Good Shepherd (Homily # 2 of 2) (Monday, 4th week of Easter, 2021-04-26)

Monday of 4^th week of Easter / 2021 April 26

[__01__]  This is a gospel reading about the Good Shepherd which continues and is continuing a theme from yesterday – the 4^th Sunday of Easter also known as Good Shepherd Sunday.

          The Good Shepherd is an ancient image and a consoling image of Jesus/God as someone watching over us, not just to tell you or me what we are doing wrong, but also to lead us in right / correct paths for our own well-being.

          The Good Shepherd Gospel is telling us about physical, mortal and life-threatening danger and while we may – today  - be unlikely to face a wild beast or animal in the West Orange / Essex ecosystem, there are other dangers.

          There are near occasions of sin, there are people who draw us into conflict, there are people we may dislike yet we also try to love. There may be people whom we are afraid of (fear) either because of something they do/say…or we fear not being esteemed in the eyes of others. We may act or react in certain ways because we are concerned about the actions towards us – by others.

          In some cases, these are rational fears. In some cases, they are not rational and even a sign of our fragility, our brokenness and our sinfulness.  We need a shepherd, Jesus the Good Shepherd.

          How can we survive?

 

[__02__]  How does the Good Shepherd survive and thrive?

          Recently, I saw a YouTube video on the internet, while browsing around the internet, when I should have been working or doing something productive.

        View this link to CBS News Video in Salt Lake City.

          This YouTube video was recorded with both the sights and sounds in Utah and it was an encounter between a young man and a wild animal. This young man – Kyle Burgess -- was not a shepherd out in the wilderness but rather a young man of about 25 years old who was out for exercise, running, near his home near near Salt Lake City, Utah.

          It is there that Kyle meets a mountain lion.

          While running on the trail, minding his own business (or so he thought), he crosses paths with a few mountain lion cubs, i.e., very young mountain lions. The cubs – being very young are scared and they run away.

          But, the mother of the cubs, the mother-mountain lion was not pleased, growling and apparently ready to pounce to attack.

          I’d like to apply what Kyle – the young man on the trail was facing – and what he did as an act of survival and what Jesus tells us in the Good Shepherd gospel.

                   

[__03__]  [VISIBILITY AND VISION OF DANGER] 1^st, the young man recognized he was in mortal danger. But, he did not immediately go on the defensive.  That is, he does not present himself to the animal as being on the defensive.

Jesus as the Good Shepherd and as the incarnation of God, does not enter the world to be on the defensive.

Rather, he says, “whoever saves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

          Jesus is “so much” not on the defensive that he also gives up his life.

          This is not his “defense” but rather his “offering” or “offensive strategy.” There’s an old saying in sports that that the best defense is a good offense …

          Jesus knows he’s going to be in danger …but this does not make him back down. He acknowledges it.

 

 

[__04__]  [VOICE AND COMMUNICATION] 2^nd ,  the young man in the video.

          TANGENT: oh, by the way, did I mention that Kyle recorded the whole encounter on his smartphone video camera and microphone. That’s how he made the evening news in Utah and got 186,000+ views on YouTube.

          Spoiler alert: Kyle escaped unharmed, uninjured.

          Kyle uses his voice. It’s important – as you may know – when encountering a wild animal to make noises and growl back, in a sense you are keeping the communication going – in an equal if not superior way – between you and the animal. Otherwise the animal will attack, sensing your weakness.

                            

          Now, in a real argument or adversarial conflict with another person, one real pitfall – sometimes even between beloved spouses or family members or dear friends – is that one may “shut down” or stop talking to the other.

          And, while in a real human-to-human encounter, it’s important to avoid sniping or growling…there’s a sense in which we want to keep the conversation going in a way that affirms who you are and who the other person is.

          One thing I recall Father Joe Petrillo teaching me early on was the importance of keeping the conversation going and communication open when in conflict.

          Use your voice.

 

[__05__]   [MAKE YOURSELF TALL. STAND UP] 3^rd,  What also helped Kyle to survive in the wild was that he stood tall, stood up, and made himself appear to be tall.

          In an argument or difficulty with others, it’s important to stand tall but without belittling or diminishing the other person or insulting the other person.

          Kyle – as a the hiker/trail runner in Utah – stood tall, but he also knew that he could not overpower the mountain lion.

