Purple Reign (Advent) / Revolution. (2022-11-27, Advent 1st Sunday)

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2022-11-27 --- 1^st Sunday Advent   ● Isaiah 2:1-5 ● ● Psalm 122 ●● Romans 13:11-14 ● ● + Matthew 24:37-44 ● ●     

Title:  Purple Reign (Advent) / Revolution.

[__01__]    It would be quite revolutionary, quite a statement, if you were to use the color purple as a dominant color or tint in your home, whether outside or inside or in your wardrobe. Imagine you wore purple all the time !

I know that in sports teams were sometimes outlandish colors. But if we were to consider the devotion and tenacity of World Cup national soccer players around, they are not just motivated by the color of their jersey but by a deeper meaning of identity and nationality. There is permanence to purple in our faith and liturgy and identity, but it is not just décor.

 [__02_ROYALTY_]     The purple or violet reminds us of the revolutionary and royal identity of Jesus Christ, and our identity as his followers.

Purple = royalty, for a king, queen or heir to a throne. That’s why we have purple in Advent.

By the way, these days, we take the availability of color for granted. So, for example, if you want your walls or window frames or shutters painted, you can purchase any color you want, including many shades of purple or violet on Main Street at the hardware or paint store. There is no upcharge for purple.

But, in the ancient world of Jesus of Nazareth, and ancient Advent, purple cloth or textile was very pricey. This ↑↑ expense wasn't due to inflation or the supply chain, but due to its scarcity, rarity. Only queens and kings in castles could afford such colors.

In the Passion / Crucifixion, after Jesus is convicted for his revolutionary status as King of the Jews, the Roman soldiers dress him up in – PURPLE. To the Roman soldiers, purple = “good joke”…. To Christians, purple = “good news.”

We retain purple at church in liturgy, in seriousness and solemnity because Jesus as our king.  As king, Jesus does not makes servants of us, but becomes a servant to us. Jesus is the Lamb led to the slaughter, who opens not his mouth.

In last Sunday's gospel, the good thief on the cross recognized Jesus as the true ruler. Though hanging on cross + crucified, Jesus was recognized by the “good thief” in words we are also called to pray with: “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Purple equals royalty and kingship.

 [__03_EARTH_]      “Purple” is also revolutionary and turns the world “upside down” in another way.

          Consider that purple – in nature and in the sky -- reminds us of the connection of the earth to the sun. Purple is often seen at sunset and at sunrise.

          So, rather than seeing darkness in the purple, consider it is solar/sun pattern.  Sometimes we may have to work a little bit harder to see the light.

Solar rays may be not be visible at all times, that does not mean they will not return.

Jesus’ light will return in the majesty of his 2^nd  coming. That will be a revolution too !

[__03_REPENTANCE _]      Purple is also the “revolutionary” color of repentance of sorrow for our sins.

Repentance is a special reminder for Advent, to go to confession, to receive a clean heart and to be right with God and neighbor. Know that we have confession on Saturday afternoons but that I am available by request to hear your confession when you wish.

The priest wears typically a purple vestment for confessions.

Why purple? Because we know that Jesus through his cross and resurrection remembers us in His Kingdom. We can turn back to Him.

[__04_REPENTANCE _]      Jesus reminds us to stay awake to live in His light and St. Paul – in Romans – gives us some practical strategies and sacrifices we can make to repent.

[St. Paul, Romans] Isn’t it true that when I say I am sorry I am invited to come into the light. Depending on what I have done, that light may seem harsh, like exiting a dark building / movie theater on a sunny day, but nevertheless the light is healthy and heals us.

Advent is meant to be healthy revolution and change.

Now in terms of Advent, it is expected that our celebration of Advent would be something of a revolution or a revolt or rebellion against the commercialization or the marketing of Christmas. There's darkness in the church liturgy of and Advent. But this is darkness is not à Black Friday but is all about Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

St. Paul is reminding us that it is revolutionary and sometimes difficult to repent, to be sorry.  There are examples and challenges.

1^st. DRUNKENNESS. It is important to note that we as Catholics do not require complete abstinence from alcohol.   But, in excess, it can be toxic not just physically but also spiritually toxic. It seems there also a connection between self-control in what we consume and drink and then our corresponding “honesty” and virtue. The opposite is also true – where there is vice, there is dishonesty in other areas. Being virtuous brings us into the light.

