Where Babies Come From

Exploring Jesus’ birth through John’s gospel

12/24/2024

Jn 1:1-5, 9-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

Sooner or later all children ask, “Where do babies come from?” Have you ever tried to answer that question? Here’s a humorous answer. Little Johnny’s baby brother was screaming up a storm. I am sure they must have been in church. Johnny asked his mother, “Where did we get him?” His mother replied, “He came from heaven, Johnny.” Johnny answered: “Wow! I can see why they threw him out!”

You know, when I was a baby and my parents took me to church, I cried all the time. I tormented many poor priests in New Delhi India where I grew up. Now, when babies cry in church and I’m the priest, I figure this is God’s revenge. So, don’t complain when a baby cries in church, he might just grow up to become a priest.

In today’s gospel, St. John also answers “Where babies come from”, especially the Baby Jesus. In his Prologue, John writes some of the most sublime words in the entire Bible about Jesus’ origins: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

That is, the Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem not because he was “thrown out of heaven,” but because he willingly left heaven to come and save us. Think about it this way: Jesus was born in heaven and came to earth, so that we who are born on earth can go to heaven. That is, like “the Word was with God” in heaven, so we, too, have hope of being “with God” in heaven, because that is where this Baby came from.

Now, we can consider where babies come from not only geographically (heaven or earth), but also biologically, that is, all babies are born from a certain mother and father, which tells us a lot about them. You know, when people see pictures of my father, they often comment, “Fr. John, you look so much like your dad!” Clearly my father is a very handsome man!

Now, Jesus the Son also reflects the same effulgence “eternal glory” as his heavenly Father, who’s a little more handsome than my dad. John writes: “And we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son.” Now get this. The great irony of John’s gospel is that Jesus’ divine glory is not on full display in his miracles, nor in his healings, nor in raising the dead, but rather on the Cross. Jesus’ greatest glory shines brightest in the moment of his utter disgrace and defeat.

The first half of John’s gospel, chapters 1-12, is usually called “The Book of Signs,” and is chocked full of Jesus’ mighty miracles. But the second half, chapters 13-21, is surprisingly called “The Book of Glory” where John recounts Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. You see, John believes the most convincing evidence of Jesus’ divinity – where he most reflects the Father’s glory – is on the bloody Cross.

By the way, a lot of people love the TV series called “The Chosen.” Have you seen it? But you know I never get into these shows or movies about Jesus. Why not? Well, because I feel that there always is far more to Jesus that we cannot see – like his hidden glory – than what we can see on silver screen. Maybe that’s why Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago, before we could capture him on television or film and make him a movie star.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, “Jesus is not a super star, he’s a super scar!” That is, we would learn more about Jesus reading the Bible, or even with our eyes closed in prayer, than watching movies and TV series. Why? Because only then would we glimpse how he possesses “the glory as of the Father’s only Son” the glory of the Cross, because that is where this Baby came from.

Now a third way to consider “where babies come from” is occupationally. What does that mean? Well, all children initially try their hand at their mother or father’s occupations. All kids want to grow up to be like mom or dad. For example, my father was an insurance agent, and my mother was a registered nurse.

And, in a spiritual sense, I followed in their footsteps. How so? Well, I am also an insurance agent, but if you buy my life insurance policy, then when you die you don’t get $500,000, you get eternal life. And like my mom, I heal people, not physically but spiritually through the sacraments of confession and anointing of the sick.

So, what was Jesus’ Father’s occupation? Well, God has no other job but to be a Father; He’s the original “stay at home Dad.” And the very definition of a father is to have children. Thus, St. John describes Jesus’ only “job” as begetting more children. The Prologue reads: “But to those who did accept him, he gave the power to become children of God.” In other words, Jesus came to earth to do one job: make more children by Baptism, because that is where this Baby came from.

Today, before you leave church, spend a few moments in front of the Nativity. Some families will take a Christmas picture, others will kneel and pray, others may enjoy the lights and the pastoral scene. But also prayerfully ask the question: “Where do babies come from?” And remember how John’s Prologue answers that question geographically, biologically, and occupationally. “Where babies come from” is no childish inquiry.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Contribute a Verse

Becoming part of the powerful play called Christmas

12/21/2024

Lk 1:39-45 Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

How do you feel as we celebrate Christmas each year? Some people may adopt the apathetic attitude of Ebenezer Scrooge and say, “Bah, humbug!” Christmas is just another revolution around the sun and we pass another mile-marker in the meaningless march of time, until the clock of the cosmos winds down and all life ends. Others may feel Christmas is a great opportunity for capitalism. Not a few companies’ entire annual budget depends on their Christmas sales.

Heck, even here in the Church, the single largest collection is taken up on the Christmas eve and day Masses. By the way, did you know the Christmas collection – which in some of the biggest parishes can be upwards of $100,000 – went entirely to the pastor?  Not to the associate pastor, but to the pastor, and he could share it if he wanted. But not today, and that’s enough to make a grumpy old pastor say, “Bah, humbug!” And that is also why the Christmas collection goes to the retired priests of our diocese – it still benefits curmudgeon clerics.

But we people of faith do not see Christmas as simply another revolution of the earth around the sun but rather as the revolution of the Son of God who came to earth. That is, the celebration of the birth of this Baby is not merely another point in the mindless march of human history, but the climactic turning point of all human history, which we finally discover was always his story.

As the poet Walt Whitman wisely wrote: “That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” In other words, for Christians Christmas is indeed a “revolution of the Son”, Jesus, who reveals that everything ultimately revolves around him. Jesus is both the Author and the main Character of the powerful play that is our life and all reality. That is how a Christian should feel about Christmas: the plot of human history has taken a dramatic twist, and it will never be the same again.

When we keep that Christian perspective on Christmas in mind, we can read and reflect on today’s gospel from Luke 1:39-45 with greater profit. Mary, pregnant now with the Christ Child, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is herself pregnant with John the Baptist. One facet of this episode – and there are countless facets to explore – is John’s dramatic reaction in the presence of his Savior. We read what Elizabeth says to Mary: “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Lk 1:44).

John experienced the joy of Christmas – the great plot twist of the powerful play of human history – and it would be his job to share that Christmas joy with the world. John himself would explain his joy as that of the best man attending the wedding of the bridegroom in Jn 3:29, “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete.”

That is, John the Baptist did not stop leaping for Christmas joy even after his head leaped onto that silver platter that King Herod had sent for John’s beheading. That was John's last leap. Walt Whitman was exactly right: The powerful play goes on and John the Baptist had contributed a mighty powerful verse. And what was John’s verse? That Christmas joy cannot be extinguished by sin and death.

Folks, today is December 21, and one of my favorite days of the year. Why? Well, because it is the Winter Solstice, which means in the northern hemisphere of our planet today is the shortest day (and longest night) of the year. Put differently, starting tomorrow, the daylight increases. In some cultures, the Winter Solstice is actually called “the birthday of the sun,” because like a baby grows so too does the sunlight. And I really like sunlight.

Now, that is a scientific way to look at this geological phenomenon, and it’s not a bad perspective. But I just don’t believe it is the best perspective. I would rather look through the eyes of Walt Whitman and have the heart of St. John the Baptist and see today (and December 25) as the Birthday of the Son of God, not just A sun of many solar systems, but as THE Son whose breath put all the solar systems into motion.

