Homily: Fifth Sunday of Lent cycle B, March 25th 2012

There seems to be on bit of insight that can be found in each and every bit of human "wisdom."  It was carved over the door of the temple to Apollo at the Temple of Delphi and it still is good advice today. 

Know thyself


I think that many people honestly try to know themselves, to know their inner self, to explore the depths of their heart, to know their own soul.  If you try this... and you are like me in any way you just might find that what you find isn't always wonderful or good.  If you are like me you will get to the point where you find that you need God, you need Jesus, you need to be given a new heart.  


I think we all are like the Greeks in the Gospel reading today (John 12:20-33).  We often go looking for Jesus.  We need him, we need to see him, and we need to get to know him.  We come to the point of realizing that it is only Him who can heal our pain, comfort our sorrows and suffering, and forgive our sinfulness.


Consider what we hear in this reading from John the Gentiles go to see Jesus.  Philip and Andrew tell Jesus, "Hey, Lord there are some folks here to see you."  Notice how Jesus responds.  It almost seems rude what He does next.  


Jesus begins to talk about His coming hour.  He said that this is the moment that he had been waiting for.  This is the hour that His whole life has been preparing for.   This is it!  The time is now and when He is lifted up in glory He will draw everyone to Himself.


If I were one of those Greeks I'd be scratching my head and wondering, "what does this have to do with me... all I wanted was to see you and chat with you?"


Yet Jesus wasn't ignoring them.  He wasn't avoiding their request.  Rather, He was offering a much more profound response than what they were expecting.


If we ever want to seek out God, if we want to see who God really is, if we desire to see Jesus and find some relief from our pain, suffering and sin then the best place to look is on the cross.  It is on the cross that God's glory is most revealed.  On the cross we see God for who He really is.  On the cross we see the depths of God's love.  On the cross we see how God has given Himself to us completely... look what we did to him.


All too often we think of the cross as a payment on our debt.  That is not it at all!  God is not keeping a balance on how much punishment is needed to be suffered in order to "pay off" our sins.  Rather the cross was about our relationship with God.  On the cross we see God as He truly is.  It is by the sacrifice of the cross that God gives Himself freely to us so that we can love Him.  The cross is about being reconciled to God... it's not really about debt.


If we are looking for Jesus we need to look at the cross.  The second reading (Hebrews 5:7-9) told us that Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered.  In His suffering He obediently joined us in our suffering and became for us someone who can heal our broken hearts.  God's greatest glory is to be found on the cross.  


If we are looking for Jesus and if we find Him in His glory on the Cross we must imitate His openess, His love, His humility, and His self-gift.  This is how the cross heals us.  The grace of the cross is that it begins a new covenant where God no longer desires that we sacrifice to Him, as in the Old Testament, but rather now He sacrifices for us.  We share in this sacrifice, in this new coventant [that we hear about in the first reading (Jeremiah 31:31-34)]  we are given a new heart and we share in this sacrifice every time we approach the altar at mass.  The new covenant in Jesus' blood is remembered and shared completely at each and every mass.  It is in the Eucharist that we unite ourselves to Jesus' cross.  It is in the Eucharist that we are healed.


If you ever seek to "know thyself" and find that you then seek Jesus because you long for a new heart and a share in the new covenant then the only place to find Him and receive Him is on the cross and on the altar.

Happy Feast of St. Joseph!

My father, Robert Tremblay

As I said in my last post I am a woodworking (my hobby) and today is one of my favorite celebrations.  Not only is St. Joseph the patron saint of woodworkers but he is also the patron saint of fathers.

Frankly, I miss my father.  He died over 10 years ago and I can say that he was tremendously influential in the man that I am today.  As a child I used to follow him everywhere and "help" him fix things around the house.  I learned much of my mechanical and "fix it" abilities from him.  

St. Joseph is a wonderful saint.  His life is basically the same life that almost everyone in our world leads.  Family, a difficult job, and faith were the things that were important to him. He was a good and hardworking father who loved his son and his wife.  I think we need more men like that in our world today.

What I've been up to

I know that another week has gone by without a homily.  I'm still getting used to the swing of things and time really does fly by.  Especially  this past week.


Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit a good friend and fellow friar, Fr. Adrian, at his parish in Coal Township PA.  I preached at all the masses and then I preached at their 40 hours Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evening.  This was an incredible experience.  


One of the things that many people have known about me is that I like to talk and I have been "preaching" since I was a little boy.  But, in all seriousness, preaching really is my passion and the core of my vocation.  To get any chance to preach and to continue to gain experience is a wonderful thing.  I am very new to preaching and I can tell that there is quite a bit that I still need to learn.