2^nd. LUST.  This is a big temptation these days due to images on the internet and availability of these images to persons of all ages.  Our battle against this is necessary because virtue in this area shows our respect not only for ourselves, but for our spouse, children …and even the spouse or child we have not met yet !  Virtue brings us into the light.

3^rd. RIVALRIES. Paul also refers to the danger of rivalries. Now, it's not just World Cup soccer or NFL football that can lead to rivalries and jealousies. It is family quarrels, or an unwillingness to forgive a past wrong/hurt.  But when we do forgive, we grow in virtue and service to each other, even to those we have regarded in the past as “enemies” Virtue brings us into the light.

The good news of the gospel is a wake up call to us a reminder that Jesus has freed us from our sin and invites us to follow him both in the darkness and in the light and to recognize that we do not have to be defeated by the darkness of sin.

St. Paul addresses this in the 2^nd reading today --- “it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.  For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;  the night is advanced, the day is at hand.  Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. “ (Romans 13: -)

[__05__]      I pray this Advent season is a revolution for you, a revolution to lead you  and us closer to Christ as our King, a revolution to remind us that his light is always shining, and a revolution of repentance to know His mercy.

 [__end__]   

Thanksgiving Day (November 24, 2022)

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Thanksgiving Day 2022  (Gospel: Luke 17:11-19)

 [__01__]   In the history of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, it has been true that this feast of gratitude has brought people together who might not have hoped for or prayed for such unity.

          Some of the earliest participants in Thanksgiving feasts in what is now the United States were living in very difficult condition.  They had reason to be thankful for their survival.

          But, then again, even dire conditions and survival of tragedy does not bring out the best in absolutely everyone.

This was also true in the Gospel today – 10 men with leprosy are healed in an area of the Holy Land very divided relgiouisly and politically between Israel and Samaria – between the Jewish people and the Samaritans.

The Samaritan Kingdom region was far away from Jerusalem. It was on the border land, it was often it had been populated by, neighboring countries and often adversarial neighboring peoples and tribes. The exile of the Jewish people from their homeland started there. So there's both diversity and unrest traced to this region.

Reading between the lines of Lukes’ Gospel, we have reason to believe of the 10 men with leprosy who were healed, all or most of them were in fact Jewish men living on the margins of society. But at least one of them was a Samaritan, not a Jewish person…and it is ironic that he – of all people – returns to give praise and thanks to God.

It is an example to the Jewish community that Jesus has come to save all women and men, and his mercy is available to all

John 3:16 à “For God so loved the the world that he gave his only Son so that all who believe in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

 

[__02__]   Just a reminder of our history --   In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, with 102 passengers—an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith and other individuals lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the "New World." After a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing that lasted over 2 months, , they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River.

One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.  (Plymouth is about 40 miles from Boston).

          Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from a member of the indigenous native American Abenaki tribe who greeted them in English.

Several days later, he returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an exploratory expedition. Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe, which endured for more than 50 years and remains one of the only examples of harmony between European colonists and Native Americans.

This feast of gratitude has brought people together who might not have hoped for or prayed for such unity.

I suggest it is still an opportunity for us to come together with family and friends…and also with those with whom we do not get along politically or religiously or culturally.

It was also true in the Gospel…. It seemed that  Jewish rabbi would not have made much to offer to a Samaritan leper and vice versa…

 

[__03__]    The Samaritan leper who returns is described as a foreigner, because the Samaritan and Jewish people were living in different worlds / different cultures..       There is distance in this gospel from the perspective of Jesus's travels and route and GPS. But there's also a delay in this gospel from the perspective of the men suffering from leprosy.

They've been waiting probably years, maybe decades, for someone who will have pity on them.

Due to this long delay in healing, and their illness, they have to maintain not only social distance, but spiritual distance.

In this Gospel, Jesus sends them to the temple in order to end their delay, and also to close the gap. It is a demonstration that Jesus has come to heal and save all people, even those who are outsiders at the margin.

So to be a Samaritan and to be a leper in Israel, made them doubly the outsiders in both distance and delay.