Today the powerful play takes a great and unexpected twist – we didn’t see that coming! – and a Baby bursts onto the stage of human history. And we are invited to have a supporting role in his play, and “contribute a verse.” Just make sure your verse is a really good one.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Out of Aces

Learning how to play poker with Jesus

12/16/2024

Mt 21:23-27 When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?”  Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

After Mass a couple of weeks ago someone casually asked me if I played poker. I answered “No, but I do like to watch ‘The World Series of Poker’ on television.” Have you ever watched that show? It features the world’s greatest poker players like Phil Helmuth, Doyle Brunson (with his signature cowboy hat), Johnny Chan, Phil Ivey, and Daniel Negreanu.

What I like about the show is that the viewer (you and me) gets to see everyone’s hand – what cards they are holding – and what the person about to bet has to contend with. You can almost guess what they are thinking as they toy with their chips between their fingers and the timer ticks down.

That show always reminds me of Kenny Rogers famous song, “The Gambler.” The well-known refrain goes like this: “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em / Know when to fold ‘em / Know when to walk away / And know when to run. / You never count your money / When you’re sittin’ at the table / There’ll be time enough for countin’ / When the dealin’s done.” I love the depth psychology at work watching the faces of players trying to decide “when to hold ‘em” and “when to fold ‘em.”

In the gospel today we see a sort of poker game between Jesus and the chief priests and elders. The Jewish leaders ask Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” We might say they are asking Jesus to show them the hand he is holding. That is, do you have a pair of Aces or are you just bluffing and you have no authority, you are just a man.

In response, Jesus raises the stakes and increases the bet by putting John the Baptist into the pot. He answers, “Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly origin or of human origin?” And then like on the show The World Series of Poker, the chief priests and elders hesitate and think while toying with their poker chips.

And finally they decide to fold their hand, and Jesus takes the pot and does not reveal his cards or his authority either. Even Kenny Rogers knows it’s never a smart move to play poker with Jesus. He already knows the hand you are holding, like we can see the players’ hands on television.

Even though I do not play poker with a group of guys, there is a sense in which we all play poker with God. How so? Well, we all get a hand that is dealt to us at birth, and it appears quite random as the cards are distributed. Some of us hold the aces of beauty, intelligence, self-confidence, being born in an affluent country, loving parents, etc.

Others are dealt a dud hand of birth defects, poverty, low IQ, being born in a developing nation, abusive parents, etc. have you ever wondered why you are so lucky to have the opportunities you enjoy while others struggle to survive? To a large extent, that is the hand you were dealt in life. And just like poker, everyone has to play the hand they get.

Another way life is like poker is we often try to out-smart or bluff with God. To bluff in poker is to make the other player think you have a bigger hand than you really have and to make him fold his hand. We do this in the million-and-one ways we try to out-maneuver God. We ignore him and stop going to church or Mass.

We debate him in our mind and feel his answers are not satisfactory, like modern atheism and agnosticism. And sometimes we even think God is trying to bluff with us because he seems to be saying he’s holding a better hand with promises of heavenly glory, while we foolishly think our poor hand of an 8-high of earthly goods will beat him.

Now, here is the real problem with playing poker with God. Like in the television show, The World Series of Poker, the viewer can see what cards everyone at the table is holding, God sees all our cards. Jesus knew in the gospel what the chief priests and elders were holding as well as what they were thinking.

Like Kenny Rogers sang about the gambler so too with Jesus: “He said, ‘Son, I’ve made a life / Out of readin’ people’s faces / Knowin’ what the cards were / By the way they held their eyes / So if you don’t mind my sayin’ / I can see you’re out of aces.” And that is the real predicament of playing poker with Jesus. We are always out of aces.

Jesus, on the other hand, is holding that supremely rare hand called a royal flush, an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten (all of hearts), which in spiritual terms are God the Father, God the Son, the Blessed Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit, the perfect 10. And maybe that is the real reason that when someone asks me, “Do you like to play poker?” I always answer, “No thanks.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Keeping Kristen Happy

Taking advantage of the joy of Gaudete Sunday

12/15/2024

Zep 3:14-18a Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.

I was having dinner recently with Kristen and Ryan Gehrig, parishioners of Immaculate Conception. We began to discuss homilies we hear on Sundays and what they liked and disliked about them. And I will never forget a spontaneous comment Kristen suddenly blurted out. She said, “Listen, I just come to hear a good joke to help me make it through another week.” So, in honor of Kristen’s request, and for the rest of you who are only here to hear a good joke, here you go.

A Catholic priest, a Rabbi, and an Imam were meeting together at an interfaith council when they were interrupted by a secretary. She rushed in and exclaimed: “God is on the phone for you, Fr. Murphy.” Fr. Murphy takes the phone, listens a moment, nods his head gravely, and then hangs up. He turns to the Rabbi and the Imam and says, “I’ve got good news and I have bad news. The good news is that God loves us. The bad news is he is calling from Salt Lake City.”

Okay, if you didn’t get that one, maybe you will get this joke. An Augustinian monk, a Benedictine, a Dominican, and a Franciscan were arguing amongst each other about which of their religious orders had done the work most pleasing to God. It was becoming a rather heated debate, and finally before it deteriorated into a major unholy brawl, they decided to pray about it.

They asked God what his choice was regarding which order had done the most good in his eyes. Shortly afterward, a parchment drifted down from the sky. On it was inscribed: “My sons, do not fight amongst yourselves! All of you are equally pleasing to me!” Signed, “God, SJ.” (S.J. are initials that stand for the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.)

Okay, if you didn’t get those two jokes, maybe you’ll have better luck with this last one. A little boy during a church Christmas play was reciting his lines. Suddenly, his mind went blank and he couldn’t remember what he was supposed to say next. He looks out into the audience for clues, and sees his mother.

He reads her lips as she mouths the words, “I am the light of the world.” His eyes light up and he announces loudly: “My mother is the light of the world!” All the moms here this morning are not laughing because they are thinking: “That’s no joke, I AM the light of the world.”

I share these jokes not only to keep all the Kirstens out there happy, but also because humor touches the heart of the Third Sunday of Advent. How so? Well, this weekend we light the happy, pink candle on the Advent Wreath. And priests and deacons around the world wear pink vestments, so not one can take us too seriously.

And this weekend is even called in Latin “Gaudate Sunday,” which means “Rejoice, ya’ll!” Have a good laugh. That paraphrases our first reading from Zep 3:14, “Be glad and exult with all your heart.” In other words, the Third Sunday of Advent does not just want to keep all the Kristens happy with a good joke.

This Sunday desires that all God’s people be happy and rejoice with the Good News that Jesus, the true Light of the world (sorry mom), is about to be born. You see, the joy and laughter we feel in hearing a good joke is merely a down payment on the greater and eternal joy that Jesus’ birth brings.

Another way to tap into the joy of this Gaudate Sunday is to take fully advantage of the new Jubilee Year Pope Francis has announced. Have you heard about this? You may also have heard that Bishop Taylor has even designated Immaculate Conception Church as one of the Jubilee Churches. What does all that mean? Well, Pope Francis is the Successor of St. Peter, and the Vicar of Christ.

Therefore he carries the keys that Jesus entrusted to St. Peter in Mt 16:19, “I give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.” That means the pope has the power to unlock the treasure trove of divine graces called “indulgences” and forgive the penance or punishment due to our sins. To put it in terms of the board game “Monopoly,” an indulgence is a “get out of jail free card.” That is, an indulgence remits the punishment for our sins we would have paid for in Purgatory.