Planing some cherry wood smooth

Well after my time with Fr. Adrian I went to visit a friend north of Baltimore.  He is a fellow woodworker.  (If you did not know woodworking is a big hobby of mine)  For me woodworking is a hobby but for him it is a profession... and he is very good at it.


Here is his web site.

One of Dave's Tea Tables

Dave, donated a tea table to our upcoming parish school auction (March 31) and I went to see him to pick up the table.  That and his wife is a wonderful cook and they stuff me full of great food and desserts whenever I visit.


I did not get back from my whirlwind trip till late on Thursday.  I also did not get to put together a homily for this weekend.


But, as before, I will have one for this upcoming weekend since I will be preaching at St. Francis Parish in New Britain, CT at all the masses.


I'd just like to offer this thought.  Our God is really rather foolish... think about it.  He did not come to condemn this world but to save it.  We hear this words so often, John 3:16 is the most quoted verse in the Bible, but do we ever get to verse 17 where John explains what verse 16 means?

For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him

I, for one, find this to be an incredible comfort and consolation.  I really am a sinner (I'm not just saying that to impress anyone) and I deserve to be condemned for the many times that I choose to be selfish, rebellious, and unfaithful.  The idea that God would choose to save me and to save the world that I live in is profound.

Homily: Third Sunday of Lent 2012 (cycle B)

I wonder at times if we haven't become a bit cynical.  Think about it... Consider all the time and in all the ways that we look for "proof."  Every time you turn on the TV there is a new study that tells you that eating less and exercising more is good for you.  Did we really need another study to prove that to us?  How often do you hear people disagreeing on some topic and the only way to solve it is some form of proof.  There are even stores now that require anyone of any age to prove that they are older than 21 to purchase alcohol.  My mother doesn't drink but she loves getting carded.


I think the way that we look at life is very heavily based on what we think can be proven.  Consider the Gospel that we hear today (John 2:13-25).  How often to we hear this Gospel reading and think, "Ah ha! There it is... Jesus got angry and so we can be sure that he was human.  We have proof!"


But is that what this Gospel reading is about?  No, it is not about proving Jesus' humanity at all.  This Gospel reading is about Jesus' authority.


The temple was the center and the focus of Jewish life.  The idea was that God was to be found in the temple and so the rituals and the teaching of the temple officials was the highest authority in the Jewish religion and in the life of the individual Jewish people.  And so the actions that Jesus took, by disrupting the normal activities of the temple was a sign that He was claiming a tremendous amount of authority.  He was claiming absolute authority over the temple.  This was no "half-measure"  Jesus was claiming authority over the temple and those who sought to find God there.


In response the temple elders asked for proof, they asked for a sign (the Biblical way of saying "proof") to show that Jesus had authority to do this.  In stead of talking about the temple He referred to himself.  He said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up!"  The Gospel tells us that he was referring to himself and his body.  Jesus actually substitutes himself for the temple in this conversation.


What Jesus is saying (and the people did not understand) was that he was God and that in Him we are now supposed to encounter God.  This Gospel story is much more about his divinity than some type of proof of his humanity.


Jesus cast out those who made the temple a place of commerce just as in the first reading (Exodus 20:1-17) we hear God demand that we not have any idols before Him.  God wants to be the center of our lives.  God wants to have authority over us.  God loves us, He gave us life, and it is His will that we live in a way that places Him as the supreme authority in our lives.


How often do we hear this request, how often do we consider God's will, how often we do evaluate those things that have authority over us?  Have we ever dared to abandon ourselves to the sovereign will of God?  Have we ever dared to live that fearful freedom that comes from abandoning ourselves to God?


I think our natural reaction to the command to have "no other idols before me" is simply, "prove it."  We often say to God, "Prove to me why I should give you authority over my life!"  We say this same thing to almost everything.  Teenagers say it to their parents, our nation says it to political candidates, and we say it to God.


St. Paul confronts this request for proof directly in the second reading (1 Corinthians 1:22-25).  He says that some people want a good explanation (wisdom) and some want a miracle (a sign).  Some want scientific proof and some want supernatural proof.   The proof that we have is Christ crucified.  It makes no sense to those who are looking for a scientific proof and it is confusing to those who want a supernatural miracle.


And yet Christ crucified is our proof.  It is our proof that God loves us.  It is our proof that God is the sovereign lord of all of creation.  It is all the proof that we need to give God authority over our lives.   A God who loves us so much that He would die for us on the Cross is a God that we can fearlessly abandon our lives to.

A favorite quote

I am a fan of good quotes.  So I thought that I'd share with you one of my current favorites.  I hope that I can post a favorite quote on a  regular basis.


Marianne Williamson, in her book, A Return to Love: Reflection on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", wrote

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  

We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be [holy, who am I to be virtuous, who am I to presume that  I could be a saint]?"*  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the [the Kingdom of God].*  There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

* I paraphrased the text here, but I believe that I am still representing an authentic interpretation of her words. 