[__04__]  From time to time, do you experience distance and delay in your lives in your life? We come to church in order to close the gap. We come to church to pray for family members to pray for those to whom we are close, and to pray for those from whom we are far, whether socially, geographically, spiritually, yes, it is true that some of us will experience Thanksgiving Day alone apart from family and friends.

Or it may be true that while we enjoy community and family time today, around the holidays, we may be most mostly alone in our lives. You are not alone in the church. You're not alone at Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes that we are called to be one family to support each other.

And one example of that is the food that you have brought today to church to support those who are poor, those who are living, maybe living alone or living in poverty. We might say that the Samaritan lepers are Samaritan, those with leprosy in Samaria are being sent on their way to the temple in a way similar to the way that you or I or as a sinner does. penance, or practices fasting or prayer or ALMS giving as part of forgiveness for our sins.

The penance, however, is not given for to us in order for us to earn or deserve our forgiveness, but rather just to remind us that we are now actively living out our forgiveness and giving thanks to God, as the most remarkable aspect of forgiveness or reconciliation is not the penance, but the conversion of heart, the desire and will to turn back to God, which is a work of grace. And isn't that true? And so the healing for the lepers is similar to an act of forgiveness after an extended delay or after a long distance. And forgiveness has a social and interpersonal dimension. Perhaps you've experienced the social or interpersonal aspect of, of forgiveness. For example, imagine that you apologize to somebody whom you have wronged or somebody apologizes to you, it's good to be back in the good graces of the other person, it's certainly a relief. And isn't a great when someone takes responsibility for an act of wrongdoing or when you take it out of responsibility for act of wrongdoing and receive forgiveness. That's good. But forgiveness is not just about pain relief, or general anesthesia, or even just about social distance, it is so that we can know that if because forgiveness is not just about going to sleep or resting forgiveness is about waking up and trying to follow Jesus each day as this one of the 10 lepers has done.    [__end__]   

Christ's Kingdom Will Have No End (2022-11-20, Sunday-34)

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2022-11-20   Feast of Jesus Christ the King

  ● 2 Samuel 5:1-3 ● ● Psalm 122 ●● Colossians 1:12-20  ● ● + Luke 22:35-43 ● ●     

Title:  “Christ's Kingdom Will  Have No End”

[__01__]  This Sunday is the feast of Jesus Christ, the King, a feast day starting in 1925 in the year 1925, in the years after World War One, when there was – in the world – lots of pain, but not much gain, as we say at the weightlifting gym. The world was not at peace. In the year 1925, the Church was also celebrating the anniversary of the Nicene Creed, which comes from the Council of Nicaea in 325. And as part of this anniversary, Pope Pius XI  emphasized that while other kingdoms and governments had been unstable or had even been overthrown, Jesus's Kingdom has no end. And Jesus has a plan for our justice and for salvation. And in a few moments, we will pray those words from the Creed: His kingdom will have no end. Jesus has a plan for our salvation and also for true peace and justice.

 

[__02__]   What is justice?  On the one hand, this Gospel is is about “criminal justice”.  While St. Luke the Evangelist knew nothing of the successful TV show Law & Order but he is explicitly referring to what happens – “in legal and judicial fashion” to 3 men sentenced to die on Calvary.   One is Jesus, 2 are thieves, 1 of whom begs “Jesus, remember me”. Is that justice?

          This is the “voice over” on TV:

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by 2 separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.

In this ancient Gospel, there was – we would imagine – some “law and order” evidence that that was collected by “detectives” and there was a prosecution, trial.

At the end of Law & Order,  the “perpetrator”  or we say in the NYPD – “the perp“ is caught … and nearly always, the perpetrator is really bad, and you are not supposed to have any sympathy for.

[__03__] Could or should there be any sympathy or mercy for wrongdoers? For a criminal, for a sinner? In the mind of the public then and now, absolutely not! This is not the first time Jesus has opposed the public sentiment/rejection of a “perp”.

          In Luke’s Gospel (a few Sundays ago) a “thief” was identified -- Zacchaeus the tax collector who ent up in the tree, was despised & disdained because he stole money for himself as part of “tax collection”.   Z was a “perp”

          But, the good news for Zacchaeus – criminal that he was known to be -- was that Z converted before he was “convicted”. He paid back stolen cash.