The conditions to gain a plenary indulgence are fourfold: (1) go to confession, (2) receive Holy Communion in the state of grace, (3) pray for the intentions of the pope, and (4) visit a Jubilee Church like Immaculate Conception, all within the Jubilee Year, which begins on December 29, 2024 and ends January 6, 2026.

I know the practice of indulgences got a bad rap during the Middle Ages because there were serious abuses of them, and in some ways, that abuse sparked the Protestant Reformation. But today, we have thrown out the bathwater and kept the Baby, namely Jesus, who came to give us the treasures of heaven, which is none other than his own divine life.

And like the seven sacraments, although to a lesser degree of efficacy, indulgences communicate God’s own mercy and love to you and me. He indulges us like a loving father dotes on their children. And that should put a bigger smile on your face than hearing a good joke.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Soothing the Savage Beast

Opening remarks, welcome and prayer

12/13/2024

I am truly pleased that Immaculate Conception Church can host this Christmas classical music concert, titled “Under the Rose Window.” Think about it: classical music has always found its home in the Church. After all, a funeral Mass inspired Mozart’s “Requiem in D minor”.

Beethoven composed a “Missa solemnis in D Major”, a solemn Mass for his patron, Prince Nikolai Golitzin. And who can forget Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Mass in B Minor” for a Lutheran service? It is no exaggeration to say classical music not only finds its truly proper home in the Church but perhaps  here it even reaches its most sublime heights.

And this should not surprise us since, even going all the way back in the Old Testament to 1000 BC, King David composed his Psalms as liturgical - that is, church - music. And by the way, do you remember what effect his church music produced in the hearers? We read in 1 Samuel 16:23, “Whenever [a tormenting] spirit came upon [King] Saul, David would take the harp and play, for the evil spirit would leave him.”

It’s like the old saying “music soothes the savage beast.”  In other words, liturgical music, especially music like David’s Psalter and Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, is designed not only to lift the spirit in prayer (which it most certainly does) but also to heal the spirit from wounds (which we most certainly need).

Perhaps we can make that perspective our prayer this evening. Let us pray, “Heavenly Father, you delight in the music of your children. As your Holy Spirit inspired the great musicians of the past - David, Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach - to help your people down the ages to lift their minds and hearts in prayer, so bless the musicians this evening – the IC Treble Makers, Ben Henderson, Judith Norton, Grant Harper, Lori Fay, and Ben Keating.

May their talents and training serve to give you all the glory and to give your people healing, hope, and a touch of the joy of Christmas. May their music soothe the savage beast in each of us. We ask this as all things through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

One small house-keeping item before I turn the evening over to Dr. Rick Foti, our Emcee. The proceeds from tonight will benefit our "Yesterday, Today, and Forever Campaign", the centerpiece of which is a new back altar in the sanctuary. So, a very hearty thanks to our sponsors who made this evening free for everyone.

But that also means you should have a few extra shekels in your pockets that you can leave for our campaign by dropping them in the baskets at the exits of the church. Your gift will make this church a worthy home for the heavenly music you are about to hear. Magnificent churches like this is where such music was born. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

Using That Word

Understanding what Jesus means by rest and peace

12/12/2024

Mt 11:28-30 Jesus said to the crowds: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

One of my favorite movies growing up was “The Princess Bride.” And I enjoy watching it even now as an adult. One of the villains in the movie named Vizzini – who abducts the princess bride – had a habit of repeating the word “inconceivable.” Inconceivable! Inconceivable!

At one point in the movie, one of his friends named Inigo Montoya calls Vizzini out about his excessive use of that one word. And he says to him, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” That is a sample of the movie’s subtle but sophisticated humor.

Today if Inigo Montoya had been at morning Mass, and had heard Jesus speaking in the gospel, he might have leveled the same criticism against our Lord. Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” And again, Jesus says: “You will find rest for yourselves.”

Well, Inigo Montoya could rightly have said, “You keep using that word, rest, but I do not think it means what you think it means.” And in a sense, Inigo Montoya would be right, but not because Jesus does not know what rest means, but because we do not know what real rest means. What do I mean?

Well, first of all, Jesus does not mean rest and peace like we think of rest as a nice vacation on the beach. Jesus is not referring to some “R and R”, rest and relaxation. Don’t forget what Jesus said in Mt 10:34, “Do not think I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but the sword.” In other words, Jesus’ idea of rest and peace is radically different than our idea of rest and peace. Jesus keeps using that word, but I do not think it means what we think it means.

But if Jesus does not mean by rest and peace like reading a John Grisham book on the beach, where do we find Jesus’ kind of rest and peace. We find it primarily and principally in the sacraments. For example, the Eucharist is punctuated at several points with Jesus’ notion of peace, especially right before Holy Communion. At that point, we turn to each other and say, “Peace be with you.”

What we wish for each other is not “I hope you get to the beach soon.” But rather we wish each other “shalom” a peace that comes from a deep and intimate friendship with God. We could be celebrating Mass in the middle of a war – as many Army chaplains have – and still experience Jesus’ peace and rest. You keep using that word, I do not think it means what we think it means.

Another sacrament where we feel the profound peace of Christ is in reconciliation. I don’t know how you feel when you walk out of the confessional, but I feel like on top of the world. I feel like I could fly because a great burden of sin has been lifted off my shoulders. I will never forget a little girl who made her first reconciliation. She was so happy she ran back to her mom and squealed, “Mom, can I do that again?!” You keep using that word, peace. I do not think it means what we think it means.

And a third sacrament of deep peace is Anointing of the Sick, especially when it is given for the last time, as Last Rites, or Extreme Unction. I received the Anointing of the Sick in 2003. I was hospitalized with viral meningitis. Bishop Sartain, our bishop at the time, came to the hospital and anointed my head and hands. Now, even though I was not miraculously healed, I did experience a profound peace.

And that peace pervaded my entire body. I felt like Jesus was holding me tightly in his arms, and that nothing could truly harm me. That must be how people feel who are anointed right before they die: Jesus is holding them tightly in his arms and nothing can harm them, not even death. That is true peace and rest. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what we think it means.

Folks, we will continue to hear the words rest and peace throughout Advent and Christmas. And the angel choirs will sing at the birth of Jesus in Lk 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Don’t be fooled into thinking rest and peace mean a long vacation in the mountains or going on a cruise ship. Jesus’ peace comes from an abiding friendship with him, and frequently coexists with and is fully compatible with war, and wounds, and weakness. Jesus keeps using that word. But it does not mean what we think it means.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Victim of a Book

Seeing the role of the angels in the parable of the lost sheep

12/10/2024

Mt 18:12-14 Jesus said to his disciples: "What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."

I had a professor at the University of Dallas whom I admired very much (and still do) named Dr. Janet Smith. She taught philosophy and classical languages like Greek and Latin. She once made an off-handed comment that I have never forgotten. She said: “We are all the victim of the last book we read.”

What she meant by that was that we feel very moved, or inspired, or convicted, or enthralled, or entertained, etc. by the most recent book we just finished, and we feel all our friends should read it, too. Have you ever fallen victim to the last book you read? Don’t worry, I have too.

Let me share a little of a book I am currently reading, and feeling like its willing victim. I have fallen under the spell of Jean Danielou’s classic “The Angels and Their Mission: According to the Fathers of the Church.” Now, don’t let that anodyne title deceive you; it may sound tame and trite.

