Love at First Sight (2023-08-20, Sunday 20th)

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 Homily file for August 20, 2023,   20^th Sunday    ● Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 ● Psalm 67 ● Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 ● Matthew 15:21-28 ●

Title:   Love at First Sight.

[_01__]      For myself, I perceive I meet many people each day who remain unidentified, unnamed, unknown to me. This includes the person in a store, driving a bus,  delivering a package, putting food on the shelf in the store, whom I don't make an effort to see or hear.  Let alone “love”. I may rush past them, not give them the time of day.  I feel guilty about my hastiness later, but then the moment is gone and I never see the person again.

Nevertheless it would be impractical – perhaps also “weird” – to ask for the name of every person I see/meet on a daily basis, every police officer, salesperson in a store, passenger or driver …. Not being known has its advantages and is a type of “homeland security”. And, after all, love at first sight is very rare.

Do you, at times prefer the security of anonymity, being unknown?

After all, we live in a broken world in which we do not want our bank accounts tampered with or our identity stolen! We do not want to be disturbed.

[_02__]      DO NOT DISTURB. (DISCIPLES)

In the Gospel, the disciples of Jesus are also not making an effort to know or be known by the Canaanite woman. The disciples do not love her at 1^st sight.

At this point, in their journey, the disciples are not ready to KNOW or be KNOWN by the Canaanite woman.  Did they have a reason? Perhaps. Historically, there had been combat and “bad blood” between the Canaanite people and Israelite people. The disciples really did not want to know her or her name. They do not value her.

But, in the end Jesus praises the Canaanite woman and holds her up as a person of value for her faith for her confidence in God.

[_03__]       One writer – reflecting on this episode in the Gospel – wrote that the episode points up something for us to consider about both “esteem” for others and “esteem” for oneself.

Do I love others and myself differently. This is from the article:

“Many Christians [myself “J.F” included !!]  like to think they are hard on themselves, but easy on everyone else. …. Even if a double-standard was possible to maintain, it’s not allowed by Scripture, so it would hardly be something to brag about. Charitable love for self is at least implied by the commandment that we love others as we love ourselves. Loving ourselves in the proper context—that is, within the context of loving God, above all, and loving His creation for His sake—is a supernatural virtue to cultivate.” (https://www.hprweb.com/2016/11/self-esteem-biblical-or-distracting/)

In other words, we are called to love ourselves not for our own achievements or merits or successes but to love ourselves simply because we exist.

This enables us to love others not because of what they have done for us lately, but because they exist.

There are “ethnic”, political, religious  differences which divide and keep the disciples “apart” from the Canaanite woman.  Do not such differences exist among us? Can we bridge these gaps simply by hanging out together.  Apparently that does not work, in Congress, government or anywhere.

The way we “bridge” these gaps is by a more intentional love. Jesus shows us this intentional love, since he is a Divine Person, the Son of God, who came to unite us. God is love. If we can live in his presence, receive his mercy, then we can go out to others.

Christ’s mercy is the foundation for our loving relationships, including our ability to love ourselves and then to love others, including the stranger!

Sometimes, the person in your own house or circle is a stranger to you or you are a stranger to another.

Jesus is teaching both the Canaanite woman and the disciples that their ability to be united in faith and friendship, will come not from an exchange of their own talents or time, or just hanging out together, but their ability to love God first. Then, they can really know each other’s names.

For now, the Canaanite woman – the Gentile – the person outside the Jewish faith - has an important lesson to teach the disciples about faith and trust immediately – right away - in Jesus’ Word.  Sometimes, we can learn a lot from the so-called stranger. Jesus believes in continuing a journey which begins with love at first sight.  

[_END__]  

Happiness. Levels 1234 (Assumption, 2023-08-15)

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 ● Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab● Psalm 45 ●● 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 ● ● Luke 1:39-56 ●

 Title: Happiness. Levels 1234   (Assumption, August 15, 2023)

[_00-a__]  On this feast of the Assumption, we remember that Mary is raised up to the happiness of heaven.

 [_00-b__]    The 20^th century Baltimore Catholic Catechism asked, “Why did God make you?” The answer: “God made you to know him, to love him, and to serve him in this world and to be happy with him forever in the next.”