          In this Gospel / Law & Order “episode”, things are playing out differently for the 2 thieves on the cross. They are already convicted. They cannot pay back or make restitution.

          What does the 2^nd thief say to the 1^st thief who is mocking Jesus?

          The 2^nd thief: “we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes”

In other words, while he is suffering greatly, he sees the logic in the punishment.  And, the  à “the district attorneys prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.”

 

[__04__]   But, that’s not really the end of the story. Jesus as our Savior – is in the theology of Christian atonement – for our sins –is “representing” us.

          He is representing us in 2 ways, analogous to the courtroom. He is representing us by being our “advocate or defender” . But, even more, he is representing us by being willing to take the fall and be punished.

          When you and I use the word “atonement”, we often mean in terms of some finite or definite harm that was done. For example, if I am supposed to be on time to see you for something important and then I do not show up or show up really late, it is expected that I would take responsibility.

          You would expect, at least, some “responsibility” and maybe even some “retribution” on my part to you.

 

          When neither of these things happens, it can feel “toxic”.  For it is not just “toxic” when a criminal is on the loose but also when we have toxic indifference” to sin / sinfulness if we do not – in charity – also call others to conversion while acknowledging sinfulness in ourselves. Here is an example…

 

[__05__]   Many years ago, in 1 of my first jobs after college, I went out to lunch with several of my co-workers. We went to a pretty expensive restaurant as a celebration at the conclusion of a project.

          Due to my own desire to “take charge” or appear important, I offered to pay the entire restaurant bill which was several hundred dollars and said that I could justify this as a business expense. My co-workers said it was not necessary but I insisted. So, I put the whole bill on my credit card and submitted it as an expense.

          What happened next was …I never was reimbursed for that expense – but I often think back that the 500 or so dollars lost on that lunch was a very worthwhile investment. My boss simply refused, telling me that this was not a legitimate. My boss did not call me a “thief”, never said I was stealing ..and I think regarded me as a basically honest person. But, my boss would not allow my actions to go any further.

          Perhaps, my boss could have just approved the expense. Our “big corporation” would probably never have noticed it.  And, I probably would have for the next few days “liked” my boss a bit more.  But, that type of permissiveness – I argue would have been a form of toxic indifference. My boss did not care about the psychology that led to me trying to get reimbursed. It was simply wrong.   This was just an example. I needed to learn a lesson.

[__06__]   To repent of sinfulness does not mean that we cannot explain ourselves. But the explanation is not an excuse. Also, just because I am “sorry”  does not mean I will never  suffer inconvenience or experience being disliked or rejected.

          In their earthly punishment, the

thieves on the cross experienced this. “These are their stories.”

          But, this is not the end of the story. Jesus gives all of us – the thieves included – the opportunity to convert, to change, to turn back to him… even at the 11^th hour, or the 59^th minute of a 60 minute episode, or on our deathbed …or even when we think no one cares anymore.

          The sacrament of penance and reconciliation exists not just for the sins everyone knows about, but it also exists for the sins that only God knows about, and that we know about.

          The main qualities of a good confession are that it be humble, sincere, contrite, I.e., that we are sorry.

          And, even the first few words can communicate a great deal…

          “Bless me Father for I have sinned…it has been 5 days, 5 years, 35 years “ since my last confession.

          In that statement alone, you are turning the page, acknowledging that no matter how much time has passed you can be reconciled to God.

          It is in confession that we are also praying, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

          So, no matter what others “remember” about your, your crimes, your sins, Jesus knows who you are and loves you. He died for you.   And, his kingdom will have no end.  [_end_]     

Temple 3.0+. On Location (2022-11-13, Sunday-33)

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2022-11-13    ●Malachi 3:19-20a  ● ● Psalm 98 ● ● 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 ● ●  + Luke 21:5-19 ● ●       Title:  Temple 3.0+. On Location

[__01__]      It is a tradition in Hollywood action-hero movies that the action herself or action hero himself would protect not only people but also major landmarks, important buildings. For example. Spider-Man protects New York City.

          But, since the Gospel readings are always in the Middle East, let’s go there.