But this little 114-page book packs a powerful punch. And I am convinced everyone should run out and buy their own copy. In other words, everyone who has ever read a book feels like Oprah Winfrey and wants to start their own book club. Oprah is also the victim of the last book she reads.

But Jean Danielou helped me penetrate the gospel we just head and reach new depths of understanding. He reads and studies Scripture through the eyes of the early Church Fathers, collectively called “the Patristics.” Danielou is a Patristic scholar.

And therefore intimately familiar with the works of Origen, Tertullian, St. John Chrysostom, St. Irenaeus, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Gregory the Great, and the greatest of them all, St. Augustine. That is, Daniel would say: if you want to be a victim of any book, go back and read the Church Fathers. That is the book club you want to belong to, not Oprah’s.

When you and I hear Jesus’ parable in Mt 18 about the 100 sheep, 99 good and 1 that goes astray, we typically think the “sheep" symbolize “people.” That is, Jesus is talking about 99 righteous people (the saints) as opposed to the one lost soul (the sinner). But that is not how the early Church Fathers interpreted that parable.

Danielou explains: “ There is a whole tradition, with Irenaeus as its first witness, but actually going back much further, which sees this [lost] sheep as human nature and the flock which the Good Shepherd leaves behind to set out in search for the sheep as the worlds of the angels” (p. 49). Did you catch that? The 99 sheep do not represent human beings but the choirs of angels. And all humanity is the one lost, straying sheep.

Danielou continues to expound this Patristic perspective: “ Christ, returning with the lost sheep on His shoulders, is the Word of God who has assumed human nature and leads it back into heaven at the Ascension.” And then Danielou adds: “This is the joy of the angels – that is, for the Fathers, of the ninety-nine sheep which the Shepherd left behind to set out in search of the stray sheep, and who now greet Him with joy as he returns with it” (p. 49).

In other words, the Church Fathers saw the parable of the lost sheep not only in light of the angels, but also as shedding light on the mystery of the Ascension, the 2nd Glorious Mystery of the rosary. The Ascension, therefore, is not just Jesus returning home after a long day at work saving souls; he is the Good Shepherd who has found the lost sheep – humanity – and brought it home to heaven on his shoulders.

Now, that is all good and fine for speculative, theoretical theology – like trying to answer the question, “how many angels can dance on the head of a needle?” – but does this Patristic perspective have any practical value? I thought you’d never ask. I don’t know about you but when I hear the parable of the lost sheep, do you know which category I automatically place myself?

Naturally, I am one of the 99 righteous sheep. After all, I go to daily Mass, I pray my rosary, I give to the poor, I wear this very holy-looking Roman collar. You cannot get much holier than that. When I counsel couples struggling in their marriages, when I talk to teens who are fighting their parents and their peers, when I read and write decisions for annulment cases, do you know what I hear?

Everyone believes they are innocent and the victim of injustice, and someone else is the culprit and at fault. In other words, we all jump into the category of the 99 righteous sheep and look at others as the straying sheep. And debunking that delusion is precisely the practical value of the Patristic interpretation of this passage. The 99 righteous are the angels, not human beings, and you and I are collectively the culprit, the lost sheep, in need of salvation.

There is a poignant scene at the beginning of the movie “Gladiator” when the Roman legion faces-off against a Germanic, barbaric army. Right before the battle the Roman General Maximus, played by Russell Crowe, stands beside his lieutenant, Quintus, surveying the scene. Quintus states proudly: “People should know when they are conquered.”

And Maximus replies wisely: “Would you, Quintus? Would I?” Then the Roman legions mow down the barbarians in a gory battle. The great irony, of course, is that 400 years later those same Germanic barbarians, called the Visigoths, would overrun Rome and sack her. And that is the point of the parable of the lost sheep: humanity has been conquered by Satan, and we do not know it.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

A Bone to Pick

Understanding who the Immaculate Conception is about

12/09/2024

Lk 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

This is going to be a super-short sermon, so pay super-close attention. But I do have a bone to pick with the selection of Scripture readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. What do I mean? Well, this particular gospel passage is precisely the wrong one for the Immaculate Conception. Why? Well, because whose conception does it describe? It is all about the conception of Jesus in the womb of his mother, Mary.

But that is exactly what the Immaculate Conception is not about, even though 9 out of 10 Catholics you ask mistakenly think that is what the Immaculate Conception is. Wait. Wut? Now, get this, and get this good: the Immaculate Conception is not about the conception of Jesus in the womb of his mother, Mary. Rather, it is about the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.

Nonetheless, I do not believe this passage from Luke 1: 26-38 is entirely misplaced or without merit. Why not? Well, because of the first words out of the Archangel Gabriel’s mouth when he greets the Blessed Virgin Mary. Do you remember them? Of course you do, because those are the words we borrow to pray the Hail Mary. That is, we say like Gabriel: “Hail Mary, full of grace…”

Now, those three innocent little words, “full of grace” – the way you say that in Greek is kecharitomene – could not be theologically more important or supernaturally more significant. Why not? Well, when did Mary start to be “full of grace”? Did she receive an Amazon Prime delivery one Christmas with a package that was of “full of grace”? No.

Did she feel full of grace when she turned 7 years old and embarked on the so-called “age of reason”? No. Was Mary suddenly “full of grace” when she was presented in the Temple by her parents Sts. Joachim and Anne at the age of 3? Nope, not then either. Maybe she became “full of grace” on the day that she was born? Nope.

Mary was “full of grace” – kecharitomene – at the very first instance of her existence, that is, when she was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. In other words, the Archangel Gabriel was not making Mary “full of grace” when he greeted her. He was acknowledging the fact that she was already and the only one jam-packed with grace from her conception until her bodily assumption.

And perhaps just as amazing is that she never lost a grain of that grace by committing any actual sins. Mother Mary was “full of grace” for every second she lived on earth, and today she is “full of glory” every second she lives in eternity. So, let’s recap the lesson we learned today. Is the Immaculate Conception about the conception of Jesus? No. Is the Immaculate Conception about the conception of Mary? Yes.

And what does it mean to be “immaculately conceived”? It means you are sinless, or to put it positively, you are kecharitomene, “full of grace.” You and I, on the other hand, are NOT immaculately conceived – even though some of us may think we are sinless and perfect. Still, even though we cannot share Mary’s fullness of grace here on earth, maybe we can share some of her fullness of glory one day in eternity. Today, we ask for her powerful prayers – prayers full of grace – so we can be a little more full of Jesus’ grace like her.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Stealing Sermons

Appreciating the life of St. Ambrose and Woody Shank

12/07/2024

Jn 10:11-16 Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd."

Last week I did something I do not normally do, but I am glad I did, namely, attend a funeral at a Protestant church. I can’t do that often because I’m too busy performing funerals here at I.C. The funeral was for Woody Shank, who has many Catholic family members, but Woody himself was staunchly Baptist.

The interior of the church had semi-circular seating, dim lighting over the congregation, the stage – hard to call it a sanctuary – was decked with four large-screen TV, Christmas trees, columns of blue lights, and a sole pulpit standing in the center illuminated by a spot-light.

Even though the funeral was not as liturgical and ritualistic as I would like – no smells and bells – I heard one of the most moving funeral sermons I have ever heard. It was delivered by Dr. Jeff Crawford, pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church. The sermon was a lot longer than what you hear in a Catholic service.

