Authentic Christianity: What does it look like?

Triptych by Duccio (1308)

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and Paul “…strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.’” They did not tell them that God would make things better for them in this life; the focus was on eternal life, the salvation of their souls. As we know, some disciples gave up everything to be in the company of the Apostles and follow the “New Way” of being in relationship with God. Many disciples were persecuted and some were martyred.

This message from Peter and Paul was not only for the Christians of the early Church, it is also for us today. It is expected that our faith will influence all the important decisions we make and sometimes those decisions will be difficult. Are we willing to make sacrifices and put other people’s needs before our own desires? Jesus himself tells us we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him. We cannot allow our appetites and desires to dominate our life. If we live only for our self, we close our self off to the graces God wishes to give us and are destined for unhappiness. If our lives are not ordered to God, they are disordered.

What are some of the hardships you have endured? What is your most difficult trial? These come to all of us naturally; we don’t have to look for them. No matter how bad we had it on our worst day, there will always be others who will have had it much worse. Some will allow their trials to overwhelm them. They continue to look at their problems and in their imagination they become bigger than reality and they become bitter and depressed. Others, instead of dwelling on their trials look at Christ on the cross and find the strength to persevere. Those who draw close to Christ can even experience joy in the face of adversity.

The challenge is to experience our hardships in the light of Christ’s love and sacrifice for us. If we unite our suffering with the suffering of Christ it becomes redemptive for us, and others as well. Not only that, Christ also lessens the weight of our burdens just as he promises. Hardships are necessary because they help us to become dependent upon Jesus Christ, to discover “his strength in our weakness.” There are some people who would never have turned to Christ except for their hardships.

In the Gospel, Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” When Jesus tells us we must love one another he makes it a new commandment because he says we must love one another as he has loved us. In other words, we must love with a supernatural, sacrificial love. It is only possible to love in a supernatural way if we love God first above everything else, because He is the source of all love and everything that is good. If God is our first love, it will be possible for us to reach our potential in loving ourselves and others.

We can only love as Christ has loved us if that is the desire of our heart. If that is our desire, we ask for the grace to be faithful to what has been revealed to us through the Scriptures and the Church. We make a commitment to pray every day, to live the sacramental life and to continue to be formed in the Faith.

God has great plans for all of us that require us to surrender our will to His will. In His will, we experience unconditional love and mercy which lead to happiness now and forever. If our will is in opposition to His will, we are destined for unhappiness.

Lord, give us the grace to put our total trust in you so that you may be our hope in adversity and victorious in our struggles.

My Visit to the Jordan River

This Sunday, we heard about Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. I want to share with you a reflection that I wrote over two years ago while in the Holy Land. On a cloudy November day, I visited the Jordan River:

The Jordan River is not a spectacular scene worthy of a movie set. It doesn’t have extraordinarily blue water nor is it surrounded by fantastic rock formations, flora or fauna. It’s really just a river. (Click for today’s photos.)

And yet, God chose it for His own baptism, and for the initiation of the Sacrament of Baptism. It was at the River Jordan that the Holy Trinity was first revealed to the world (see Luke 3:21-22).

Everyone is loved by God. That’s without question. So what’s the big deal with baptism? Isn’t it some sort of sign that the person is a “child of God”? Isn’t everyone a child of God? What happened to me when I was baptized? Why be baptized in the first place?

Walking through the wilderness today, after having visited the site of John the Baptist’s birth, I tried to imagine John in the flesh. I’ve always heard him described as the ‘wild man’ prophet, Jesus’ cousin (see Luke 1). So this wild man was “crying out” a message of repentence and baptism for the forgiveness of sins – what a remarkable individual. Only the Spirit of God could compel someone to live such a radically simple lifestyle, totally dependent upon God.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church answers the questions above. Baptism is “the seal of eternal life” (CCC #1274) and “constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn” (CCC #1271). Beyond that, baptism is where God graces us with the theological virtues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and empowers us to live a moral life (CCC #1266). This is why we are baptized, with Jesus setting the example for us. He gives us a glimpse of the life that we can have, both here and in Heaven, through baptism. By this public sign and sacrament, persons become united to God and the faithful in a new and powerful way.

