results, but there plenty of time for growth.

In a world of instant messages, quick results and constant changes, the Lord also asks us to steep back, to patiently reflect on the state of our souls and the conditions in which we allow ourselves to live our lives. Hence the Lord gives us the parable of the sower.

Christ, like a gardener, talks about different types of soil, different environments what will allow a seed to grow or prevent it from doing so. Of course, Christ is the one who showers us each abundantly with the seeds of many blessings. But we, who are on the receiving end, it is up to us to create the right environment in our personal lifestyles, in our family life, in our parish and in our society and nation.

Soil comes in various sizes for our use. The flowerpot for the individual, the garden for the family, the local park for the neighborhood. Then there are the State and National Parks and conservation areas.

First, creating the right environment in our own lives so that the “potting soil” of our souls is rich and fertile, ready to receive the seeds of God’s blessing. Our soul, like soil, needs to be enriched with life-sustaining ingredients. The waters of baptism give life to our souls. But without making use of the opportunities for regular confession, weeds can take over and the reception of Holy Communion risks being fruitless.

In the same way as a summer garden in California needs to be watered for a good ten minutes a day, I would suggest, as a bear minimum, that each person should start off with 10 to 15 minutes of personal prayer to God, every day. But remember, each section of a garden needs to be watered. So, if you are a family, everyone is served better when a family prays together. This I cannot stress too much. First, restore a family meal. Make this meal sacred in your home, without TV in the background or text messaging going on underneath the table. Say together a standard and simple “grace before meals” prayer. Especially for a young family, to keep this young garden of souls secure through every season, an extra 10-minutes of family prayer together in the evening is crucially important. Tried and tested for hundreds of years, rediscover the family rosary. It’s simple and everyone in the family from youngest to oldest can lead a portion of this prayer.

The neighborhood park - In a way, we can liken this to our parish church. The parish church offers us a safe place away from the busy world. It is a place of beauty and refreshment, a place where the signs, the sounds, yes, even the smells and the bells allow the soul to be uplifted. We share this common place with many others and with them we too share in the expense for its upkeep and services. Through the Sunday Mass, the soil of our souls, fortified by nourishment from heaven, experiences a re-creation.

But let us never take for granted the soul of our State and our Nation. Regardless if we have never entered into a County, State or National Park, we live our lives within the shadow of the great mountains, lakes, forests and rivers which we want to see persevered in all their natural beauty not just for ourselves but for all, and future generations. But when the soil of a nation becomes polluted, roots once strong and noble becoming weak and decayed when newly conceived life is easily killed off and older wiser lives often ignored, when unnatural unions destroy the future harvest and the poison of selfishness and greed pollute the air we all breath.

We cannot predict how the wind will blow the seeds shattered over all the terrain and various landscapes, but we can ensure, starting with our lives and our family environment, that what we have received from the Lord will bear much fruit. Our Blessed Mother, kept free from sin, created within our heart and soul the right conditions for the seed of God to be planted within her and in due time, she gave birth to the Savior. With Joseph her husband, she provided the necessary family environment, fortified by prayer, so that the child would grow up in strength and maturity. May we too, like Joseph and Mary, be good souls and provide the means for God to once again walk throughout our land, to nourish us, strengthen us, train us and, even when necessary, to help us to cut back that which stifles our hearts, souls and our lives.

Fourteenth Sunday in  Ordinary Time

2011-07-16T14:49:00.000-07:00