          We also may fall into the trap of thinking we can overpower or overwhelm others.  Jesus does not try to overpower us with the Gospel. We are called to stand tall and take the high road with our values.

 

 

[__06__]   [HOW TO AVOID TROUBLE TO BEGIN WITH] 4^th , 

          And, maybe this is obvious but if Kyle had never crossed paths or caused the mountain lion cubs (children) to be scared, he would not have been in trouble with the mother/parent.

          In an argument or adversarial conflict, it’s good to be careful what we “go after” … what we may “target” or focus on whether by outright choice or inadvertent attentiveness.

          Do we, for example, “go after” or are we tempted the other person’s emotions or feelings  …or do we do something that might harm or endanger what the other person holds as precious?

          For example, in conversations with parents here at Our Lady of Lourdes, I am grateful to our Religious Education staff who try always to protect and out put our children and their well-being first.

          You also would do the same. I know that this is the ethos for so many teachers and coaches and those who care for young people.

          That is, while a child might require some extra help, discipline, correction, we try to do so while not in any way making the child seem to be not in a safe place.  And, we would not even want to give the appearance of making the child unsafe.  

          In Kyle’s case, he was in trouble not because he really endangered the cubs by his actions, but he appeared to be doing so.

         

[__07__]  [NEVER TURN YOUR BACK] 5^th,  What helped Kyle to survive with the mountain lion was that he did not try to turn and run away or turn his back. In fact, he was able to create a diversion by throwing a stone/rock in the other direction which caused a sound in other direction and caused the mountain lion to retreat toward that sound.

          Never turn your back. Jesus does not turn his back on us.

 

[__08__]  [REMEMBER] 6^h,  Kyle Burgess videotaped his encounter with the mountain lion and made the evening news in Salt Lake City.

          I am not saying you or I should videotape or record everything, but we are called to remember and pray about our difficulties so that we may not be on the news, but rather that the news – the Good News – may be upon us each day.

[__fin__] 

Good Shepherd (Homily # 1 of 2) (2021-04-25, Easter 4th Sunday)

4^th Sunday of Easter / 2021 April 25

Title:   Good Shepherd Sunday

[__01__]   12 Years A Slave. Anybody remember the Hollywood movie which was also a true life-story and book/autobiography called “12 Years A Slave.”

          The central figure and the one who tells us of the “12 Years” is a black man captured and taken into slavery before the U.S. Civil War and taken into slavery in Louisiana.

          The reason that there is such a time limit in the title – “12 Years as a slave” – is that Solomon – the name of this slave was not a slave before he was captured and he became free – liberated -- after he found a way out thanks to a heroic rescue and some helpers.

          Solomon was originally a regular working man in the 1800’s living near Albany and Saratoga (New York) about 3 hours north of here and residing and existing outside of the official “slave” states of the time.

          Solomon was a worker, a skilled carpenter and a professional musician and violinist, married with children.

          One day, Solomon met with 2 men who seemed to be his friends, but they were really just wanted to lure him with an attractive offer and capture him.

          Solomon was offered a lucrative job opportunity and he went with them willingly to “south” to Washington D.C.

          One morning, he woke up in chains, shackled and is sold into slavery. He has no way to contact his wife and family, no way to authenticate his identity.

          He is now a slave.

          But, as a person, is that all he is ?

 

[__02__]  In our Catholic faith in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we begin every Mass many of our prayers with the sign of the Trinity – “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”

          And, we are identifying God as being 3 persons with one divine nature.

          One theologian makes the distinction that our NATURE tells us what we are but our PERSON/PERSONALITY tell us who we are.  (source:  Frank Sheed, Theology and Sanity, Ch. 6 “3 Persons in 1 Nature”, p. 67-68)

          Because I have a “NATURE”, I can do certain things, I can walk, talk, think, I can do actions out of kindness, actions out of unkindness.  All of this in my NATURE.

          But, I personally do them. I am the person who does them.  Other people also have the ability to walk, talk, think, act kindly or unkindly --  and in this way – we have a similar nature.

          I cannot, however, take responsibility for what other people do, nor can other people take responsibility for what I do.

          We each are different persons.

[__03__]   We recall today, that Jesus – the Son of God – the second person of the Trinity – became our Good Shepherd, became our Savior.

          We believe that the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit share the same nature. They are 3 persons – each distinct but with 1 nature – and that this nature tells us what they are are.