Of course, the sacraments are mysteries. If anyone knew this best, it must have been St. John the Baptist. He relentlessly sought God in his life and for others’ lives. He unashamedly proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. Still, he knew that Jesus – his own cousin – was beyond his understanding:

…One mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16)

Today we renewed our baptismal vows at the site where Jesus was baptized. How often do you think about the significance of your baptism? Do you realize that it has changed you forever? Are you lead by the Holy Spirit like St. John the Baptist? In what ways? What habits do you have which do not proclaim the coming of Jesus?

Ask the Holy Spirit to renew the gifts that God gave you at your baptism. While you’re at it, ask St. John to pray for your fervor and commitment to Christ.

Is the Holy Family a realistic model for us?

“The Holy Family with the Infant St. John” by Bartolome Esteban Murillo

The Holy Family was the happiest family in the history of humanity, not because they were given special privileges, but because of their faithfulness and humility. We might expect the mother of God and his foster father to live as royalty as they cared for the child Jesus. However, they had the same living conditions, concerns and trials as any other working-class family. As faithful Jews, they did not consider themselves above the law, but instead were obedient to the letter of the law. Mary and Joseph’s obedience to the Word of God was their source of hope. They in turn would teach Jesus to be obedient even as he was beginning to discover his purpose in the plan of his Heavenly Father.

This faithfulness and obedience that was the source of happiness for the holy family is also God’s plan for each of us. The holy family is an example of how we all should live our lives close to God. It’s in our family that we should first learn about God and the importance of daily prayer.

The most important gift that parents can give their children is that their children know without a doubt that their parents love each other and that they are loved by their parents. This gives the children the security they need, especially in their developing years. It is also important that children see their parents pray together and are taught by their parents how to pray.

How Can We Join God’s Family?

When a child is baptized, the parents agree to be the first teachers of the way of our faith. In baptism, we all become children of God and part of His family, which is the Church. The Church that Jesus Christ founded is also called our Mother because it is in her that God’s specific plan of salvation unfolds for His family. It is through this Church that we receive the Word of God and the sacraments which allow us to encounter Jesus Christ in an intimate and personal way, especially when we receive him in the Holy Eucharist.

“The Last Communion of St. Joseph Calasanz” by Francisco Goya (1819)

Now that we are adults – no matter if we are married or single – whether we live alone or as a family, we are members of the family of God. We call ourselves Christian because we claim Jesus Christ as our Savior and we agree to be his disciples. This is no casual thing; it requires each of us to “deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him.” No matter if we should gain the whole world, we can only be truly happy now and for all eternity by being a faithful witness to what Christ has revealed to us through the Church and the Scriptures.

The wonderful thing about God Our Father is that no matter who we are or what we have done He longs for us to come to Him with a humble heart so that we may experience His mercy and love. It is for this purpose that He has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yes, it does take humility to confess our sins to Jesus Christ through his minister the priest, but then it is Jesus Christ who through his priest says, “Your sins are forgiven,” and then gives us grace to help us overcome sin.

Making Our Home a Domestic Church

In the month of October, we began the Year of Faith which continues until November 2013. The purpose of this year is to help all of us to re-focus our lives on what is really important so that we can be filled with hope and peace. We are encouraged to follow the example of the Holy Family and live our lives in communion with God. Our homes should become a domestic church where we pray with the people we love and grow together in the faith by reading the Scriptures, the lives of the saints, and the teachings of our Mother the Church, given to us for our sanctification.

There is no one on this earth who has a greater possibility of having the experience of being a member of the family of God than those of us who belong to the Church He founded. We have everything we need to live a life close to God if we so chose. It begins with the desire to place God first in our lives and then follow the example of Mary, Joseph and all the saints who have gone before us. There is no shortcut to becoming holy; the path is the same as it always has been.

Mary and Joseph, pray for us that we will receive the desire to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ, so that we may be truly happy now and for all eternity.

This blog was originally preached by Deacon Tom Fox as his homily for The Feast of the Holy Family (C) at St. Matthew Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas.

Take a Daily Spiritual Dump: 3 Steps You Shouldn’t Go Without

Two weeks ago, I met a man who made a lasting impression on me. What struck me so deeply about this man was his unshakeable conviction that God loves everyone. He said,

[God] loves us in an intimate and personal way. He has a passionate love for each one of us.

God loves me? As you might, I wrestle with this idea, because I am imperfect, flawed, and wounded. At times, I experience pain, sickness, challenges and frustrations…and then I wonder, Does God really love me? Well, I’ve recently remembered the answer. All I had to do was go to Confession.