But I was mesmerized by how Dr. Crawford eulogized Woody Shank with humility, humor, and holiness. He shared several funeral jokes which I will save for a Sunday homily. Baptists always give me great homily material. I’ve stolen lots of sermons from Protestant pastors. After 2,000 pretty much everything you hear in church is stolen from someone’s sermon.

But what really grabbed my attention was how much of an impact Woody left on Dr. Crawford’s life. He recalled how Woody was a dedicated youth minister taking boys, like Jeff, on camping trips and snipe hunting. How Woody reached out to kids who started distancing themselves from the Church. How Woody loved to talk about Jesus.

Dr. Crawford repeated what could well be Woody’s life motto: “It was always about Jesus. It was only about Jesus.” Dr. Crawford attributed his own call to ministry as a pastor to Woody’s influence. And he felt his life had somewhat come full circle when Jeff introduced his own children to Woody.

Today is the feast of St. Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, who lived in the 4th century, from 339 to 394. We often do not hear much about St. Ambrose because his life was overshadowed by his more famous protégé, St. Augustine of Hippo. Just like I probably would never have known about Woody Shank until I heard the preaching of Dr. Crawford, so in some ways, St. Augustine put St. Ambrose on the historical map of the Church.

In other words, St. Augustine both overshadowed him but ironically also shed light on him. How so? Well, it was to St. Ambrose that St. Augustine credited his complete conversion to Christ and his desire to follow in his footsteps. And who knows, maybe St. Augustine stole a few sermons from St. Ambrose as well.

So taking my cue from Dr. Crawford and St. Augustine, I would like to share a few stories about the life of St. Ambrose, the beloved bishop of Milan. The first remarkable thing to note is that Ambrose became the bishop of Milan not initially by the appointment from the pope, which is how all bishops are created today.

Rather, he was chosen as bishop of Milan by the popular acclaim of the people. His reputation as a pastor, a preacher, a theologian, and leader was well known and respected. His ascension to the episcopal see was, as we say today, “a no-brainer”, and spoke highly of his personal character and professional credentials.

A second accomplishment to recognize about Ambrose was he was an accomplished musician. For example, he developed an early form of antiphonal chant for the Mass called the Ambrosian Chant. Think of how we sing or say the Responsorial Psalm by repeating the antiphon, which is usually a verse from that psalm. He helped develop that.

He also composed the hymn called the “Te Deum,” which in Latin means “To You God.” Priests and deacons sing the Te Deum in the Liturgy of the Hours on Sundays and Solemnities. When we sing the Te Deum praising God, we should feel a deep gratitude to St. Ambrose. 

But of course, Ambrose’s lasting claim to fame will be his influence on St. Augustine. Let me allow the Doctor of Grace (Augustine) to speak for himself. He wrote in Book V of his immortal Confessions: “To Milan I came, to Ambrose the bishop…whose eloquent discourse did then plentifully dispense unto Thy people the flower of Thy wheat, the gladness of Thy oil, and the sober inebriation of Thy wine.”

He continued: “To him was I unknowingly led by Thee, that by him I might knowingly be led to Thee. That man of God received me as a father, and showed me an Episcopal kindness on my coming. Thenceforth, I began to love him.” It is hard not to hear how Dr. Crawford could have uttered almost identical words about Woody Shank.

Dr. Crawford could say: “To Woody was I unknowingly led by Jesus, that by Woody I might be knowingly be led to Jesus.” My friends, today think about someone who has influenced you and brought you closer to Christ: a pastor, a parent, a professor, a friend, a family member, or a public figure.

As we gather to sing the praises of God, like priests and deacons sing the Te Deum, whisper a word of thanks in your heart for all the Ambroses in your life. We would not know Christ without them. And we might even steal something from their sermons once in a while.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

See the World

Imitating the evangelistic zeal of St. Francis Xavier

12/03/2024

Mark 16:15-20 Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

In 1942 the U.S. Navy rolled out a new recruiting slogan which stated: “Join the Navy and see the world!” The slogan appealed to people’s sense of adventure and curiosity about the different cultures, countries, and continents of the earth. Almost exactly 400 years before that, in 1540, St. Francis Xavier used that slogan as his personal motto to travel the globe and make Christian converts: “Join the Jesuits and see the world!”

St. Francis Xavier was one of the first seven men who banded together with St. Ignatius of Loyola to form the evangelization juggernaut called The Society of Jesus, or more simply, The Jesuits. Or, as we diocesan priests affectionately call them, “The Jebbies.”

Now, the Jesuits are known for many spectacular achievements, especially numerous secondary schools (one boys high school in Dallas is called “Jesuit”), and colleges like Boston College, Georgetown, all the Loyola Universities, and of course, Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH is named for St. Francis Xavier.

And the best known Jesuit today is, naturally, Pope Francis. Who, by the way, is not named for St. Francis Xavier (a fellow Jesuit), but rather for St. Francis of Assisi, because the Holy Father wants to emphasize the Seraphic Doctor’s love for God’s creation. But besides all that copious claim to fame for the Jebbies, St. Francis Xavier demonstrated that the heart of a Jesuit is not only to see the world but to convert the world to Christ.

I am personally indebted to St. Francis Xavier because of his missionary work in India and the far East. Of course, the flag of Christian faith had been planted in Indian soil and in Indian souls long before Francis Xavier by St. Thomas the Apostle. I remember asking my father many years ago how long our family had been Catholic. Lots of people ask me that question because India is not known for Catholicism but for Hinduism.

My father proudly answered, “Our family has been Catholic for 2,000 years, since St. Thomas the Apostle brought the faith to our country.” But it was the zeal of St. Francis Xavier that reignited the fire of faith in India. And also tightened the connection to the pope in Rome. The Jebbies were always fiercely faithful to the pope in Rome; indeed, they take a fourth vow of obedience to the pope.

But Francis Xavier did not stop in India. He wanted to see the world, so he traveled to China and even to Japan. It is often said that no one evangelist has converted more souls to Christ than St. Paul the Apostle. True enough. But St. Francis Xavier would be a close second. I recently counted all the people, places, and activities St. Francis Xavier is the patron saint of and it was over 55!

For example, he’s the patron of India, of Japan, of China, the Philippines, of Pakistan; he’s the patron saint of navigators, of missionaries, of the foreign mission; he’s the patron saint of Australia, of Cape Town, South Africa, of the Apostleship of Prayer, and the dizzying list goes on and on. Become a Jesuit and see the world, indeed.

In the gospel today we hear Jesus enunciating that slogan for all his followers, not just the Jebbies. He urges: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.” In other words, there are eternal consequences when we do not convert souls for Christ.

Folks, even if you have never felt the desire to become a sailor and join the Navy, or becomes a missionary and join the Jesuits in order to see the world, every Christian must do his or her part to win more souls for Christ. For instance, you can pray for missionaries, or help in a second collection for mission churches, like when we take up a second collection for Fr. Samy’s home diocese, or even study the life and legacy of relentless missionaries like St. Francis Xavier.

Think about it: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ left the pleasure of Paradise to venture into this mission field called Earth, to suffer and die to save us. Jesus was the first Missionary. We, too, must have a love for all those who do not yet know the Lord and win more souls for Christ. The one thing we absolutely must not do is ignore this missionary mandate to see the world, at least vicariously.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

The Bishop’s Book

Some observations about Bishop Taylor’s recent letter

12/02/2024

Bishop Taylor asked that the following letter be read at all Masses this weekend. He discusses two important topics: a change in Holy Days of Obligation, and the urgent issue of immigration in light of the recent presidential election. I would like to share Bishop Taylor’s letter, and intermittently offer some commentary and explanations.