Some highly recommended reading

Hello all,


Every now and then I love to share with others some of my favorite books.


Right now I am reading a few books... I tend to read more than one at the same time.  Some of it is for personal spiritual growth, some of it is for theological study, and finally I read some for fun.


N.T. Wright is my favorite author on Scripture.  I cannot recommend his works highly enough to anyone.  Some of his writings are very technical and very scholarly.  Some of what he writes is aimed at the average "Jane and John Doe."


I am currently reading (almost done) with his book Mark for Everyone.  This book is part of a series that he finished where he takes a section of the New Testament and he writes a commentary/reflection that is accessible to everyone... no theological training is required.


I rely heavily on this book as a tool to prepare homilies for daily mass.  If you are interested in going deeper into your grasp and understanding of the New Testament then this is the place to start.


St. Jerome said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."  He is right.  I think growing in your understanding of Scripture is a wonderful thing to do as you strive to grow in your faith, especially during Lent.  I'm reading Mark for Everyone because this year (cycle B) in the lectionary (the readings that we hear at mass) we will be reading the Gospel of Mark mainly.


My favorite and most recommended book that I have ever read on our Christian faith is also by N.T. Wright.  Surprised by Hope is, in my opinion, the finest book that is out there to help Christians understand what our faith in Jesus is really about!  This book opened my eyes and moved me deeply.  I could hardly read a page or two without wanting to stop and pray.  I devoured Surprised by Hope in a week.


If you read only one book about your faith in your entire life Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright should be it!!!

Homily: Second Sunday of Lent cycle B 2012

When I was a kid my family and I visited Mount Washington while we were on vacation in New Hampshire.  It was a perfect day without a cloud in the sky.  The view from the top of the mountain was incredible.  We could see for hundreds of miles in all directions.  There was something profound about being able to see so much laid out before you.  I think there are moments in life where we can clearly see what lies before us and what is behind us.

Have you ever had a "mountain top" experience?  Think about it... have you ever had the opportunity to see clearly where you have come from and where you are going?  This type of clear vision really can only happen on the top of a mountain.  

This is exactly what we see going on in the first reading (Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18)  God asks Abraham to go to a mountain top that He has already prepared and chosen.  God wants Abraham to see clearly what it is that God is doing in his life and He puts Abraham to the test.  God asks Abraham to sacrifice his own beloved son.

For us today this is a monstrous image and a horrible thing that God would ask for.  But notice that God clearly has a plan.  God is not "making this up" as He goes.  Abraham understands that God is asking him to sacrifice the one thing that he loves and treasures the most in the world.  Abraham knows that the test that God is making him endure will not destroy him.  It is on the top of the mountain where Abraham knows that he will see clearly the plan that God has for his life.  Abraham obeys God because he knows that God is trustworthy and that God will care for him.  Abraham knows and listens to God's command because he knows that God will provide.  But Abraham also knows that God wants us to offer to him that thing that we treasure the most in the world.

It is on the mountain top where Abraham sees his past.  He sees where he has come from.  He sees how God has always been faithful to His promises.  It is on the mountain top where Abraham sees where he is going,  Abraham sees his future.  It is on the mountain top where Abraham gives to God his future.  Abraham offers his son Isaac, the promise of his future, to God.

Something very similar is going on in the Gospel reading from today (Mark 9:2-10).  We see that Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a mountain top so that they can see clearly.  Jesus wants them to finally understand.  And So He is transfigured before them.  It is there on the mountain top that they see Moses and Elijah.  Peter, James, and John see clearly the past.  They see the plan that God began long ago.  The plan that was begun with Abraham and continued through Moses, the lawgiver, and Elijah the prophet.  Peter, James, and John see clearly that Jesus is divine.  They see and understand their future and where they are going. 

But notice the difference between the mountain top experience of Abraham and the mountain top experience of Jesus, Peter, James, and John.  God still asks for our obedience.  God still asks us to trust Him.  The voice clearly says to the apostles, "Listen to him!" We are still commanded to listen to Jesus.  But there is one profound difference.  

Notice that God asked Abraham to offer his own beloved son... now God offers to us His own beloved Son.  God asked Abraham to give to Him the one thing that Abraham loved the most.  Now God gives to us the one thing that He loves the most.  God gives us His son, Jesus!

St. Paul is absolutely correct, as we hear in our second reading, (Romans 8:31b-34) "If God is for us who can be against us?"  We know that life is not without its tests, trials, difficulties, and moments of incredible suffering. Yet we can be certain that God is for us.  We can be certain that God will care for us.  We can be certain that God loves us because he has given us his beloved son, Jesus.