HOW I LEARNED ABOUT THE ‘DAILY DUMP’

When I recently walked into the Confessional “box,” the priest asked me how I was doing. My heart was very heavy with many things, so I cried, confessed my sins, and Father listened very patiently. He told me that—from my own words and disposition, he could see that I’d forgotten how much God loves me. For my penance, he wrote down some Scriptures on which I should reflect.

Then, he told me something I’d never heard before: Just like we have to go to the bathroom every day, we also need that spiritually! (I almost chuckled when he said this.) The truth is that our souls have to daily get rid of all the junk: the lies we have believed about ourselves, about others, and about God.

In other words, we need to take a daily ‘spiritual dump.’

THE THREE-STEP CHALLENGE

This made perfect sense to me. We can all get very down on ourselves (I’m such a failure, I’m no good, I’m worthless, Why aren’t I like her/him?) and we play the blame game toward others & God. What we need is a fresh start. Here’s how Father explained this process to me.

STEP ONE: Remember and affirm who you are in God’s eyes.

Dust off your Bible, open it up, and write down the Scriptures that especially speak about God’s love for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in this process. Here’s what Father recommended to me:

• 1 John 3:1-3
• Romans 8:1
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Galatians 2:19b-20
• Psalm 23:4

Then, Father recommended I write my own “litany” of reminders about who I am in God’s eyes. For example: I am a new creation. I am a daughter of God. I am God’s beloved child. I am desired by the King of Heaven. I am a precious temple of the Holy Spirit. I am redeemed by Christ’s cross…(etc.) Base your “litany” on the Scriptures you find.

Every day, begin your ‘Daily Dump’ by praying this litany. Give thanks to God for His love and goodness!

STEP TWO: Examine your conscience.

After declaring who you are in God, reflect back on your day: When were the times that I lived up to this litany? When were the times that I failed?

STEP THREE: Repent, reject, and praise.

Repent of your sins and failures — these are the times you failed to live as God’s beloved child, temple of the Holy Spirit, etc. Ask God for his mercy.

Then, the dump: Reject in Jesus’ name the evil and lies which have led you into sin. For example: “In the name of Jesus Christ, I reject the lie that I am a failure. In the name of Jesus Christ, I reject the lie that [Person's Name] is lesser than me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I reject the lie that [Person's Name] is the object of my lust. In the name of Jesus Christ, I reject the lie that I do not have time for prayer… (etc.)“

Finally, say a few words of thanks and praise to God — maybe pray the “Glory Be” and say, “Thank you, Lord! I love you. Help me to live for you.“

GET GUARANTEED RELIEF

While this daily process takes only a few minutes and helps us combat sin, there’s a place where we can get guaranteed relief.

Both outhouses and confessionals are awkward little boxes where we dump the junk that’s weighing us down. Neither box looks particularly appealing! But confessionals are unique; if we enter them sincerely willing to give all the grime to God, we’ll get guaranteed relief.

Yep, confessing our sins and failures can be terribly embarrassing. But we often forget that Confession is not merely confessing sins. It is a sacrament — tailor-made by God, to give us new life! Humbling ourselves and admitting our failures in Confession, we slowly conquer our pride — and God gives us sacramental grace to become stronger against temptation. Through the priest, he listens to us, speaks to us, forgives us, fills us with his love, and unites us to himself. Don’t wait any longer — go to Jesus in the Sacrament of Confession!

Whoever confesses his sins … is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear “man” — this is what God has made; when you hear “sinner” — this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. … The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light. (Saint Augustine)

‘Belonging to the Truth’ – What Did Jesus Mean?

This Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King. We’re also in the last week of the liturgical year, and so we are reminded of the last things; Jesus will come again in glory and power.

This Sunday’s Readings:

In the first reading, Daniel prophesies that One like a Son of man is coming and he will receive dominion and kingship which will last forever and all people and nations will serve him. The Book of Revelation speaks of Jesus Christ who freed us from our sins by his own blood and has made us into his kingdom. He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and is to come, the Almighty.”

In the Gospel we see Jesus, the King of Kings, being judged by Pilate. In his response to Pilate he says, “You say I am a king. For this was I born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” It isn’t included in this Gospel, but Pilate replies, “What is truth?”

“What is truth?” This is a question for time.