In the movie Transformers 2, we see an Egyptian Pyramid in danger of being destroyed, by one of the villains. This particular scene in the Egyptian desert is unusual because the movie producers were permitted to film “on location” at the real pyramids in Egypt But, don’t worry, no actual pyramids were harmed in the filming of Transformers 2. It was all fictional computer generated or “CGI”

[__02__]      Since we have seen pyramids and skyscrapers – on screen – both destroyed and rescued, we might wonder where Jesus is going with all of this…  stones of the Temple being torn down. Is this reality or virtual reality?

Yes it is actual reality. Historically, Jesus was “on location” in 30 A.D., during a time of strength and stability. For the Jewish people, in real life, this was the “2^nd Temple Period”.   Temple 2-point-Zero.   And, it was not CGI !

The Temple 1.0 – also a real building - had been destroyed when Assyria / Babylon conquered Israel and captured them in exile.  “Temple 2.0” was constructed after the Jewish people returned from exile.  During Temple 2.0, the Roman Empire had taken control of Israel / Jerusalem.

40 years after this today’s Gospel, in 70 A.D. when there was a Jewish rebellion and the Roman Empire army invaded and destroyed the Temple.  The destruction of Jerusalem / 2^nd T = major turning point in Jewish history. Did strength become weakness? Some people thought so.  They also wondered if there would be a Temple 3.0+.

Spoiler Alert: Jesus Himself is the Temple 3.0+ and beyond.

How is it possible to protect and build this Temple 3.0+ and beyond, in our lives? I’d also like to touch on how prayer and the church are Jesus/Temple 3.0 and how they can be constructed in your home and room and in my home and room and everyday life.

[__04__]      Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote of the value of the Church that we need a place for gathering in church because “nowhere is a man closer to himself and to others as in shared silence.”  (Ratzinger, Dogma and Preaching, Church Architecture chapter, p. 237 – see also quote from p. 240 )

So the church is meant to be this place of shared silence where we can be together, where we can hear God's word, we can pray for each other.

The church also can be a model, an architectural plan for your home.    We are called to make a connection between how we live life in church and how we live at home.

First how do we live at church?

 

 [__03__]        Here in the parish church of Our Lady of Lourdes, we have a beautiful temple, a building where we worship God, and as your parish priest, I'm concerned with this church building, protecting it, securing it, financing it, but also I'm doing so that's so that the Holy Spirit can I'm doing so that the Holy Spirit can dwell and reside not only here at 1 E-R-A, but also in the bodies, minds and hearts of our homes.

I suggest your / my “home  improvement”  project is a collaboration in which we are striving for both CONTEMPLATION and CONVERSION.

But … “contemplation” is not just a form of relaxation or leisure … and “conversion” is not just about getting an upgrade to better technology.  The Temple 3.0 is partially available on your phone, certainly there are apps and methods of praying we can use on our devices. But, this is not a substitute for church or Sunday Mass any more than calling or texting your Mom/Dad is a substitute for visiting.

This  “contemplation” and “conversion” is part of our church building – our Temple.

But I suggest we also need this blueprint elsewhere.

There’s meant to be a connection of church to home “on location”.

I’d like to touch on 2 things that are features of church.

1^st. the Pews – or benches for seating. "Pew" is fancy word for the wooden bench. And the Kneeler.

Does this mean that you should have pews and kneelers in your living room? Or a marble stone dining room table? Yes, that would be really inconvenient and weird.

But the question I have to ask myself, about my own living space, or my own, in my work or living area, do I connect the Eucharist that I received at this altar – and do you connect the Eucharist you receive to the sacrifices you make in the “altar” of your own table or kitchen counter.

While sitting on a wooden pew with a kneeler invites me to be quiet – can I not be quiet or seek silence at other times – as though there is a  pew / kneeler – in my car (turn off the radio) in my home, at my desk?

So the church is meant to be kind of an architectural plan for our own lives.

2^nd Confesssionals.  Also, in the church, we have something else we not just have pews, we have the confessionals.

Now that confession is confessionals are where you go to say Bless me, Father, for I have sinned, it has been three weeks or three years since my last confession. I'm not suggesting you should put confessionals inside your home, but in your home, or in your relationships with others.

Do I live in such a way that I that I can admit my faults and mistakes honestly, clearly to others without first thinking about what they're going to think of me or fear of punishment or reprisal?