          It tells us that all 3 persons are capable knowing, loving, creating.

          It is also in their nature to be connected and united to each other. The trinity is a model for us of communion of love with God and with each other.

          That tells us what God is and what are called to. That is the “what” ..that’s the nature.

          But, what about the “person”, the “who”

 

[__04__]   It is only by the Incarnation the birth of Jesus Christ as the son of Mary and son of God that we also see who God is, that God is now really shares our human nature.

          As St. Paul writes that  “[Jesus] though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”  (Philippians 2:6-7)

          Jesus took on our human nature.

As an analogy, here is just one example.

Many years ago, a friend came to stay with my parents, my brothers and sister and me for one week.  I feared that this might be a very difficult week because his first language and really his only language was Japanese. And, while I – at the time after a few years of study – could speak some Japanese with some proficiency, no one else in the house did.

          Anyway, my friend arrived.

          And, he totally integrated and immersed himself in our life. The very first night, we had dinner as a family and he knew that were praying and he did the most beautiful and profound bow of his head while we said grace before meals.

          In some way, he took on our nature for the week. He did what we did. Yet, he remained a distinct person.

          My mother cried when he left.

          His departure was more of an adjustment than his arrival.

 

[__05__]   The Good Shepherd – Jesus - arrives in our lives as a person.

          We are called to have a personal relationship with him.

          While the Good Shepherd is “supreme” in his mercy and justice over us,  Jesus lays down his life for his sheep, not by an act of superiority or but of service.    It is in Jesus’ nature to become like us in all things but sin, even for a while to become a slave on earth, a slave who can also be captured, arrested, put to death.

(???He empties himself and takes the form of a slave. ???)

[__06__]   It is possible – but sometimes it seems only remotely possible – to love others in a similar way… i.e., to take on the nature of Jesus.

          But it is possible also because we share a bond – a connection – in being created as daughters and sons of Almighty God – Father / Son  / Holy Spirit – that we share one nature in Christ, though as different persons.

          St. Paul says:

          “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slaves no free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.” (Galatins 3:28-29)

 

[__07__]   Who is Jesus?

          Who is the Lord?

          Who is the Lord?

 

          The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In verdant pastures, he give me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.

          He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake.

          Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for you at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.

          You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes;

          You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

          Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life.

          And, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.

[__08__] 

[__09__] 

[__10__] 

 [_fin_]

T.H.I.N.K. (2021-04-18, 3rd Sunday Easter)

3^rd Sunday of Easter / 2021 April 18

Acts 3:13-15,   Psalm ____,  1 John 2:1-5a, + Luke 24:35-48

Title:   THINK

 [__01__]   THINK.   T – H – I – N – K. These 5 letters are the initials or acronym which is promoted as a both a challenge and act of charity to anyone to THINK before posting something to social media, or even to THINK before texting, emailing, speaking.

          The initials apply in this way – that before I say something in words about someone else or to someone else, I am called to “THINK” about my words

          T,   are my  words TRUE?

          H, are my words HELPFUL?

          I, are my words INSPIRING ?

          N, are my words NECESSARY?

          K,  are my words KIND ?

         

The T-H-I-N-K acronym is to reduce online bullying, or cyberbullying. This is often defined as the posting of mean-spirited messages about They define it as “the electronic posting of mean-spirited messages about a person (such as a student) often done anonymously.”

          But, I suggest the question about what is TRUE, HELPFUL, INSPIRING, NECESSARY, KIND also applies to our Savior’s message to us, in his death and resurrection, and in his gift of Holy Communion, Holy Eucharist.

 

[__02__] In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus is the word of God and he is the word made flesh.

          In the Gospel of this Easter-Season Sunday, the disciples encounter Jesus – in the flesh  and in person ..or as we might abbreviate in a text – I.R.L – in real life.

          Jesus wants us to remember and think about him in our real lives. I also need to apply this to me…I do not have this figured out. I have to THINK.

[__03__]   The first letter: T. What is true?  How do I know what is TRUE?

          Recently, I had to remind someone in my family of something I had asked about.

          But, I was feeling uncomfortable because I was not sure – truly – if this was really a reminder …or whether they really knew about it.

          It turns out this person knew about it …but just felt he had a better idea.

          So…I had to go back the drawing board and think…what’s really true here? Is my opinion = the truth?