Do we really want to know the truth about how God wants us to live our lives on this earth? There is an objective truth based upon natural law and on the law of God given to us by way of His revelation and His Church. We live in a time when the majority of the people live as if there is no objective truth. They believe they can decide for themselves the truth which they chose to live by.

In the 1950s there was a television program called Truth or Consequences. It became so popular that a town in New Mexico was named after it. These words have much meaning. If we do not live by the truth as God has revealed it, there will be consequences – and we can see those consequences all around us. Is there anyone who does not believe there has been a moral decline in our country in the past fifty years? Fifty years ago, over 70% of the population in this country worshiped God every weekend; now it is closer to 25%. The largest religious denomination in this country is inactive Catholics. There are more Catholics who are inactive than those who are active; that is going to Mass every weekend and being involved in the life of their parish. Further, much of what is currently called music and entertainment is not only immoral, it is degrading to the dignity of humanity. It appears things will be getting worse before they get better.

In today’s Gospel Jesus said, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” To listen to Jesus is not only to hear the Gospel; it’s to belong to the Gospel, to the truth. To belong to the truth is to allow the truth of God’s revelation in the Scriptures and the Church to shape our lives. If our faith does not influence all of the important decisions we make, then we are not truly Christian.

Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. This is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. Jesus did not only come into the world at his birth in Bethlehem 2000 years ago which we celebrate each Christmas. He will come again in glory in a time unknown to us; for which he wants us to be prepared. The way to prepare is to invite him into our lives everyday, throughout the day, by opening up our hearts to him. He wants a personal relationship with us that we develop through a commitment to daily prayer, living the sacramental life, reading the Scriptures and being faithful to his revelation. In Mass, he comes to us in the Eucharist under the appearance of bread and wine. In this sacrament and the other sacraments of our Church – along with her teaching authority and the Scriptures – we have all we need to belong to the “Truth” which is Jesus Christ, Our King and Our Savior. The consequence of belonging to the “Truth” is to reach our potential for happiness now, and for all eternity.

What Are We Supposed to DO During the Year of Faith? Pope Benedict XVI’s Road Map.

If you haven’t already heard, Pope Benedict XVI has announced a Year of Faith for all Catholics, which began October 11 and runs through November 24, 2013. If you have heard, you’ve probably guessed that we’re supposed to grow stronger in our faith this year…but, how?

Our Holy Father didn’t just say, “Year of Faith. Tag…you’re it!” and expect us to go our own way. As a good pastor, he wrote us a letter called The Door of Faith (Porta Fidei). In this letter, he gives us a road map for this special Year.

Here are the basics:

REDISCOVER. Our Holy Father says this Year is a time to rediscover the journey of faith, “rediscover a taste for feeding ourselves” on the Scriptures (as they are given to us by the Church) and on the Eucharist, “rediscover the joy of believing and the enthusiasm for communicating the faith,” rediscover God’s love “day by day,” and “rediscover and study the content of the faith.”

Since that’s a lot to swallow, he breaks it all down further into bite-sized chunks.

1. BE RENEWED. We’re called to renew commitment to our Catholic faith, but true renewal only comes by God’s grace. Our transformation and turning towards God is supernatural! We can’t do it on our own; we have to cooperate with God. The Pope reminds us: “To the extent that he freely cooperates [with grace], man’s thoughts and affections, mentality and conduct are slowly purified and transformed” (6). So, we need God’s grace! How do we receive it? As Catholics, we especially receive grace through the sacraments. “Without the liturgy and the sacraments, the profession of faith would lack efficacy because it would lack the grace which supports Christian witness” (11). How will you commit to receiving Confession and Holy Communion more often this Year?

St. Augustine

2. REFLECT. Even when we receive the sacraments, we need to be open to receiving the graces. Are you keeping up walls that have become obstacles to God? This Year, our Holy Father calls us to “reflect on the act of faith” (9). He reminds us that we cannot have any certainty in our lives unless we abandon ourselves into God’s hands (7). We need to reflect: How am I clinging to my wants, fears, and habits? Why am I not trusting God with everything? How can I begin to shed the obstacles that are keeping God out of every area of my life?

3. REPEAT & RECALL. When we allow God in, He can give us the supernatural gift of faith. But we need to cultivate this gift by repeating and recalling the Creed. The Holy Father point us to words by St. Augustine—the former sinner extraordinaire—who tells us that reciting the Creed in church isn’t enough. “In your minds and hearts you must keep it ever present, you must repeat it in your beds, recall it in the public squares and not forget it during meals: even when your body is asleep, you must watch over it with your hearts” (9). And Pope Benedict reminds us, “A Christian may never think of belief as a private act” (10). You might start by discovering ALL that our Church teaches, even one paragraph of the Catechism at a time. Perhaps find a letter by a pope on a subject you find interesting. Then, commit to repeating and recalling our Faith in every area of your life.