What does it mean for you and me to be happy – to be happy - with God?

Are you at times, not happy with God, displeased with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or perhaps not giving God a positive review for what's going on in your life or the lives of others?

Are you in the words of the BVM Mary today, saying, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit is rejoicing in God my Savior?”

How do you and measure or find a level for happiness?

So I'm calling this homily, the end of happiness. And that word end means the purpose of happiness or the possibility of happiness.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle observed something about happiness is an END …that is happiness is not a means to an END, but an end in itself.

Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer touches on 4 levels of happiness, urging us to consider – for ourselves – for our loved ones – for our children - each level has its own merits, own worth.

By moving through the levels, we grow in not only happiness but also in holiness and virtue.

What are the levels?

[_01__]      [Level 1.]    Happiness  based on physical desire and instinct. If you're hungry (physically), eat, it will make you happy. If you're thirsty (physically), drink, if you are tired (physically), sleep.

          There is a degree of virtue in choosing to EAT, to DRINK, to SLEEP. We need these to survive.

          Yet, if all we ever do is satisfy physical desires, our happiness will be limited.

          EXAMPLE:  I enjoy a good meal sitting down to table at least as much if not more than the average person. And I will even skip a meal in order to be sure that I'm really hungry when I get to the good meal at the end of the day. I might skip breakfast and lunch on Thanksgiving Day because I want to arrive ready and with an appetite for the Thanksgiving feast.

This is not a sacrifice. I am maximizing my Level 1 happiness !

Now how can we connect this to the BVM Mary, a young woman is presented with a gift, the satisfaction of desire. That is she is told: “You will conceive and bear a son.” That's good.

No sooner is Mary told of her son than she is also told that he is not only given to her but to the whole world.

Is it possible that as soon as we get what we want, or get something of value, we realize it is not ours to “hoard” or to “keep” but to share. This is true of our talents and skills.

 [_02__]       [Level 2.]   L_1 was happiness based on physical desire,

L_2 is happiness based on comparing myself with others what others have. In other words, if I know that I have achieved a level of success, that brings me happiness, especially when that success is more than what somebody else has.

For example, when I played sports as a young person, it was important to me to be on the right team with the right players, I was really no all star, but occasionally I did well, and I liked when I was doing better than others. When I was at level two. I compare myself to others, I still compare myself to others.

And sometimes I am pleased when I feel I'm doing a little bit better than others. And I'm not pleased when I think others are doing better than me. It's not the best place to be. I'm just saying, I've been there.

Have you ever been there?

Could Mary our Blessed Mother? Could she be at L-2-H? Could she have fallen into the trap of comparing herself to everyone else? Well, maybe for a tiny split second for a moment.

When the angel Gabriel appeared, consider her question: “how can this be?”

In other words, I am comparing myself to everybody else. I know everything I know about human anatomy everything I know about how children come into the world, I have no husband, I have not had any marital relations. And so how can this be? God says You will conceive and bear a son through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So that's also a pretty good Level 2 happiness no woman had ever until then – or has ever since then – conceived through the Holy Spirit.

What about you and me, when you have a talent or level of achievement different from others?

This can be a burden to be that or it's sometimes it can be inflationary to our ego. But that's what happens if we stay only at level two.

 [_03__]      [Level 3.]   At Level 3, our happiness is not based on our ability merely “completing” a desire or “competing” with others, but rather on contributing to to another person, or family, or community.

          Jesus summed it up this way he says he who seeks to save his life will lose it. He loses his life for my sake will save it. Level 3 is to contribute to the happiness of others.

And at the wedding at Cana, Mary rises to this occasion. She sees that wedding feast and couple are running out of vino running out of wine – Cabernet or Chardonnnay (we do not know) but they are running out of wine.

And she uses her place in a relationship. She intercedes for intercedes for this couple of goes to Jesus, he contributes to helping solve this problem and says, “They have no wine.”

One of the ways we can be happy is when we offer petitions for those in need, praying and helping, or helping material that leave those in need. Now one of our temptations is when we encounter somebody need or somebody in trouble, we just want to give up. Or we don't even want to pray for somebody who needs our prayers.

But it's, we can contribute to the happiness of others by praying for others by fasting for others by giving charitably for others, this is level three.