Bishop Taylor: "My brothers and sisters in Christ, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is the patronal feast of the United States and is a Holy Day of Obligation. For a period of time, when this feast fell on a Monday or a Saturday, as it does this year, it was not obligatory."

Fr. John: In the past most US bishops were well-intentioned in providing these exemptions from attending holy day Masses. Why? Well, because if you miss a holy day of obligation, it is a mortal sin, like missing Sunday Mass. So, out of pastoral concern for their flock, bishops removed the obligation so there was no sin: eliminate the cause and there is no effect.

Bishop Taylor: "However, the Vatican recently clarified that even when a Holy Day of Obligation is transferred to a Saturday or Monday, there remains the obligation to attend Mass on that day. Elsewhere in the United States a few bishops have made an exception for their diocese, lifting the obligation. We have not done that here [in Arkansas]."

Fr. John: The bishop is the chief guardian of the liturgy in his diocese and therefore we see some differences in liturgical practice from diocese to diocese. Each bishop exercises his prudential judgment for what is best for his flock. That is what it means to be a successor of the Apostles.

Bishop Taylor: "In Arkansas the obligation remains. As with any Holy Day of Obligation, individual priests can exempt individual persons from the obligation for a just reason, but there will be no blanket exemption of the diocese or of individual parishes here. One reason is that this feast is the patronal feast of the United States, and our painfully divided country is in need of more prayer and more help from the Blessed Mother’s intercession than ever before."

Fr. John: So, that is the first point of his letter, and Bishop Taylor is fully within his rights to implement fully, and not dull the cutting edge, of the recent Vatican decision that attendance at Holy Day of Obligation Masses should not be exempted. Put simply, there are no more "two-fers" where attending one Mass on Sunday satisfies the obligation for the Holy Day as well. Now, Bishop Taylor turns to his second subject, the thorny topic of immigration.

Bishop Taylor: "One such area where help from heaven is needed is in the area of immigration, about which there is much division and heated rhetoric about massive deportations."

Fr. John: Then the bishop notes the various ways we can approach this touchy topic of immigration, and his own contribution to help Catholics understand the issue more thoroughly.

Bishop Taylor: "This not just a political matter as some would have it, but also a moral matter, a human rights matter about which our Catholic faith has much to say. Back in 2008 I issued a pastoral letter on the human rights of immigrants, in which I address what our faith has to say 1) about immigration as a basic human right, 2) about the reason for national borders, 3) about the rule of law and its limits, and 4) about the need for comprehensive immigration reform. An electronic version of this pastoral letter can be downloaded from our diocesan website – dolr.org. The original print version is available by simply contacting the diocese."

Fr. John: Let me say two things about immigration. First, Bishop Taylor released his pastoral letter the first year as our bishop in 2008. I read it and I was blown away by his extensive research and keen insights about immigration. It’s not a pastoral letter; it’s a pastoral book. Even if you disagree with the bishop’s conclusions about immigration, at least read what he has to say. Don’t be ignorant but be informed. Like the popular meme states: “You can’t fix stupid.”

And second, many Catholics are justifiably angry and frustrated with how our current Catholic president ignores, or out-right fights against, Church teaching about abortion. He champions abortion on demand, and conscientious Catholics are rightly appalled. But Catholic politicians who completely ignore and even undermine Church teaching about immigration must also be held to the same standard, that is, whether or not they uphold Catholic doctrine and practice. Abortion and prolife are simpler and easier issues to wrap our minds around, while immigration is like an octopus with many tentacles to wrestle with.

And it should be said unequivocally that there is a hierarchy of human rights, meaning not all rights have equal weight and importance. The right to life is the primary and principal human right, and the foundation of all other human rights. A dead man doesn’t need rights. Nonetheless, both prolife and immigration are moral and basic human rights issues, and Catholics should be outraged whenever either issue is politically skirted.

Bishop Taylor: "This is not the only matter about which we need to pray for the intercession of the Blessed Mother on this our patronal feast of the Immaculate Conception, but it is a big issue about which our faith has something to say. It is my hope that by entrusting to the Blessed Mother this and other matters we face as a nation, we will heal divisions and find solutions truly worthy of the Lord. Sincerely in Christ, Anthony B. Taylor, Bishop of Little Rock."

Fr. John: Praised be Jesus Christ!

Perfect Push-Ups

Learning how to orient ourselves to Jesus and the end

12/01/2024

Lk 21:25-28, 34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright  in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Have you heard of DonnaJean Wilde? Well, you should have because she’s a 59-year old grandmother who recently broke the Guinness Book world record for most push-ups in one hour. You better sit down to hear this. She performed 1,575 uninterrupted push-ups in one hour. I was listening to an NPR interview last week with DonnaJean Wilde.

The interviewer asked her if it was hard to keep the proper push-up form for an entire hour. DonnaJean replied: “Well, the Guinness Book says a proper push-up requires you to bend your elbow at a 90 degree angle. So, I just visualized myself doing that perfect push-up every time and I did.” That is, first her mind thought it, and then her body did it, after a lot of hard-work.

This Guinness grandmother was describing what Stephen Covey called his “second habit of highly effective people”, namely, to begin with the end in mind. He explained: “Habit 2 is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation. That is to say, DonnaJean Wilde had finished those 1,575 push-ups in her mind long before she did them physically on her living-room floor.

In the gospel today, Jesus invites his listeners to visualize where humanity is finally going, namely, toward the end of the world. Our Lord paints a rather dire picture, saying: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the starts, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.” But then he adds: “Some people will die of fright,” while “others will stand before the Son of Man.”

In other words, just like DonnaJean Wilde not only visualized 1,575 perfect push-ups but she exercised relentlessly to perform them, so too, Jesus urges his followers not only to visualize the end of the world, but to prepare for it by prayer, avoiding anxiety, and constant vigilance. That is, we cannot stop with the first mental creation, but must continue on to the second physical creation: cooperating with grace to grow in holiness.

Let me give you one urgent reason why these two creations (the mental and physical) are so important. On December 8, 2023 (just a year ago), Trend Magazine published an article called “America’s Age of Anxiety.” It stated starkly: “A 2019 Pew Research Center survey found that 70% of teenagers said anxiety and depression were major problems for people their age.” Do you know any teens who are struggling with anxiety and depression? I bet you do, and so do I.

Clearly anxiety and depression are complex psychological and emotional crises, but I am convinced one significant factor is a feeling of disorientation and feeling lost, without a clear sense of who we are or where we are headed. Like Lewis Carroll joked, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there,” even a road that puts you in the ditch of depression.

But I am also convinced that modern anxiety goes hand-in-hand with modern atheism. How so? Well, when people forget about God, we also forget about who we are, namely, children of God. The German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche proudly asserted: “God is dead!” But if God our Father is dead, then that makes us existential orphans.

And orphans often suffer from deep anxiety. Why? Well, because, unlike DonnaJean Wilde, they cannot create that first, mental picture of who they are as children of God. Nor can they take the first step to become more like Christ, the first-born Child of God. Because that is the goal and purpose of life.

My friends, we are in the midst of a capital campaign called “Yesterday, Today, and Forever,” which is how Heb 13:8 describes Jesus Christ, “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” It does not mean the campaign will last forever. And the cornerstone of the campaign is a new back altar which we will place in the center of the sanctuary. Why is that so significant? Well, because then Jesus will be directly to the “east” or to the “orient” of the church. Big deal, so what?