4. RETRACE. We learn how to constantly “repeat and recall” our faith from the lives of faithful people who’ve gone before us. The Pope says retracing our Faith’s history “will be of decisive importance in this Year” (13). We can do this in a variety of ways. Here are just a few examples:

• Sign up for a Scripture study about the Old Testament or the Early Church.
• Read the lives of the saints – buy a book, check out some from your local library, or search online.
• Attend a presentation on Church history – ask your parish or diocese for ideas.
• Participate in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or other holy site – we’re organizing several.

5. RECOGNIZE. Inspired by these models of faith, we are called to “recognize the face of the risen Lord in those who ask for our love” (14). This means giving ourselves in service to others. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that the Scriptures say, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2), and that Jesus asks us to care for him through “the least” among us (Matthew 25). How will you commit to recognize and serve Christ in others this Year?

6. RELATIONSHIP. Our Holy Father ends with two more pointers. First, that “this Year of Faith make our relationship with Christ the Lord increasingly firm” (15). Interestingly, he writes in this section about the suffering and joyful experiences in our lives. As with anyone, our relationship with Jesus strengthens when we share our joys and our sufferings with Him—and when He’s the cause of our joy and suffering! When you truly live your Faith, you’ll “have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith…is tested by fire” (1 Peter) like gold. So, how will you commit to share your joys and sufferings with Jesus? You might schedule regular prayer time, keep a journal, practice Lectio Divina, drop into a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, or even place a picture of Jesus in a special place at home or work.

7. RECONCILIATION. Finally, every time we fail to do all of the above, God offers us mercy. Pope Benedict reminds us that the Church is “the visible community of (God’s) mercy” (15). We cannot be the Body of Christ all by ourselves; we are each members who are part of the whole Body (1 Corinthians 12)! This Year of Faith, accept God’s gift of mercy by going to Confession frequently, The Sacrament of Reconciliation. Then, commit to being an active member of your local parish—one who offers the peace and forgiveness of Jesus to everyone.

What the world is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people enlightened in mind and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life, life without end. (Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei 15)

Living Our Beliefs – and What Happens When We Don’t

If you had a message of great importance that you wanted the whole world to know about, who would you choose to deliver it? In the Mass readings this Sunday, we saw that God’s ways are not our ways. God can choose whoever He wants to accomplish the things He wishes to accomplish, as we see in the first reading. Moses complained to God that the mission of guiding His Chosen People has become too great of a burden for him. So, God shares the spirit that He had given to Moses with 70 others, even those who were not in the prescribed place. Though this confused Joshua, Moses was given the wisdom to recognize that this was the work of God. The spirit of God is more important than the instrument He chooses.

Bernadette Soubirous in 1863

A more current example is Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes, France. This thirteen-year-old girl, who lived in poverty with her family, was of poor health and had difficulty in school. When we were in Lourdes a few years ago, a bishop celebrating Mass near the Grotto said, “If you wanted to give a message to the whole world who would you choose; someone of great importance from a large city? Our Lord chose Bernadette from Lourdes. Through the ages God has chosen people of little significance to be His instruments. His ways our not our ways.” There are some who still reject the Blessed Mother as a messenger of God in spite of the miracles connected to her apparitions. They think that the works of God are confined to their own understanding. Sometimes we also can be like that.

We see something similar in Sunday’s Gospel. John, the apostle closest to Jesus, has just tried to stop someone from driving out demons in Jesus’ name because that person was apparently not a follower of Jesus. Jesus chastises John and tells him, “For whoever is not against us is for us.” What is important is why and how things are done. If they are done out of love of God and neighbor, we should be cautious about rendering judgment. It is not always obvious why people do certain things unless they are clearly good or clearly evil.

Our focus must be on why we do what we do. God has revealed His plan to us through the Scriptures and the Church: We know that through baptism we become children of God and receive the gifts of Faith, Hope and Charity and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We know that we can encounter Christ in a deep and personal way through the Sacraments of the Church, the sources of the grace we need to live close to God in prayer and to discover His plan for us. We know that God wants us to be holy and has made it possible for us to be holy if we are faithful to what He has revealed to us, and this faithfulness will help us reach our potential for happiness in this life and for all eternity.