But confessional exists in the church, not just as an extreme makeover or paint job for sins, so that I can look good to everybody else. That confessional in the church exists so that I can know I'm a sinner.

I know I'm in need of God's mercy and I can no other people are in need of God's mercy. That's the architectural plan.

We pray that we will have eyes to see each day because it's sometimes easy to miss God in our lives, or we go in the wrong direction.

We are here in church so that we might focus on Him and to love others better. Jesus was not just predicting that stones would be torn down. For while Jesus was predicting He would be torn down. And this made him very unpopular for a while.  Low ratings in the media!

And by the way, this theme of Jesus being torn down will be continued Next week's gospel when Jesus is actually on the cross suffering

Yet, this was for our benefit to learn about the grace of rebuilding through his sacrifice and resurrection for us.   Using the terminology of technology, Jesus is the Temple 3.0+,

But using the terminology of the Temple, where the 118^th psalm was originally sung…. :  “Jesus is the stone which the builders rejected [and] has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done and it is wonderful in our eyes.”  (Psalm 118)     [__end__]

Courage, Compassion, Companionship (2022-11-06, 32nd Sunday, Founder's Day)

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2022-11-06   Title:  Courage, Compassion, Companionship

●● 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14  ● ● Psalm 17 ● ●  2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 ● ●  + Luke 20:27-38   

[__01__]       When I tell someone, “hey you are brave or courageous“, I sometimes wonder if the person has really heard me. At times, I receive such praise and I tend to dismiss it myself.

          Why? I myself associate courage with extraordinary achievement or piety, such as the eventual results for Bernadette of Lourdes whose witness led to a great shrine and basilica and devotion.

Courage is one of those concepts we don’t “say” much about but we know it when we see it.

[__02__] We often abbreviate the name of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish “Lourdes” to connect us to the shrine and apparitions in France where our Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette.   Bernadette showed courage against skeptics who rejected such a poor and simple young girl having a profound religious experience.

          Bernadette demonstrated courage in southwestern France to those who did not yet believe. We are called to the same, for those have not crossed the threshold or walked up our steps in West Orange.

You do this – I will testify – not only to give comfort but also to speak the truth honestly. It takes courage, to say something that someone does not want to hear and with love rather than frustration/anger.

In facing up to evil and sin, Jesus did not overthrow the government, but laid down his life giving us a peaceful model and way of the Cross.  It takes courage to be a peaceful and merciful witness

So, one way to see courage in yourself is to recognize the need to FORGET yourself ….or put aside your own needs for another.

 [__03_]    This early November Sunday is the anniversary season of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, founded on November 8, 1914 – so happy [early] 108^th Founder’s Day, everyone.  We remember the brave souls, women and men, the religious Sisters of Charity, deacons and priests, the faithful  parishioners / people by whom our parish was founded, financed and served. This continues today in your

efforts to care for our CHURCH as a building,  to teach our CHILDREN as our future, and to give CHARITABLY as a witness to others.

I’d like to connect this idea of COURAGE to COMPASSION and to COMPANIONSHIP.  We do not have to go it alone.

 [__04 _] To make the connection between courage and compassion, I would like to recall Pierre Toussaint – a candidate for sainthood in the Church.  Pierre Toussaint was born in the French Caribbean colony of Saint-Domingue which is now Haiti, in 1766.  He was born into slavery.

At age 20, the plantation owner/family he left the colony with the family who were escaping the revolution against colonial rule and slavery.  Pierre was taken to the U.S., to NYC where – of course – slavery was still legal.

          The eventual end of slavery in Haiti meant bankruptcy for the family went completely bankrupt, financially.   Meanwhile, Toussaint’s prestige and skill in his profession earned him money in NYC.   Toussaint could have left them as a free man, but rather contributed his earnings to the family well-being. This was quite a reversal of roles!  

[__05__]     All the while, Pierre endured discrimination both as a freed slave and Catholic.  Anti-Catholicism was strong in New York at the time. This did not stop him – a daily churchgoer, devoted to Rosary, an articulate teacher of Catholic faith.

In charity, Pierre, he supported widows, orphans – essentially founding “Catholic Charities of New York” on his own.  He gave toward the original/old St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Mulberry Street. Arriving at Mass for that church’s “founding day”, Pierre was turned away because he was Black though his money had substantially built it. Fortunately another usher recognized him and brought him to a seat of honor.  In church as in heaven, the last shall be first!