Well, “orient” (east) is where we get the word “orientation,” like when we go on a college orientation. That is, just like a college tour guide explains life on campus, so Jesus gives us an “orientation” and explains life in this universe: who we are, how we should behave, and when we will graduate (the end of time).

Without that orientation we would be lost, anxious, and depressed, which is how many people feel today. But when Jesus is in the East, the Orient, we know exactly where we are going and precisely how to get there. Jesus gave Thomas these directions when he said in Jn 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

Folks, we start the First Sunday of Advent – the January 1st of the new church calendar year – with a startling picture of the end of the world. Why? Well, because Jesus helps us create that first, mental picture of the goal of history and humanity.

And then we come to church every Sunday, facing East toward Jesus, and do our Catholic calisthenics: all the standing, kneeling, sitting, etc. That spiritual exercise is the second physical creation. Consequently, like DonnaJean Wilde, we have pictured the end and we have prepared for the end, so that in the end we can “stand before the Son of Man.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Greek to Me

Celebrating little thanksgiving every Sunday

11/28/2024

Lk 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

On this Thanksgiving Day, it is easy to count our many blessings and feel deeply grateful to God. We have so many. At the top of my list of blessings would be my faith in Jesus, my precious family, and my loyal, loving friends. I am even grateful for my 4,522 friends on Facebook, you know, the ones who really love me.

But today I want to say a word not about the blessings we see

but the blessings we are blind to. And I will use myself as a case in point. While I was growing up I hated foreign languages. I studied French at Catholic High School in Little Rock. But French is hard to pronounce, I made lots of mistakes in grammar, and I often felt foolish and embarrassed when I tried to say something, like a toddler learning his A-B-C’s.

When I started studying at the University of Dallas, you had to complete intermediate level of a foreign language to graduate. I felt I knew enough French to take that class my freshman year, and I barely passed the course. After my freshman year, I remember shaking a defiant fist at the universe and declaring: “I will never have to study a foreign language as long as I live!” Well, never say never. Why not?

Well, the year before my ordination the bishop sent me to Mexico for an immersion program to study Spanish. Let me tell you: there is not enough Tequila in Teotihuacan to drown my sorrows that long, grueling summer. I don’t know how you feel about foreign languages, but for the longest time I was blind to what a blessing they are.

Today, however, I love foreign languages. For instance, when I visit my parents in Springdale, I try to speak to them in Malayalam, my native tongue from India. Half of the parishioners at Immaculate Conception are Spanish speakers, and I enjoy to talking to them in their native language. It makes them feel very welcome in a foreign country.

In other words, God has slowly opened my eyes to see what a blessing learning another language is, and I feel deeply grateful to him today. So, in addition to the easy-to-see blessings of faith, family, and my 4,522 Facebook friends, I would add as a fourth blessing one that I was blind to: appreciating a foreign language.

Today I would like to help you open your eyes and perhaps see blessings you are blind to by looking at the gospel through the lens of a foreign language, namely, the Greek language. We know the story well of the 10 lepers from Luke 17. Only one leper returns to give thanks to the Lord, while the other nine are like I was in high school: blind to their blessings of being cured from leprosy.

In seminary I concentrated my theology studies on Sacred Scripture. Now one requirement to complete the Master of Arts degree was proficiency in either Greek or Hebrew. Oh no, another foreign language! And I discovered why people say, “It’s all Greek to me!” But here is how Greek can do some good.

Listen to how verse 16 – where the one leper returns to give thanks – sounds in the original Greek: “Kai epesen epi prosopon para tous podas autou euchariston auto, kai autos en Samarites” meaning, “And he fell on his face at [Jesus] feet giving thanks to him, and he was a Samaritan.” Sometimes people say, "If the King James Version was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me!" Well, St. Luke wrote his gospel in Greek not in English.

But did you catch the Greek word that was translated into English as “giving thanks”? It was “euchariston” which is where we get the word “Eucharist” to describe the Mass, that is, what we do every Sunday. In other words, that recently healed leper ran back to celebrate “a little Eucharist” with Jesus. Why?

Well, because he was not blind to his blessings. Could this be one reason why so many Catholics do not go to Mass on Sunday? We are like the other nine lepers, healed and blessed in so many ways by Jesus, but we do not go back to him and celebrate “little Eucharists of thanksgiving” with him. We mistakenly think there is nothing to thank him for.

My friends, today, do not just thank God for the obvious, in-your-grill blessings. But think back over your life to blessings you were blind to: trying to learn a foreign language in high school, a teacher who was tough on you but who taught you a lot, a failed relationship where you grew in humility and grace, a lost job that taught you patience and perseverance, an illness that gave you a new appreciation for life, etc.

Here in the United States Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. But as Roman Catholics do you when we celebrate Thanksgiving? Every Sunday when we run back to Jesus like the one leper “kai epesen epi prosopon para tous podas autou euchariston auto,” meaning “we fall on our face at the feet of Jesus giving thanks to him.” That is, unless we are blind to our blessings.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

A Dog Story

Understanding how only Jesus can promise us eternal life

11/26/2024

LK 21:5-11 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

Since I became a dog person I noticed everyone likes to tell stories about their dog. But sooner or later everyone tells a dog story that they deeply wish they did not have to share, namely, when they put their dog to sleep. It is heart-breaking. So after hearing enough of these sad stories, Apollo and I have decided that he is not going to grow old and one day be put to sleep.

We were going for a walk one day – actually, he was taking me for a walk – and I said to him, “Hey, Apollo, let’s make a deal. How about you always stay young, and healthy, and handsome?” And he looked back at me and barked: “Deal!” So I have now placed a large portrait of Apollo in the basement and that picture is daily growing older while the Apollo that you and I see remains youthful and vivacious. That’s a not-so-subtle reference to Oscar Wilde’s classic book “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”

But both Apollo and I realize that such deals are only wishful thinking. Like that old saying goes: “The only two things in life that are certain are death and taxes.” In other words, everyone dies, indeed, everything eventually ends. If you prefer a philosophical description of how everything ends, rather than the literary one by Oscar Wilde, I highly recommend you read the rather dense but brilliant book by Etienne Gilson called “The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy.”

Listen carefully to what Gilson wrote: “This created universe, of which St. Augustine said that it unceasingly leans over towards the abyss of nothingness, is saved at each moment from collapse into nothingness by the continuous giving of being which, of itself, it could neither give nor preserve” (pp. 71-72).

That is, the only One who never ends is God. And it is because he holds us in his hands and makes possible our next breath that we continue to exist. Put differently, God is the only One who can say to us, “Let’s make a deal and say that you will never die.” There really is a portrait of us that stays young and vivacious forever, and that is the face of Jesus Christ. And one day, we will look like him.

In the gospel today the apostles are admiring the adornments of the Jerusalem Temple, a little like I admire Apollo. But Jesus warns them that one day the great and mighty Jerusalem Temple will lie in ruins, like people share their stories about putting their dog to sleep. By the way, I apologize for comparing the Jerusalem Temple to my dog Apollo, but that’s the only analogy I could think of at 4:30 in the morning! But the Greek god Apollo had his own temple at Delphi, so maybe the comparison is not entirely unwarranted.

But then Jesus adds that some will come saying they will save them from calamity. He states: “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them.” In a sense, Jesus is saying that all things eventually end. But there is only One who exists eternally, namely, God, and Jesus his eternal Son.