We can be certain that this plan is true because it has been discovered and lived by saints through the ages who have been heroic witnesses of the love of God. There are consequences for us when we do not live this plan. Jesus said that if we live for our self, we will lose our life; and not only our life because we will give scandal to others. We must remove everything that is an obstacle to salvation.

There is no one on this earth more blessed than Catholics because God has given us every possible means to live a life close to Him. We have His Divine Word, the Scriptures; we have His Church to guide us and strengthen us with the Sacraments. We have the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints to intercede for us. We especially have the Holy Eucharist in which Jesus gives us himself, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity because he loves us that much. Why would the whole world not want to Catholic and have what we have? Could it be because we have scandalized the world by not living what we have received; by following the ways of the world instead of the Gospel? How can we expect others to believe what has been handed on to us by the Apostles and there successors if we are not witnesses of what we profess?

About thirty years ago, someone asked me why I was Catholic. I was glad to be Catholic and knew I would never want to be anything but a Catholic. I went to Mass every Sunday and to confession occasionally, but I realized at that time I never really gave much thought to the importance of my faith. Actually, I hadn’t learned anything about my faith since graduating from a Catholic high school. At that moment, I knew I wasn’t really sure of what I believed. As I pondered that for a few days I realized I had let the importance of my faith fade. I had become a ‘One-Hour-A-Week’ Catholic; my decisions were not influenced by my faith at all. Thank God for the wake up call. It was not long after that, that I bought my first Bible and joined a prayer group with my wife. We began to pray together and study our faith, and a new joy came into our lives. I guess you could say that was the beginning of the rest of our life together and opened up new possibilities and now our important decisions are based on our relationship with God and we have great hope.

When we profess our creed together, let us reflect on the words we say, and ask the Holy Spirit to stir our hearts with gratitude for being recipients of Almighty God’s great plan of salvation and the intimacy He offers us in His Church. Let us pray then for the grace to be witnesses of what we believe.

This blog was originally preached by Deacon Tom Fox as his homily for 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B) at St. Matthew Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas.

Who Do You Serve?

“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Mary Jane and I would often see these famous words from Joshua at the doors of many homes as we went door to door throughout our parish boundaries over twenty years ago. I think Joshua would once again like to rally the people of this generation and ask us who we will decide to serve. However, today the gods are not “beyond the river;” they are in our midst. They are within our own ideas that are no longer faithful to the Word of God. We have seen the consequences of unfaithfulness to the Word of God in the Old Testament and we can see the consequences in our own time.

Who Is Our God?

We know of the powerful work of God in the Old Testament, but we also know of the powerful work of Jesus Christ. We know that he spoke with great authority and worked many miracles to show that he was the Messiah, the Son of God. We also know that he died on the cross for our sins so that we might have eternal life—and he made it possible for us to experience his love and mercy right now and have a personal relationship with him. At the same time, he says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14).

In Saint Paul’s writings, we get a glimpse of what the love of God looks like.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present himself to the Church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy without blemish.

This is a supernatural, sacrificial love that is only possible if we love “the Lord Our God with all our mind, heart, soul and strength.” If we make God a priority in our lives, we will experience an abundance of His love and mercy and then share His love and mercy with others that we also might be “holy without blemish.” God can do this in us if it is the desire of our hearts.

In the Gospel, we see that many of Jesus’ disciples found his teaching on the Eucharist to difficult to accept and would no longer follow him. When he said to the twelve; “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words to eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” They did not understand the teaching of the Eucharist any more than those who left, but they remained because their faith in Jesus was stronger than their need to understand the mystery he had just taught them. We also are called to believe things we do not understand.

“Study, Christ on the Cross” by Matthias Grünewald (1504)

Do We Believe These Mysteries?

In Baptism we received the gifts that make it possible to believe the things we do not understand; the theological gifts of Faith, Hope and Charity. However, no matter how precious these gifts are, they only benefit us according to our use of them. What we believe right now about anything, especially the mysteries of our faith, is a consequence of the choices we have made throughout our life. Have we chosen to be formed in our faith; to become mature Christians? Less than 10 percent of Catholics read Catholic books or periodicals. Our Catholic faith is a “Pearl of Great Price,” but we must be invested in it if it is to produce good fruit in our lives.