          His death and burial were remarkable. He is the only lay person buried at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 5^th Avenue, NYC – in a crypt / mausoleum normally reserved for archbishops / cardinals. 

In Pierre Toussaint, we see courage -- compassion – and  companionship.

 [__06_]     COMPANIONSHIP / MY EXAMPLE.

          When I started seriously thinking about becoming a priest, I seem to recall hearing something about this being a “courageous” move. But, I did not feel myself to be – either then or now – a courageous person.  I also do not wish to use the word “courage” too lightly.

          I try to do what is right, but courage seems such a tall order. Also, I often associate ”courage” with being a lone ranger or going it alone.

          At the time, I lived -  in my perception –comfortably and resisted the a change to seminary studies.  In one conversation, I remember saying – out loud and immaturely – but I really like how things are right now. Not a good reason!

          So, I was anxious about all these changes, wondering if they were worthwhile or if friendships I had then would continue. I have certainly been blessed with friends from before and during my time as priest.  Of course, if I had not become a priest, I would not know each of you.  You are a blessing to me, to teach me about the virtues and Christian sacrifice.

          At times, I have thought that my courage – or my choice – was always going to be about leaving behind what I had and going forward and leaving and old life behind. Of course, that is true…

          An event over the summer showed me that it was not that simple.

I was visiting family in the state of Rhode Island. I never have lived in Rhode Island. I was just visiting my sister and her family there.

And I was able to celebrate mass in a totally new place at parish in Westerly, Rhode Island. I introduced myself, I said I'm from New Jersey, Our Lady of Lourdes West Orange.

Someone spoke to me afterwards, asking me more specifically about my location. And he was from Rhode Island but his wife was from New Jersey and they lived in Hoboken here in Hudson County, Hudson County Hoboken from 1990 until 2010. I told him that I had lived in Hoboken as well around the same time. It turned out we were neighbors on the same street. And he told me that he remembered me walking on the street back in the 1990s or up to around 2000.

He was also on some kind of neighborhood watch anti Crime Watch. I'm wondering if that's why he was noticed to me. I don't think I did anything that required a 911 call. But anyway, he said that he remembered me. I thought this was unlikely but insisted that he remembered me.

My conversation with him reminded me where I had come from. It also reminded me that I had certain changes to make to hear God's call by the way I have not totally made all these changes.  I could still grow in courage… compassion.  As one preacher once said, I'm not what I want to be, but I’m not what I used to be. I have to accept my losses to move forward.

The episode also reminded me of a new connection and companion I had made, not just someone from the here and new, but also actually someone from my past history.

It is a reminder that when we think – e.g., - of heaven ..it is a place of communion and companionship – with Him and each other, where the “old neighborhood” is made new.

It is my hope that our parish will also be a place where we can experience support for the virtue of courage and compassion, knowing we have been saved not as isolated individuals but as His beloved sisters and brothers.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us.  [__end__]

Good with Names (2022-11-02, All Souls Day)

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2022-11-02 – All Souls Day  Title:   . "Good with Names"

● Wisdom 3:1-9 ●   ● Psalm  23 ●     ● Romans 6:3-9  ●  + Luke 24:13-16, 28-35 ● ●  

Title: [__01__]    According to the sales, marketing and human behavior commentator, Dale Carnegie, the According to human behavior expert, “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” If you want to show that you care whether it be a new friend you meet or a future boss that interviewed you, dropping their name mid-conversation will definitely send a spark of interest from you to that person.”

          Recently, I saw someone from a distance at a church I was visiting where I had been in many years, though not recently and I saw someone who looked very familiar, but I could not remember his name or even if we had ever been introduced. He just looked so familiar. It turned out he was an Archdiocese of Newark staff member who I had met – never in person – only on Zoom video conference calls – but I did recall his face.

[__02__]     On All Souls Day and every day, really, names are important because we are called to pray for our loved ones, for their eternal rest – by name – individually – personally.

          So our prayers for those in Purgatory are an expression of our trust in God’s mercy. In Purgatory, God is repairing our broken parts so we can live with Him forever. We must cooperate with Him in this work of love.