In other words, like Etienne Gilson said, Jesus is the one who “saves us from collapse into nothingness by the continuous giving of being." And like Oscar Wilde suggested: the face of Jesus is the portrait of us that never wrinkles, or ages, or dies. No one else can offer us a deal like that.

My friends we are fast approaching the end of another calendar year of the Catholic Church. As you know, the Church year begins on the first Sunday of Advent, and ends at the end of the 34th week in Ordinary Time. We are currently at Tuesday of the 34th week in Ordinary.

The reason for this repetitious cycle of years is to remind us that even time itself will one day come to an end. The clock of the cosmos will stop ticking, just like the Jerusalem Temple, and Apollo, and you, and me. Like the viral program, Mr. Smith, said to Neo in the movie “Matrix,” “The end is inevitable, Mr. Anderson.”

But even as the clock of the liturgical calendar winds down – and you and I do too – Jesus comes to make us a deal, namely, the deal that we live forever. Many others may come to offer us that deal, saying, “I am he!” but we should not follow them. Why not? Because Jesus is the only One who can save us at each moment from collapse into nothingness by the continuous giving of a being (called grace) which of ourselves we can neither give nor preserve.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Two Catherines

Honoring a saint and my goddaughter

11/25/2024

Matthew 10:28-33 Jesus said to his Apostles: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."

I am the godfather to many children who are now grown adults. And today, the feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria, is the patronal feasts of one of them, namely, Catherine Hartnedy, now married to handsome Mr. Regin Reginio. Today I want to give a brief homiletic shout-out to my goddaughter Catherine and her patroness, St. Catherine.

Catherine (my goddaughter) was married on October 5 at St. Edward’s Church in Little Rock. And as usual, I missed it because I had a wedding here in Fort Smith. Even though I cannot always be present in the lives of my godchildren, their patron saints are never absent, and their powerful presence is of no small consequence.

St. Catherine lived from 287 to 305 in Alexandria, Egypt. At the tender age of only 18 she gladly gave her life for Christ, being martyred at the hands of Emperor Maxentius. She was so astute intellectually that she became a brilliant scholar and converted to Christianity at the age of 14. She subsequently converted hundreds of other people to Christianity by her learning and life. Indeed, over 1,000 years later St. Joan of Arc would look to St. Catherine as her model for behavior as a Christian woman.

Now, some of the stories surrounding the brief life of St. Catherine start to sound like the stuff of legend. But as my church history professor told us in seminary many times: “If it isn’t true, it should be.” For example, when Emperor Maxentius began to persecute Christians, intrepid Catherine went to rebuke the emperor for his cruelty. That was not the first or last time a courageous Catholic woman would go toe-to-toe with a tyrant. Sometimes that happens in our own homes.

The hapless emperor then threw Catherine into prison and sent 50 of his sharpest philosophers and theologians to engage the saintly teenager in debate. But she bested all of them with her beauty and her brilliance. As a matter of fact, several of her interlocutors were so moved by her arguments that they converted to Christianity and were promptly put to death.

By the way, my goddaughter Catherine was one of Ben Keatings best friends in Little Rock. They both belonged to a group of intensely committed Catholics who wanted to learn and live their faith more robustly. I have no doubt Catherine was very influential in Ben’s decision to pursue the priesthood. Both Catherines used their beauty and their brilliance to help men draw closer to Christ.

Foiled at his attempts to ruin Catherine’s faith, the emperor next devised various tortures and used pain as his new argument against Catherine and Christianity. All to no avail. Finally, he used a spiked wheel to put Catherine to death. Incidentally, if you visit St. Edward’s Church in Little Rock, where my goddaughter was married last month, in the high back altar you will see a stunning statue of St. Catherine.

And can you guess what she is holding in both her hands? That’s right: the instrument of her martyrdom: a large, spiked wheel that is actually slightly broken where it crushed Catherine’s body. Even the wheel was ashamed of what it was called to do to Catherine’s innocent and virgin body.

In the gospel today Jesus teaches his disciples: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” And later our Lord adds: “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.” Those two sentences from the lips of our Savior perfectly summarize the life of St. Catherine.

She displayed a fearless faith even in the face of death, and she used her beauty and brilliance to bring other people closer to Christ. And I pray one day that will likewise be the legend surrounding my goddaughter Catherine Reginio. Because, you know, “if it isn’t true, it should be.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Duct Tape City

Understanding why Jesus cried over Jerusalem

11/21/2024

LK 19:41-44 As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

I was assigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception on December 1, 2013. And when I arrived I remember thinking, “Man, Fort Smith is like going back to 1985!” The buildings were older, and some were dilapidated; many people drove older cars some with duct tape in place of windows, and even some people’s clothes and hairstyles dated back to the 80’s. But over the last 11 years, I have learned that is not all bad. How so?

Well, the citizens of Fort Smith do not focus on the externals but on the internals, not on the superficial but on the supernatural, not on the material but on the immaterial or the spiritual. In a word, it is a city that has not lost its soul. That is, just like the human body is infused with a soul that we can either nourish or neglect, so too the body politic is endowed with a spiritual principle that we can either nourish or neglect.

Let me give you some examples of what I mean about this city held together with duct tape. Fort Smith had two Catholic high schools: St. Scholastica and St. Anne’s, but sadly both are closed. Still, it is shocking that such a small town could support two institutions of secondary education. We have three Catholic churches, and two Catholic elementary schools all within a one-mile radius.

We have a first-class Catholic hospital that continues to grow by leaps and bounds. And people are constantly relocating here as a peaceful place to raise their families. Why? Because 1985 was far more family-friendly than our present day and age. And here at I.C. we still have midnight Mass at midnight, and the church is packed. Those are some signs of a city with a soul.

The gospel today begins with this tragic line: “As Jesus drew near Jerusalem he saw the city and wept over it.” Why did our Lord weep? Well, in a sense, it was a city that had lost its soul. Remember how Jesus wept when Lazarus had died? His friend’s body had lost its soul at death, and so too the body politic of Jerusalem was soulless, and in that sense, lifeless.

And Jesus does not weep over trifles, but only when he see the greatest tragedies. Therefore, Jesus accuses it saying: “If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.” In other words, Jerusalem, like many modern cities, was caught up in the external, the superficial, the material, and ignored the internal, the supernatural, and the spiritual.

The city no longer had spiritual eyes to see its Savior when he arrived to offer salvation. Like Dwayne Johnson, the Rock, said in the movie “Skyscraper,” “If you can’t fix it with duct tape, you’re not using enough duct tape.” A city held together by duct tape at least still has its soul.

As Christian, though, we know that no earthly city will save us, not even one still living in 1985. All cities, like the human body, have a life-span: birth, growth, decay, and death. In 1989 in his farewell address to the nation, President Ronald Reagan described America as “the shining city on a hill.” Well, even this shining city will see its last day and like the 40th president also bid farewell to the world.

There is only one shining city that endures forever, and it is not found on a hill but in heaven, the eternal City, the new Jerusalem described in Rv 21:2. In the penultimate chapter, John wrote: “I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

In other words, that new Jerusalem is the shining city in which we should be eager to claim our citizenship, and seek to build up as an outpost on earth. In the meantime we should be pleased to live in a city held together with duct tape. Why? Because hopefully Jesus is not weeping over us.

Praised be Jesus Christ!