Our Lord has given is everything we need to remain close to Him and to experience an abundance of his love and mercy. The Sacrament of Confession is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ through his minister the priest. We not only have our sins forgiven, we receive the grace necessary to make progress in overcoming sin so that we can love God, our neighbor and ourselves with supernatural, sacrificial love. During each Mass, we hear the Word of God which is the seed of life that wants to take root in our hearts and souls so that it will bear fruit. However, we must listen with a desire to believe.

After we profess our creed together, we begin the second part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Word of God and the Holy Eucharist connect us to Calvary where Jesus shed his blood for us. By the power of God, the passion, death and resurrection of Christ are made present to us as we worship him along with the angels and saints. If we could truly comprehend the magnitude of this worship, we would have goose bumps right now. Through the prayers of the priest, Jesus Christ will change bread and wine into his own body and blood so that we may receive him in Holy Communion. We, for our part, must prepare ourselves for this holy encounter by being properly disposed and by going to confession if we have committed any serious sin.

Are We Willing?

Serving God is not a matter of convenience. It is a matter of being faithful to what God has revealed to us through the Church and the Scriptures. It is the same journey that saints have taken through the ages; there is no easier path. There is also no other path that brings so much peace, joy and happiness. Jesus not only wants to transform our hearts and souls when we receive him during Mass; in his humility he waits for us to visit him in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where we can rest in his presence.

We know what Jesus has done for us. What are we willing to do for him? The reality is: we cannot do something for him without him doing more for us. Try spending one hour a week in the chapel for a month and learn for yourself the value of spending time with Jesus. This is one of the best ways to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. After a while, like St. Peter we will say, “Master to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

This blog was originally preached by Deacon Tom Fox as his homily for 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time (B) at St. Matthew Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas.

What is the role of a Godparent? What does Baptism do?

My husband Tom and I were asked by our friends to be the Godparents of their firstborn child, their daughter, at her Baptism. It’s an honor to be asked to be a Godparent to a child, and it’s also a commitment for life! So what is the role of a Godparent?

It’s a response to the invitation of the infant’s parents in making a Profession of Faith in the child’s name and accepting the responsibility of assisting the parents in instructing the child in the Faith.

Especially for Tom and I this is an honor, since we don’t have children of our own, and because we love the Lord and the gift of the Church! In the 34 years of our marriage, we have become Godparents to other children and believe it is a blessing for us to become a part of their lives.

During the Baptism, it is the tradition for the Godmother to hold the baby while the priest pours water over the child’s head and says the words: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Through Baptism, this child receives the grace of God, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

After the Baptism, I held that small child in my arms and as looked at her, I asked our Heavenly Father to bless this daughter of His, to guide her through life and to give her the grace needed in the vocation He is calling her to live.

What Is Baptism?

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops defines this gift of the Sacrament of Baptism:

The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus. Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. “He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake . . . to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water” (St. Gregory Nazianzen, Liturgy of the Hours, I, 634).

Jesus’ immersion in the water is a sign for all human beings of the need to die to themselves to do God’s will. Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father.

By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin—Original and actual—and begin to live a new life with God.

What are the Effects of Baptism?

The Bishops continue by showing us what Baptism does:

• Baptism makes us “members of one another.”
• Baptism leads us to imitate Christ’s example.
• Baptism makes us disciples to the world.
• Baptism calls us to live in the world, seeking the Kingdom in our daily lives.
• In Baptism, we profess our commitment to the Church’s beliefs, values and vision.
• Baptism invites us to a vocation of holiness and the practice of charity.
• Baptism incorporates us into the life, death and resurrection of Christ and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the world.
• The baptized are to live as “lights in the darkness.”

Baptism is truly a gift from God! It is God’s “touch” on our souls! One that will remain with the baptized forever. In the Book of Isaiah, chapter 43, verse 1, we read: “But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, …’Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!’”

So, if you are asked to be a Godparent, think about the wonderful role you will have in the life of the person being baptized, encouraging them with hope to be a faithful disciple of the One who called them by name.

Transformed By His Love – What Jesus Reveals in Scripture and the Eucharist

“The Angel of Death and the First Passover” from Bible Pictures and What They Teach Us by Charles Foster (1897)

What Does the Jewish Passover Have To Do with Jesus?