[_04__]      [Level 4]    L-4 happiness takes it one step further. In other words, to recognize that our real happiness is in serving God, knowing him loving him being happy with him in this life and in the next,

As we get older, and as we get wiser. I think one of the things we are more comfortable with is that we desire honesty, integrity, authenticity, we don't like falsehood or “fake news”of any kind. This is because I dare say we desire what God wants. We want the truth. We want truthfulness for ourselves and for others.

We want true friendship, true love true charity, true forgiveness, true repentance, and we might pray for somebody needs to hear the truth from you. Well, maybe if the person can't hear the truth from you, you can pray that the other person will hear the truth from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit from God that the person will get what they need from God.

That they will heed the gospel instruction of our Blessed Mother and a Cana who said, who said to the servers who were not sure at Cana what to do. Remember, the wedding couple/caterer ran out of wine, they didn't know what to do. Jesus said, fill up with these large jars, these large containers with water, and they were being told converted. It was about making converting the ordinary water into extraordinary wine. In other words, to be happy. Mary invites them at the cube waiting at Cana to listen to her son who gave up his life for us, not just to get to level four, but also to get to heaven. And we reach heaven by heating her words, Do whatever he tells you. And when we do this, our souls will proclaim the greatness of the Lord. “Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us.”   [_END__]  

Water Rescue / Confession (2023-08-13, 19th Sunday, 11:30 am)

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Homily file for August 13, 2023  19^th Sunday

 ● 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a  ● Psalm ● Romans 9:1-5 ● Matthew 14:22-33 ●

 Title:   Water Rescue / Confession.

  [_01__]  Recently, I went to visit an old friend, long standing friend My friend had moved from his regular hometown location to a new home in an unfamiliar place, unfamiliar – not well known to him or to me. To my surprise, my friend never put any pressure on me or obligation for me to visit him.

Yet I felt obliged to go. And though it took me more than a year to finally get there, and finally this past week, I went and made the trip.

We had a nice visit for an hour or so what surprised me was that I felt so much better for having made the trip. I didn't expect I didn't expect to feel bad. But I also didn't expect to feel affirmed in this relationship.  What I also learned was that while my effort to visit my friend was a good thing – it did not make me in control of the outcome, the result.

This friendship which I had thought was permanently changed by distance by the new location by new circumstances. Evidently, the friendship at its core, there was a beauty of presence, there was God himself, that was the Holy Spirit.

God is in charge of the result. In the Gospel this Sunday, Peter has an idea about walking on water, Peter gets out of the boat to walk on water. But Peter thinks he's in charge of the outcome. He takes a few steps successfully and then loses his way plunges beneath the water, Peter is all wet. Peter is not in charge of the outcome, the results.

[_02__]   ISRAEL HISTORY

And there were earlier moments in history of Israel when the people walked on water or through water, while staying completely dry. The most famous of this is in the Book of the Exodus in Jewish Scriptures, the crossing of the Red Sea, with Moses leading the way, while the Israelite / Hebrew people “figure” they are about to be captured.  

They had been running as far and fast as they possibly could. They've arrived at the water – at the deep end of the Red Sea, and they're about to be captured by the Egyptian chariots and charioteers.  They do not know how to swim or cross. There's no ferry boat or any other boat.

And they're trying to escape from the Egyptian soldiers and chariots. Their only hope was for God to part to separate the waters, and they cross on dry land, Moses parts the waters. And this gospel is another reminder that Jesus is the new Moses, parting the waters enabling us to “stay dry”, if we follow Him.

 

[_03__]   Why does God rescue his people by helping them to cross the Red Sea?

Why does God rescue Peter who was about to drown? Sometimes we might imagine that our own chances of survival or rescue from a situation depends on our own merits on our own value or talents.

And maybe we read this “Coast Guard”-style rescue of Peter in the same way.  I.e., Jesus has to save Peter in order to make him a leader.

The last week, Jesus took Peter up the mountain of the Transfiguration with James and John. In other words, Peter, Jesus has a lot invested in Peter. Peter is the priority; he is Jesus’s 1^st round draft pick.

Jesus loves Peter, so we may say, Jesus has put a priority on Peter, therefore he saves them. The truth is, Jesus loves Peter no more or no less than he loves you or me. And we might also feel unsteady or feel that we are drowning at times.