          Sometimes, my opinion = the true but not always.

          Jesus gives us his word, his love as a model to follow to show us what is true.

          God’s word is true.

          Are my words true?

          One way to pray is to simply ask God… in silence …Lord, what is true here? What is the truth?

         

[__04__] The 2^nd letter. H.

          Are my words helpful?

          All of us need helpers in life.

          There is an old saying and old question – “does God give us more than we can handle?”

          The answer is to this question is [absolutely]  [YES].

          What I mean by this is that God gives in this life – God permits us in this life take on more than we can reasonably handle on our own without anyone’s help.

          You and I are invited into this parish family, not only to think and decide alone in the solitary confinement of our minds but also to think about the help we need from God and from each other.

          I am grateful to you as helpers to me and helpers to each other.

          And as Jesus tells us in the Gospel, “For I was hungry and you gave me food…and as often as you did this for one of the least brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.”

God’s word is helpful.

Are my words helpful?

One way to pray is to simply ask God… in silence …not only God come to my assistance…but what can I do to help?

 

[__05__]   The 3^rd letter. “EYE”.

Are my words inspiring?

          All of us want to be inspired, right?

          We speak of the Bible / Gospel as being the inspired and inspiring Word of God.

          Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote that the word of God not only INFORMS us..but it also helps us to PERFORM…and thus helps us to be transformed.

          Our words have the power to build up or tear down

Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”

          We are called to consider – are our words INSPIRING to others?

          I do not think that my mother was a biblical scholar and maybe your mother was not a biblical scholar either , but our parents have often quoted this verse:

          “The last shall be first.”      This has been quoted in order to calm us down (even if it did not happen immediately), to encourage patience and to promote perseverance.

          Consider that your ability recall the words of Jesus also make Him the incarnate Word to others.

God’s word is inspiring.

Are my words inspiring?

 

[__06__] The 4^th letter. N.

Are my words necessary?

          There are 2 key on the keyboard that I perhaps do not use often enough:

          [DELETE],  [BACKSPACE]

          Each of these enable us to erase or reduce or review what we have said.

          There is also something called the “DRAFT” feature on the computer.

          I am not talking about the NFL draft or the NBA draft or the military draft where players and soldiers are selected and recruited.

          Sometimes, I am shocked to discover the number of unsent DRAFT messages in my e-mail folder.

          Some of them, I was supposed to send, some I forgot about.

          But, there have also been instances where I had to reconsider whether it was even necessary.

          And, if it were necessary, what part is the most necessary.

          To Martha and Mary, at home, Jesus is not simply praising Mary because she is the laid-back “cool” disciple and Martha is the anxious organizer. He is praising Mary’s attitude as necessary, before we do our work, before we do anything.

          Silence before God does not mean that we are inactive, but that we are in touch with God.

          Mary chose the better part.

          Mary’s part is necessary.

          God’s word is necessary.

          Are my words necessary?

 

[__07__]   The 5^th letter. “KAY”.

Are my words kind?

          All of us want kindness… we want to give it, we want to receive it.

          But, kindness is not the same as being “nice” or “flexible”

          St. Paul writes that “kindness calls forth our repentance.”

          God gives us his mercy so that we can change …and be converted.

          Kindness is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22)

         

[__08__]   Jesus invites us not only to believe in him, but also to think about him, to examine our thoughts, as St. Paul summarizes:

          “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.  Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:4-8)

          THINK.      [_fin_] 

Mercy not sacrifice. (2021-04-11, 2nd Sunday Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday)

2^nd Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday

Title:   Mercy not sacrifice.

[__01__]   Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. October 2, 2006.

On this date  - October 2006 -  a man with firearms and weapons entered a one-room schoolhouse in the Lancaster county countryside, a one-room schoolhouse where school was in session.

          You know, Lancaster is home to many Amish people who live remarkably simple and austere lives – on farms / agriculture - of simplicity, spurning many modern conveniences, and among the most traditional – not having television in their home.

          The Amish are known to be a bit reserved – even aloof but the Amish are also known to be very peace loving, peaceful and nonviolent.

 

[__02__]   The man with the firearms was Charlie Roberts. He took the lives of 5 schoolchildren and injured 5 others. He also took his own life. Charlie Roberts died that day. It was not the first time there was ever a school shooting. It was not the last.

          But, amid the trouble and tragedy, there was an outpouring of mercy.