For it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. (2 Maccabees 12:46)

[__03__]      However, it’s also important to remember that the name we are focused on, calling it is also Jesus  Christ’s holy name by which we are saved. Amen !

          Taking my own name – as an example – it is not one that will save you.

          The name – James in English or Jacques in French/masculine or Jacqueline/feminine comes from the name Jacob, the Hebrew word or name, which means supplant, or to steal, to be a thief. Because Jacob in the book of Genesis tricked his brother Esau took his birthright. It's a scandalous and ironic history of the name. It is a bit of scandalous history then to be named Jacqueline, Jacques, Jacob, James, I still like my name.

          By the way, “JACOB” – in terms of popularity as a boy’s name - hit # 1 in 1999 and remained # 1 until 2013, and still is in the top 20.

          In the book of Genesis, we learned that Adam, God's first creation, the first man gave names to every living thing. And it is from the Bible that we learn that giving names to things or names to people helps us to know them to understand them to recognize them to relate to them.  And, then for God to bless each of us by  name.

[__04__]      By September, 1926, in southeastern Florida, the population of Dade County and the young city of Miami had blossomed to well over 100,000 (more than doubling in 5 years) and construction was everywhere.  People were optimistic, speculative, and woefully under-educated about storms and potential damage of wind and rain.

          In September 1926, the wind and rain began to fall and people did not know what to expect… equally as bad as Hurricane Ian and recently on the west coast of Florida.

 The storm and the wind and the rain and the flooding devastated the area and drove sent many people away from southeastern Florida, people who had come hoping to build up the city. This was known as the the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926.

About 2 years after this terrible storm, the U. of Miami opened to students in Coral Gables, near Miami. And as you may know, well, the mascot or nickname that the University of Miami chose for their teams is the hurricane, a bit of homage to the storm.

This is not the only example -- in the bay area of San Francisco, a seismic zone where the tectonic plates move, the the San Jose based professional soccer team = The Earthquakes. If you live in Miami, Florida, or in if you live in Miami, if you live in Florida, or if you live in the Bay area of San Francisco and California, you are called to respect the power of the hurricane and the power of an earthquake.

Nevertheless, neither you nor I nor the people of California or Florida, or need to be defeated by or completely ruled over by the power of a hurricane by the power of an earthquake or even by the power of death itself.

[__05__]      [The Gospel]. We've just read the road to Emmaus. There are two disciples trying to escape from what they perceive to be the disaster zone where the ground zero in Jerusalem right now temporarily they feel ruled over they feel defeated by death and dying. Their teacher, their rabbi, their leader is no longer with them.

It was a terrible storm. Right now they do remember his name, but they fear that Jesus's name will be forgotten. Perhaps his followers will also be arrested, charged, they are escaping trouble, not just mentally, but legally.

[__06__]      What should be our attitude toward death? Should we talk about it by name?

Many years ago, a dear friend of our family died, and his death shook me up, because it reminded me of my own mortality, and that of my parents. And I knew, for example, I knew my parents would one day die. But this forced me to confront when I was 29 years old to think, Well, my parents are going to die if their dear friend just died. You know, we all have finite lives on this earth.

The death of our friend touched my mother, father, my siblings and my cousins who lived nearby. We all knew the deceased – Jerry – very well.. Yet on the day of Jerry’s funeral, the my mother, my father, my aunt, and my uncle really taught me a lot about their example of what it meant to mourn, even to laugh after someone had died, to give thanks for his life.

Afterwards, my uncle said, as we were leaving the church on the day of the funeral, which had been very beautiful. My uncle said to me, that's how I want to be buried. That's how I want to be buried. I thought that was a weird statement at the age of 29. I couldn't take that in.

I thought that was so strange, so morbid. seem to say or think. But my uncle was somebody who was really preparing for his own death and dying by his prayer by his receiving of the sacraments. He was a beautiful example to me. We are here in church to remember to pray for our loved ones, to remember their names that their names live on, and that death does not have power over us.

We will read the names of our deceased shortly, to pray for them personally and also to pray that they will be blessed by the person of Christ whose name means “God saves”.  His name is the most important sound, in any language, to inform that his perpetual light shines upon us.

[__end_]