In St. Paul's letter to the Romans, we read that God shows His love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8)

Jesus doesn't love you, because you have proved yourself to Him. He proves Himself to you by loving you, even offering you and me forgiveness for our sins.

 [_04.01__]    CONFESSION

The normal way that we receive mercy absolution for our sins, as Catholics is to go to confession, which I admit, is a sacrament that has fallen on hard times. You may think it has less relevance these days.

But, truly the confession has even more relevance these days. Because these days, when we fall or fail, we easily think at that the only way to recover from my failing or my failure from my sin is to prove myself by doing something excellent, equally good to make up for what was bad.  I.e., we are performance focused, achievement oriented.

[_04.02__]    But that's not the gospel. When Jesus urges us to be perfect to be virtuous, He's not asking us to just rack up more successes, or more successful goals to make up for all the penalties committed.

Or [BASEBALL]à need to hit more home runs to compensate for my strikeouts?

Those are sports rules – they are not the rules of salvation. Peter even gives into this foolish pride. Peter thinks this way.

[_04.03__]    OBJECTIONS

There are objections to go into confession. For example, why do we object to confession we say: [go 2 God direct] yes, you should go to God directly whether you repent or rejoice.

Yet, we go to confession for our sins for the same reason we go to the doctor for our health or the dentist for our teeth, in other words to receive a 1-on-1 affirmation and assurance of forgiveness. Also, confession has a stricter privacy and secrecy than any doctor-patient confidentiality. You're safe in the confessional!

Another reason we might not go to the conflict go to Confession is because we say well, the priest is a sinner too. He's got lots of sins. Have you ever said, “The priest – the padre – is worse than I am”

That could apply to me. It's possible. It's, but that's not a reason not to go to confession.

It's also not a reason not to go to the doctor or to the dentist, the dentist. The dentist might not have great teeth. The doctor might not be in great health, but the doctor can still help you.

[_05__]     In the 1^st reading today, Elijah, had come to a cave, hideout on a mountain, because the queen of Israel, the royal family in Israel, are so displeased with his religious preaching and they want to take his life. Elijah was being persecuted for doing what was right. He did something spectacular earlier and defeating the idols that were leading people away from God. Now Elijah is looking for affirmation of God's presence. But God is not speaking to Elijah in the earthquake or in the wind or in the fire. He's speaking to him in a tiny whispering sound, a still small voice, going to confession to receive our sins is the way for us to hear God's voice to know that we are forgiven and to focus more closely on God's voice. He is inviting us to come to Him.  

[_end__] 

Transfiguration (2023-08-06)

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Homily for August 6, 2023  Transfiguration (Year A)

 ● Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14  ● Psalm 97 ● 2 Peter 1:16-19 ● Matthew 17:1-9 ●

 [_00-a__]   Several years ago, my brothers, my sister, my father and I planned a surprise birthday party for my mother.

          And, at the moment the celebration started, as my mother – the guest of honor – walked through the door – she really had no idea that she was going to her own birthday party.

          So, the surprise caught her “off guard” but in a good way and this enabled everyone to share the moment.

[_00-b__]   Such a birthday party is one example of a [pause] or [retreat] we might make from everyday life – in order to celebrate, rejoice, withdraw and be with our most intimate and long-standing friends [that Jesus is not just withdrawing to the mountain to be with his BFF / pals , but to give himself away to the whole world]

 

[_00-c__]    While I think back nostalgically to our surprise birthday party and to everyone who was there, it is still only 1 moment in time, in a longer lifespan.

          It is good to recall things that have taken place in the past, to remember where we have come from, so as to give thanks, give gratitude to God for the gift of our lives.

          Even, I daresay to give thanks for the gift of struggles we have endured – or are maybe enduring right now.

[_00-d__]  St. Augustine, who lived around the year 400 and at the time of the decline of the Roman Empire, was witnessing in his own day a decline in religious observance and a discussion about where God is for people who seem to ignore Him.

          It might be a discussion you have considered having.

          One of the reasons that we might turn away from – or feel indifferent towards – God or faith in religion is not that we are only attached to material things.

          Yes, materialism can be an obstacle.

          But, even if you are materially wealthy or comfortable, do you not also find a place for God?

          C.S. Lewis said this about our view of God, that we sometimes view God the way that an Air Force pilots regard their parachutes. That is, they go to great altitudes with their parachutes, but regard them as only for emergencies and hope they never have to use them. (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, p. 94)

          St. Augustine reminded us that pain, discomfort, inconvenience can sometimes be an opportunity to rebuild or to take inventory. Augustine warned us not to live our lives only for material things. This is not simply because material things are fragile and fade. But they also can leave us stuck in the past and unable to live in the present. Augustine wrote, “God wants to give us something, but cannot because our hands are full. There’s nowhere for him to put it.”  (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, p. 94)

[_01__]       Recently, the TV sports cable channel – ESPN – held what is called their annual ESPY awards. This year, there was an unusual recipient and honoree. That is, the award did not go to specific player or team or coach but was given to the “sideline / locker room” trainers, physical conditioning and training staff of the NFL football Buffalo Bills.

          Last season, these trainers and physical conditioners jumped into action when a player named Damar Hamlin fell to the ground and suffered cardiac arrest. Due to the swift action of his trainers, he was revived and stabilized and sent to the hospital where he later made a full recovery.

          It was an example – in national news – one person’s life was worth more than their successes, MVP’s, endorsements.  What was also unprecedented was that after the injury, the game was not resumed, but was simply cancelled and was never re-played.

          Sometimes, it takes such an interruption to gain our attention

          (By the way, a similar thing could be said about the son of LeBron James. Both LeBron and his son “Bronny” are basketball players. Bronny recently collapsed at a practice. You and I – no matter how physically fit we are – are not guaranteed a life span longer than the current moment).

[_02__]   And, this is the message to Peter, especially, who is on the mountain of the Transfiguration [TSFG] with Jesus.

          This event, TSFG, takes place about halfway (??? Chronology??) through Jesus’ ministry.

          One chapter earlier, a few days earlier, Jesus had asked his disciples, “who do people say that I am?” and “who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:__)

          Peter, as “star student” among all the disciples, responds with “You are the Chirst the Son of the Living God”  (Matthew 16:__)

 

          And, Peter wants to stop right there. But, Jesus does not stop right there, but continues telling Peter that he must suffer and die.

          Peter cannot accept this yet.

          Even on the mountain of the TSFG, is there not a sign of Peter’s stubborn refusal?

          That is, when Peter wakes up from his little nap, Peter sees Jesus’ glorified in dazzling white and immediately thinks that this is Jesus’ final and ultimate triumph.

Therefore, Peter wants to build the tents – as monuments for this Hall-of-Fame guest list – Jesus, Moses, Elijah.

But, the TSFG is not an awards show or trophy presentation like the Oscars or Wimbledon tennis.

The TSFG is not even supposed to be “televised” / “livestreamed” / or “publicized” right now.

Jesus urges secrecy about this moment of glory because Jesus does not want the TSFG to call premature attention to himself.  Jesus has more work to do with the disciples before he will be arrested and complete his Passion, Death and Resurrection.

 [_03__]    Are you in the midst of celebration – or suffering – or somewhere in between?

          Sometimes, at such moments, we want to stop or “give up”, but Jesus is urging us – with his example and encouragement – to trust in his word and recall that the best is yet to come.

 

[_04__]   As I recall my mother’s – or “Grandma’s birthday party” because several of her grandchildren were there, I call what one grandchild said, having thoroughly enjoyed herself and settling herself in the car afterwards, this grandchild said:  “This is the best day of my entire life.”

          It was nice that “Grandma” heard this.

         

[_05__]   And, that’s how Peter feels – emotionally, spiritually – for a while seeing the dazzling white of Jesus in his glory.

          Does it get any better than this?

          Peter does not think so, right now.

          But the message to Peter and all of us is not focus on moments in the past, or on monuments (tents) we did not build or should have built, but to remember that Jesus has a method (plan) for our lives.

[echo here that Jesus is not just withdrawing to the mountain to be with his buds/peeps, but to give himself away to the whole world, to die for you.]

We may not always comprehend his plan, but we are called by God the Father’s voice:

“This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”

It will be the best day of our lives when we do this!   [_END__]