 

[__03__]   Just a few hours later, the same day – one Amish man held Mr. Roberts' – the father of Charlie - sobbing father in his arms, reportedly for as long as an hour, to comfort him. The Amish have also set up a charitable fund for the family of Charlie Roberts.

          That same week, the Roberts family held a funeral for Charlie.

          As the family went to the burial set, more than 30 Amish people came out from the other side of the graveyard to pay their respects, to show their forgiveness, their love.

          The Roberts family who themselves are not Amish …they live lives in our regular “fully industrialized civilized” or “uncivilized world”!

          To this day, the Roberts family has a strong and loving bond with the Amish community

 

[__04__]   There is both “death” and “life” involved in forgiveness.

          The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus died to give us new life in God’s mercy.

          Forgivevness is about living, but it is also about dying. Consider a time when you were challenged – and I can think of times when I was challenged – to “let go” and “let God”  take over by releasing my anger, resentment, bitterness.

          Sometimes, that anger, bitterness, resentment is an energizing force, there is an electricity to it… it’s so logical and easy to stay angry.

          And, to give it up is an act of humility and an act of dying to oneself, dying to one’s sins.

 

[__05__]    Forgiveness also involves dying to our pre-defined notion of success or worthiness.

          This was the message of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to the Phariseess who were so scandalized by Jesus hanging out with public sinners such as tax collectors and prostitutes

          And, when Jesus heard their reproach – their discontent for those they deemed so unworthy, those who are “dragging us down”…Jesus spoke this famous verse to them, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice (I-D-M-N-S)  For I came not to call the righteous but sinners.’” (Matthew 9:13)

         

[__06__]    This Sunday is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, a reminder that we are all called to evaluate how we apply both MERCY and SACRIFICE in our lives.

          Franciscan Father Raneiro Cantalamessa, a spiritual guide to both JP2 and B16 (popes) wrote that “mercy” and “sacrifice” are both good things – especially when choose “sacrifice” for ourselves and “mercy” for others.

          The Pharisees had it mixed up – they were quick to excuse their own behaviors and attitudes and to assume mercy was theirs by right… as though they had purchased personal seat licenses in the luxury box of heaven… and they put sacrifice on everyone else.

         

[__07__]   Divine Mercy Sunday also reminds us that Jesus died primarily to give us his mercy. He is our atoning sacrifice. He died for our sins. Forgiveness involves a death.

          And, this is not simply true on one Sunday of the year but every day and every Sunday.

          Divine Mercy Sunday exists to remind us why Jesus died and why he is so interested in visiting us and visiting with all us – behind our own locked doors or locked hearts or locked rooms.

          And,           Jesus also shows up exactly when we feel defeated, even dead in our sins.

          In the 1^st letter to the Corinthians, we read this about God’s mercy as being especially intended and selected for those who are – or who feel -humiliated or broken. That’s you. That’s me:

          “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being may boast before God … whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”  (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, 31)

 

[__08__]    And, I invite you to consider your own life as I also must consider my own.

          This is a wonderful time of year to go to confession and I’ve put some copies of an Examination of Conscience around the church along with a guide for the sacrament. I assure you that I – or any priest – would help you if the ritual is unfamiliar.

          Confessions will be heard after all the Masses this is weekend and also from 12:45 pm – 2 pm on Sunday. If none of these times works for you, I also gladly meet with people at appointed times that you can arrange with me.

 

[__09__]    One thing we can all struggle with is to accept forgiveness after it is offered. We may think we do not deserve to be forgiven.

          But, that’s what makes it a gift – we don’t “EARN” gifts … we receive them and try to make them part of us.

          This was true also for the family of Charlie Roberts, including his mother, Mrs. Terri Roberts of Lancaster County.

          After the tragic events, Terri met and came to know one very severely injured girl, a girl named Rosanna who required much care at home.

          Mrs. Terri Roberts asked Rosanna’s family if she could help them.  At the time, Terri Roberts herself was fighting cancer.

          But, there she was once a week. Terri visited this young girl, read to her, bathed her, dried her hair.

          Terri does not know with absolutely certainty that Rosanna knows who she is, but Terri believes Rosanna does know.

          In any case, they both know who Jesus is. Jesus who said, “I desire mercy not sacrifice.”  (Matthew 9:13)

[__fin__]