In the Gospel of John, the Evangelist often refers to the miracles Jesus performs as signs because they point to something more significant, and some of the signs or important events happen near the time of Passover. The Passover was and is the Jewish celebration of their deliverance from their captivity in Egypt. After the Angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites that were marked with the blood of a lamb, he struck down the firstborn of Pharaoh and all the Egyptians. After this event, Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to leave.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover, because he is the Lamb of God who shed his blood to save us from eternal death. That’s why the Feast of the Passover is so significant in the ministry of Jesus.

Jesus’ first miracle took place at the wedding feast of Cana. We remember how he changed the water in six stone jars, each holding twenty to thirty gallons, into wine. A Scripture commentary states, “The vast quantity recalls the prophecies of abundance in the last days.” This miracle or sign not only fulfills prophecy; it is Eucharistic because it points toward the wine that will be changed into the blood of Christ “…which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

After this first miracle of Jesus, the Scripture says that he and his mother and disciples went down to Capernaum for only a few days. Then: “Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”

What Does Jesus Show Us Through the Multiplication of Loaves & Fish?

Today’s Gospel also mentions that the Jewish feast of Passover is near—and the miracle, or sign that Jesus will perform, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, is also Eucharistic. It points to the bread that will be changed into the Body of Christ, which will feed the multitudes until the end of time. An interesting point in this Gospel is that Jesus asks Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” even though Jesus already knew what he was going to do. There is a message here for us: When we are confronted with challenges and trials and we ask the Lord for help, he may ask us what contribution we will make to resolve the difficulty. Perhaps it is our prayer and fasting, or it may be the use of the gifts that we have received from the Holy Spirit. We all have something that the Lord can use, and he wants us to be involved in the resolution.

Another interesting point: “Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.” This abundance of grass means it was springtime, which again is the time of Passover. About three weeks ago, our pilgrim group stayed on the Mt. of Beatitudes where we could over look the beautiful Sea of Galilee—and this very spot where Jesus performed this miracle. As you look down from the mount toward the Sea, you’ll find an area almost shaped like an amphitheater which could easily accommodate thousands of people. This is where Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish in order to feed thousands of his followers. This was a real miracle that showed Jesus’ power over matter and it happened in a real place that you can visit today.

This miracle of the multiplication is a prelude to Jesus’ discourse on the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, which he proclaims to the crowds seeking him out the next day. He admonishes them because they were interested primarily in the food he had provided. He then explains to them at great length that he is the Bread of Life which they must eat if they are to have eternal life. Four times he tells them they must eat his flesh and drink his blood if they are to live forever. Many of his followers found this teaching too difficult to accept and would no longer follow him.

The final Passover that Jesus celebrates is what we call the Last Supper. This event ties together the miracle of the wine and the miracle of the loaves. At the Last Supper, Jesus not only teaches his Apostles that they must be servants of one another by washing their feet; he also institutes the priesthood and the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The Apostles who faithfully stayed with Jesus because they believed in him, will finally understand how Jesus will give them his blood to drink and his flesh to eat. They become his first priests and Jesus will change bread and wine into his own body and blood through their hands—and the hands of all the priests who will follow them.

Are We Properly Preparing for Holy Communion?

The Holy Eucharist a mystery of God’s love for us. At the Eucharist which we celebrate Sundays and at every Eucharist celebrated every day, everywhere in the world, Jesus Christ makes his Passion, Death and Resurrection present to us. When we come to worship our Triune God, we transcend time as we join the angels and saints offering praise and glory to Almighty God. We also have the opportunity to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ if we are properly prepared and disposed. This is not an empty ritual, as some may think. Jesus loves us so much that he gives us himself under the appearance of bread and wine!

But not all who receive Holy Communion receive the same benefit; it depends on how we have prepared. Have we fasted for one hour from everything except water and medicine? (The purpose of this small fast is to remind us that we are about to enter into a supernatural experience.) How long has it been since we have gone to confession? (We cannot receive the Lord in Communion if we have serious sin on our soul. Sin is an obstacle to the grace that Jesus wants us to receive.) Are we dressed as if we were going to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ?

Sunday Mass should be the high point of our week because we come together as a faith community to bear witness to our love for God and one another—and His love for us. Jesus wants us to receive a super-abundance of his grace, but he also wants us to be prepared to enter into intimacy with him so that we can be transformed by his love.

This blog was originally preached by Deacon Tom Fox as his homily for 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B) at St. Matthew Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas.