Triumph of the Cross (2025-09-14)

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 [v.11]  Homily for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

 1. The Cross: From Shame to Glory

September 14 is the Feast of the Exaltation—or the Triumph—of the Cross.

Pope John Paul II once explained that the Cross, where Jesus was crucified, was once a sign of torture and shame. But through Christ it has become the sign of eternal life, of resurrection and new life. We hear this echoed in today’s Gospel Acclamation, which borrows from the Stations of the Cross: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.”

St. Paul proclaims the same truth in our 2^nd reading from Philippians, chapter 2: “Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him.”

The Cross, then, predicts the Resurrection. Yet at first even Jesus’s closest followers could not see it. On the original Good Friday, they saw only loss, not victory.

Take James and John, for example. When Jesus spoke of his coming passion, they were not thinking about sharing in the Cross. They wanted seats of honor—one at his right and one at his left. I recognize myself there too. Often I want to know, “What do I get in return for this trial?” I want the reward guaranteed before I am willing to carry the burden. In that sense, I too can be fragile and weak.

Even Nicodemus, the Pharisee who sought Jesus at night, hesitated to go public with his faith. He was afraid of being outnumbered. Yet Nicodemus, still searching, reminds us of many teachers and mentors today who struggle to understand what they must also pass on to others. In that sense, he can be called a kind of patron saint of teachers.

But here lies the heart of the Gospel: the Cross is not about status, comfort, or safety. It is about God’s merciful love. As John 3:16 tells us:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

2. A World in Need of Rescue

The Cross also shows us that suffering and death were never part of God’s original plan. They entered the world through sin, disrupting the harmony of creation. Death is not natural—it is the rupture of body and soul. We grieve because we feel this loss so deeply.

But the Cross shows us something greater: while sin divides, God restores. Christ takes on our suffering to save us.

An image of this comes from Jon Krakauer’s book Into Thin Air, about the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. Over time, even Everest had been commercialized. Teams sold “trips to the top,” even to climbers with little preparation. It was as if the world’s highest mountain itself had been put up for sale. One promoter even said, “We built a yellow brick road to the summit.”

But Everest was no theme park. When a violent storm struck, the mountain was unforgiving, and many perished. Yet in the midst of crisis, some climbers risked their own lives to save others, choosing self-sacrifice over self-preservation. At one point, a helicopter flew higher to a very high altitude to pick up an injured climber —a rescue both costly and dangerous. That daring moment gives us a glimpse of the Cross.

Just as climbers must prepare to be lifted up the mountain, we too must prepare our hearts to be lifted up by Christ. And Christ’s rescue goes far deeper than a mountain storm. It is God’s answer to sin, to suffering, to death itself.

The Church’s teaching on suffering affirms this truth: “The Cross shows us that God’s love is stronger than death, and by uniting ourselves to Jesus, our suffering does not have to defeat us in the end.”

 

3. Living the Triumph of the Cross

If we look at the news or our world today, it can often feel as though evil outnumbers the good. Violence, hatred, division—it can seem overwhelming. But the Cross proclaims otherwise.

Jesus teaches us that hatred cannot drive out hatred; only love and mercy can. This is why we are called to witness the Cross not merely by wearing it, but by living it:

·        love not only our neighbors, but even our enemies,

·        pray for our leaders, our mentors, and our teachers—as Nicodemus himself once struggled to do,

·        proclaim Christ not by power or prestige, but by mercy and truth and humility

St. John Henry Newman once asked why the Risen Lord revealed himself only to a few chosen witnesses. (Sermon: “Witnesses of the Resurrection”)

Why not to the whole city of Jerusalem, or to all of the capital city Rome? His answer was that God works through the faithful few. Great disasters may be caused by the wrongdoing of many, but true and lasting change usually begins with a small group of people, trained and faithful, who carry the Cross together.

And so we, too, are called to be those witnesses. Every time we make the sign of the Cross—on our minds, our lips, our hearts—we proclaim that salvation is not our work alone, but God working through us. We proclaim that our sins were nailed to that Cross, and that we are raised up with Christ.

 Closing 

May the sign of the Cross remind us daily that Christ has transformed death into life, despair into hope, and hatred into mercy. May the words of the Gospel and the mystery of the Cross be always on our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.

Surrender. (2025-09-07, Sunday - 22)

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[v.04]  2025-09-07, 23^rd Sunday  ●● Wisdom 9:13-18b ●● Psalm ●● Philemon 9-10, 12-17 ●● Luke 14:25-33

Homily on Luke 14:25–33

Surrender for True Productivity

Intro: The Living Catch

Jesus’ makes a startling statement that “whoever does not hate father and mother, wife and children … cannot be my disciple” is a purposeful hyperbole.

          By using the harsh term hate—a word we even forbid our children to utter—He does not demand genuine animosity, but a radical re‑ordering of our loves, placing God’s love above all earthly ties. This radical love calls us to renounce our possessions and to carry the cross, counting the true cost of discipleship as one would plan a tower or a war, lest we begin a journey we cannot finish1. In doing so we accept the risk and danger that accompany a wholehearted commitment to the Kingdom.

 

Here's just an example of everyday danger that people will undertake which I would like to connect to the Gospel.

Some of you may recall the reality TV / television show  The Deadliest Catch. It followed Alaskan fishing boats out into treacherous waters, where fishermen risked their lives for very valuable and profitable king crab.

Years ago, I watched a documentary like this and, to my surprise, saw two of my college classmates appear on screen. They weren’t out on the boats themselves—they didn’t have the experience, or maybe they were more prudent. Instead, they worked in a fish processing plant on shore. They still earned a wage, but they didn’t face the storms of the sea.

That image can help us hear today’s Gospel. Following Christ cannot mean staying safely on the shore. At some point discipleship calls us into deep waters where we are not in control. Think of Peter casting his nets at Jesus’ command—hauling in not the “deadliest catch” but the **living catch**. Peter surrendered his own plans and trusted the word of Christ.

And that is what Jesus is telling us today. If you want to follow me, you cannot cling to your own control—whether that’s possessions, family ties, or even your own life. You must surrender to my call, trusting that I will give you the living catch you need.

 

Section 1 – Work, Rest, and Love as Surrender

Father Mike Schmitz, a popular Catholic podcaster from Minnesota, once summed up our human vocation in three words: labor, leisure, and love.

·       We are made for labor—for meaningful work, as in the Garden of Eden where Adam was placed “to till and keep.”

·       leisure—not just relaxation, but holy rest, Sabbath, time with God and others.

·       And above all, we are made for love—the reason we work and the reason we rest.

The problem is that we often separate these things. We work for the paycheck, then collapse into leisure as escape. But in the Gospel, work and rest are both surrendered to love. Carrying the cross is real work—but it is fruitful work, because it is rooted in love. Even our rest is fruitful, when it opens us to God and to one another.

 

Section 2 – Amateurs for Christ

Here a little lesson in language that helped me – a reminder of what the word “amateur” means. The word amateur comes from the Latin *amor*, meaning “love.” Today it usually means “not professional,” maybe even substandard. But originally an amateur was someone who did something simply out of love.

 

In the early Olympics, athletes competed not for contracts or endorsements, but for the sheer love of the sport. They were amateurs.

That is discipleship. We are not “professional Christians,” clocking in hours of prayer or piling up good works like a résumé. We are amateurs in the deepest sense: followers of Christ because we love Him.

So when Jesus says, “Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple,” He is not inviting us to drudgery, but to love. To live as amateurs of the Gospel—willing to give everything because love compels us.

 

Section 3 – Counting the Cost

Jesus gives a parables to underline the seriousness of this call. A builder estimates the cost before laying a foundation. The builder counts the cost before committing.

 

In other words, discipleship is not a hobby or a side job. It is an all-in commitment. Like casting the net in deep water, we cannot control the outcome, but we must surrender to the process.

 

Even in our closest relationships, this is true. A marriage cannot be 50/50—it has to be 100/100. Friendship, parenthood, family life—these are not places of effortless rest, but arenas of love that demand investment. When we surrender to that call, when we keep giving even when it costs, love deepens. That is Gospel productivity: not efficiency, but fruitfulness.

 

Section 3A – Conversion Inside and Out

Recently, I had an experience that made this point for me. I took my car to the car wash. After the outside had been washed and scrubbed, I eagerly got out so the workers could vacuum and clean the inside. At the same time, I noticed another driver. He stayed put, letting only the outside of his car be cleaned.

 

In that moment, I felt a little proud of myself for surrendering to the “work” of having my car cleaned inside and out. But then it struck me: this was only a car. What about my own life? Am I willing to do the harder work of letting Christ clean me inside and out? Am I willing to undergo the examination of conscience, the renunciation of pride, of comforts, of the desire for popularity or esteem?

 

True conversion is not cosmetic. It is surrender—allowing Christ to reach the hidden corners of the heart.

 

Section 4 – Seasons of Work and Rest

We feel this truth in the rhythm of the seasons. Summer is a time of rest, refreshment, leisure. Autumn brings harvest, planning, labor. Spiritually, we need both.

 

There is a danger if we regard our relationships, our faith, even our prayer, only as places to rest and relax. True prayer sometimes feels like work. True work sometimes opens into rest. Both are meant to flow together.

 

When we sanctify our labor, we see our work not just as wages but as participation in God’s creation. When we sanctify our leisure, we rest not just to escape, but to reconnect with God and loved ones. And when we sanctify our love, everything—work, rest, even sacrifice—becomes an offering to Christ.

 Conclusion – The Surrender that Makes Us Fruitful

 Jesus is not looking for professionals. He is looking for lovers—for amateurs willing to surrender everything.

 The paradox of the Gospel is that surrender is what makes us truly productive. Not productive in the world’s sense of efficiency and output, but in the Kingdom’s sense of fruitfulness and eternal life.  As we move from summer into autumn, let us recommit not just to working harder, but to surrendering more deeply. To labor, to rest, and to love as amateurs of Christ—trusting that when we cast our nets at His word, He will always give us the living catch we need.

Humility. Annunciation, August 27 (2025-08-31)

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2025-08-31, 22^nd Sunday  ●● Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29, ●● Psalm 68 ●● Hebrews 12:18-19, 22;24a ●● Luke 14:1, 7-14

1. Gospel to homily

After the Gospel is read at Mass, the priest or deacon prays silently: “Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.”  It’s a reminder that these words are not just stories from long ago. They are alive, meant to wake us up, to cleanse us, to draw us closer to Christ and to remind us of being humble listeners.

And in Gospel we hear Jesus’ words: “Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

 2. The Wake-Up Call

We all know how hard it can be to wake up in the morning. The alarm rings, but we’re tired, overwhelmed, wishing the day could wait.

Jesus speaks right into that feeling: “Stay awake.” He doesn’t say this to frighten us. He says it as a gentle reminder: Live each day as a gift. Don’t postpone love. Be ready—because every day is a chance to meet Him.

 

3. Humility Before God and One Another

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus also tells us: “When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place.”

 

This is His way of teaching humility. Not false humility that puts us down, but true humility—remembering who we are before God: His children, completely dependent on His mercy.

 

Saint John Chrysostom said: “Look not at the place of honor, but at the need of the other.” This is humility: being awake to those around us, especially those who suffer.

 

4. A Community in Grief

And this week, suffering is not far away. Our hearts are heavy with grief after the tragic shooting at Annunciation School in Minneapolis.

Children, teachers, and families—our brothers and sisters in faith—have endured what no community should ever have to face.

There are no easy words when parents grieve their children, when the young carry wounds in body and spirit, when a school filled with life and learning is shaken by violence.

In moments like this, humility simply means kneeling before God together. We do not pretend to have all the answers. Instead, we weep with those who weep, we pray for those who have died, and we hold close those who are injured or afraid.

 

5. God’s Presence in Our Sorrow

Naturally, logically, we ask also how could such evil be permitted – allowed – by God?

Saint Augustine once said that evil is not a thing God created—it is the absence of the good that should be there. Violence, hatred, cruelty—these are not of God.

 

But even in such darkness, God does not abandon His children. Christ Himself took the lowest place—on the Cross. And from that place of suffering, He showed us that love is stronger than death.

 

Here is where Augustine’s reflection on love helps us. Parents don’t love their children because of what they accomplish or produce. A child is loved simply because they are. Their very existence is a gift.

 

That is why parents who lose a child grieve not only the present, but also the future—the birthdays never celebrated, the graduations never reached, the life they had only begun to know. It feels like not just one story, but an unfinished story, has been torn away.

 

And yet—this fierce love of a parent for a child points us to God’s love for us. God loves us, not for our achievements, but simply because we are His. In that love, He holds close the children taken too soon, and He does not let them go.

 

6. Living Humility and Hope

So how do we move forward in faith? Jesus gives us a path:

1. Take the lower seat. In humility, admit our need for God, and let Him be the one to lift us up.

2. Serve the hurting. Like the banquet host who welcomed the poor and the blind, we are called to stand with the grieving, the wounded, the forgotten.

3. Stay awake in prayer. Every time we pray for the dead and the injured, we are awake to God’s love, even in a broken world.

7. Closing Consolation

Jesus assures us: *“Blessed is the servant whom the master finds faithful when he comes”* (Matt 24:46). And again: *“All who humble themselves will be exalted”* (Luke 14:11).

 

That is our hope. Humility and faithfulness open our hearts to the God who heals, who lifts up the lowly, and who promises that death does not have the last word.

 So today, as we remember the victims and families of Annunciation School, let us entrust them to the God of mercy. And let us also ask for the grace to live humbly and lovingly, awake to His presence.

8. Final Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are close to the brokenhearted.  Receive into Your arms the children and adults who died.

Bring healing to the injured, and comfort to parents, families, and teachers who mourn.  

Grant us the humility to take the lowest seat, the vigilance to stay awake in faith, and the grace to serve one another with love.

May Your peace, which the world cannot give, guard our hearts today and always. Amen.

Fire (2025-08-17, Sunday-20)

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Homily 2025-08-17, 20^th Sunday ●● Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10    ●●      ●●    Psalm 40 ●● Hebrews 12:1-4●● + Luke 12:49-53 ●●

Is there not something surprising -  shocking - in Jesus’ words today: *“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already blazing. Do you think I have come to bring peace? No, but rather division.”*

At first this shakes us up. Isn’t Jesus a “nice guy”, or officially à Prince of Peace? Lamb of God? Isn’t he supposed to bring harmony, not division? The answer lies in what he means by this “fire.”

The Fire of God’s Spirit

Pope Francis once described this fire as the Spirit of God, burning with power to purify and transform. Pope Benedict pointed to the burning bush Moses saw: aflame, yet not consumed (Book of Exodus). God’s fire is not destructive but cleansing: it burns away what is false so that what is true can shine.

          The early Church Fathers saw in this fire God’s judgment and transformative power. And we see it most clearly in the Paschal Mystery: Christ’s death and resurrection, where the fire of self-giving love conquers sin and death forever.

This is no cozy campfire. It is like a refiner’s fire for precious metals, burning away selfishness, pride, and sin, until only what is pure remains for God.

 

Why Does Fire Divide?

If God’s fire is so good, why does it bring division? Because when we accept Christ without compromise, it sometimes clashes with the values of the world — even within our own families.

Jesus says, *“From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.”* Faithful discipleship can strain relationships: who makes Sunday worship a priority, how children are raised, how we forgive, how we show mercy.

The challenge is personal, too. Following Jesus means asking ourselves: *What do I really believe? Who do I really trust?* (cf. Jer 17:7).

 

Modern Witness: Dr. George Lombardi

Jesus warns us that following him may mean standing apart, even alone. That is not just ancient history — it happens today.

Years ago, Dr. George Lombardi, a young infectious disease doctor in New York, was suddenly summoned to India to care for Mother Teresa, gravely ill at the time. Prestigious doctors believed she had malaria, but Lombardi was convinced the real problem was her failing pacemaker.

The disagreement was sharp; some doctors walked away, leaving him under enormous pressure. Mother Teresa herself cautioned him not to alienate her local physicians. Yet Lombardi acted on his conviction, replacing the pacemaker — and he was right. Mother Teresa survived and lived 8 more years.

Afterward, Lombardi became a physician to her Missionaries of Charity whenever they came to New York.

What sustained him was love: devotion to his patient and selfless concern that cut through pride and fear. He also remembered turning on the TV at night in his hotel room—only to find that he himself was the evening news, under global scrutiny.

That is the fire Jesus speaks of: a love that puts the other first, even when it costs something, even when it means standing alone.

Choosing Christ’s Fire in Daily Life

We may not face the global scrutiny of TV cameras, but all of us know the weight of division or pressure — at home, at work, in our community. The Gospel calls us not to win arguments, but to serve the person in front of us.

Often this looks very ordinary: preparing a meal, caring for a neighbor, doing chores not just to “get them done” but out of love. That is discipleship in small things.

Jesus never said following him was about “being nice.” He said it meant letting the Spirit’s fire burn away fear, pride, and resentment. Sometimes that means hard choices others don’t understand — choosing truth, mercy, or fidelity in a culture that prefers compromise.

True discipleship is courage when it would be easier to shrink back. It is patience to forgive when it would be easier to stay angry (cf. Col 3:13). It is humility to let the Spirit give us words when we don’t know what to say (cf. Lk 12:12).

 

A Further Challenge: The Purity of Heaven

But there is also a further challenge. Revelation tells us: *“Nothing unclean shall enter \[heaven]”* (Rev 21:27). The New Jerusalem, the holy city, will be a place of perfect purity, where no sin or evil can enter.

Each time we kneel in the confessional and say, Bless me Father, for I have sinned, we invite the fire of Christ to burn away what is unclean. Repentance, conversion, and sacramental forgiveness make us ready for heaven.

That reminds us that the fire of Christ is not only for courage in this world — it is also to prepare us for eternal life. If God’s Kingdom is a place of holiness, then we are called even now to let go of what defiles: impurity, resentment, vengeance, and sin.

Each time we pray, *“forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,”* we invite God’s fire to purify us, so that we may be made ready for heaven.

Conclusion    Jesus longs for this fire to be blazing. It is already lit in the hearts of the saints, and in the hearts of ordinary disciples like you and me. Our task is to keep it burning.

So this week, let’s ask:

Where do I need Christ’s fire to burn away fear or selfishness?

Where do I need courage to stand for truth, even if it causes division?

Who do I need to forgive, so that God’s Spirit can move more freely in my heart?

This fire is meant to spread, like a holy wildfire. May Christ’s Spirit consume us so completely that -- when you - or someone on your own journey - is in a dark place ---   God’s brightness and light may shine.

[Click here for 17 minute video of Dr. Lombardi telling of his 10 days in India].

Assumption (2015-08-15)

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 Homily for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—a dogma of our Catholic faith: that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken, body and soul, into heaven.

 Our Orthodox brothers and sisters observe this same mystery on August 15 but call it the *Dormition of Mary*. “Dormition” comes from the Latin and Romance languages meaning “to fall asleep.” They describe Mary’s passing as falling asleep in the Lord.

 

Whether we speak of Assumption or Dormition, the truth is the same: Mary now dwells fully with her Son. As Jesus promised in the Gospel of John, *“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places… I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be.”*

 

This is not about some great celestial dormitory in the clouds. Heaven is not primarily a place—it is a relationship with God. In Scripture, when Mary and Joseph searched for a room at the inn in Bethlehem before Jesus was born, they were not seeking just a physical space, but a place where God’s promise could enter human life. The Assumption reminds us: our destiny is not to float away into the clouds, but to live forever in communion with God—a communion that can begin even now.

 

### Body and Soul: A Unity

Pope Benedict XVI offered a touching reflection on death. Many of us were taught that death happens when the soul leaves the body—as though the soul is a child rushing out of a classroom, eager for freedom. But Benedict reverses the image: it is not the soul fleeing the body; rather, it is the body that can no longer sustain the soul. The soul, still living, must move on.

 

This perspective reminds us that from our conception, God has given us a unity of body and soul that is never meant to be fragmented. In this life, the body may grow weak, but the soul remains alive—awaiting reunion with the body in the resurrection at the end of time.

 

### True Health and Wholeness

We often measure well-being by physical traits: our appearance, our sleep patterns, diet, exercise, and medicine. These matter, but they are not the deepest measure. We are made whole by love, forgiveness, and virtue—by refusing to treat others as objects, by seeking and granting forgiveness, by giving and receiving love. These choices shape our true health far more than any medical chart can record, and they prepare us for eternal life.

 

### A Glimpse of the End

The circumstances of our earthly death will be different for each of us—different ages, conditions, and health profiles. Sometimes, even in weakness, God grants flashes of clarity.

 

I saw this in a recent conversation with my mother. She has trouble remembering certain things, yet the other day I told her, “Today would have been Grandpa’s birthday. He would be 119.” Without missing a beat, she said, “That’s old.” I reminded her he lived to be 101, and instantly she replied, “So he’s been dead 18 years.” She did the math perfectly—without a calculator. Even with memory struggles, she grasped the moment.

 

We all hope for a long, fruitful life, perhaps to see our children’s children. But whether long or short, our lives end in one great meeting with God—the final judgment.

### The Transformative Nature of Death

 

Pope Benedict XVI wrote that death is a breaking—not to destroy us, but to form something new. It is like a cocoon breaking so a butterfly can emerge. For Christians, life is not a march toward death, but a daily rising toward new life.

 

Our humiliations, difficulties, and rejections—if endured in Christ—become steps toward transformation. Even the good things we achieve are meant to be offered back to God as part of our preparation for eternity.

 

Even the saints struggled to embrace this. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, though holy and close to death, once said, “Never will I learn to die.” And Jesus Himself, in His Passion, prayed, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not my will but yours be done.” In His humanity, He faced death with both fear and trust.

 

### Mary’s Witness

In the Assumption, Mary shows us what awaits those who love God. She is the first to share fully in her Son’s victory over death, body and soul united forever in His presence. Her destiny is our hope.

 

And so today we ask:

• How can we see both our humiliations and our victories as part of rising to new life?

• How can we live now in a way that honors the unity of body and soul?

• How can Mary’s Assumption draw us closer to her Son, who desires us to be where He is?

 

Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us—now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Mobility, Humility, Fidelity (2025-08-10, 19th Sunday)

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 Homily 2025-08-10, 19^th Sunday ●● Wisdom 18:6-9 ●●Psalm 33 ●● Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19  ●● Luke 12:32-48 ●●

 Mobility, Humility, Fidelity – The Habits of Readiness

In today's Gospel, our Lord describes what it means to be entrusted with something.

          Our Lord also describes and prescribes the habits and mindset required to be part of His kingdom—His community, His Church. I believe these 3 habits, which I call mobility, humility, and fidelity, are not just ideals for “church/religion”  and heaven someday, but the pattern for living the best life we can *right now*.

These are the qualities that shape strong families, healthy communities, and faithful disciples. I’ve been blessed to learn them from leaders, teachers, --and from you, our parishioners, and other priests—and I’ll admit, I’m still learning how to live them fully myself.

And they’re not just for those with titles or offices. Every one of you is a leader in some way—in your home, your workplace, your friendships, and here in our parish.

The Call to “Lead Up"

One thing I hope we never lose at Lourdes is the ability to “lead up”, to exercise leadership from every level upward. Leadership isn't just a top down endeavor.

[[ And of course, you know this and young people know this very well  à that we don't trust leaders just because they have a title, just because they have an office or just because they dress a certain way, we trust them because of their authenticity and their integrity. ]]

Leadership also happens when people share information, ideas, and needs with those entrusted with guiding the community.

Early in my priesthood, a generous donor approached me, wanting to help a needy family in the parish. I didn’t know who to connect him with until a trusted parishioner pointed me in the right direction. That family received help—but it only happened because I, the leader, was also willing to be led in a particular direction.

That’s part of the picture Jesus paints in His parable: a master returns from a wedding and does the unexpected—He serves His servants. True leadership in God’s kingdom doesn’t cling to power; it moves quickly to act, to serve, and to care. That brings us to the first habit.

 

1. Mobility – Being Ready to Respond

Jesus tells us to be like servants who await their master’s return—alert, awake, ready to move.

A prominent YouTube podcaster and Pastor Craig Groeschel once described this in practical terms: *be a no-snooze person.* A University of Notre Dame study found that 57% of people hit the snooze. I am often among the 57% who hit the snooze.

But, you don't need a university study to know that if you wake up just one hour earlier each day for a year, you gain 365 extra hours—about 15 full days of additional time. Think of what you could do with that: 15 more days of prayer, more rest, more service. 15 more vacation days!

St. Josemaría Escrivá called this “the heroic minute”—getting up right away and beginning the day with purpose. In Gethsemane, Jesus urged His disciples not to fall asleep but to watch and pray.

I recognize that not everyone is a morning person, yet being intentional early in the day can help to shape our day, week, and life. (Jesus also woke up his disciples from actual sleep in the Garden of Gethsemane at his Passion!)

Mobility means readiness: in our spiritual lives, our family responsibilities, and our service to others. It’s the ability to move when the call comes, not later, not when it’s convenient.

And mobility naturally leads to the second habit—because if we are ready to act, we must also be ready to act for the sake of others.

 

2. Humility – Putting Others First

Humility isn’t just avoiding self-praise. It’s choosing, in big and small ways, to place someone else before ourselves.

[[What is “being humble”? Well, humility does involve, for example, not boasting about our accomplishments. Sense. But humility is not just something we practice to gain popularity so that people will not know about our accomplishments. Humility is about serving others. ]]

Think of the ritual of the sacrament of baptism. The very first question asked of the parents is not, “Do you believe in God?” but, “What name do you give your child?” Even before declaring their own faith, the parents name the child—putting that new life first, by name.

Leadership of any kind—whether you are a parent, a spouse, a teacher, or a volunteer—always tempts us to make things revolve around ourselves. I know I can fall into that trap.

 

 

[[We tend to make things revolve around ourselves. The trajectory of leadership is me.  All roads lead to me, not to Rome. I've experienced this myself, but Jesus shows us another way. ]]

In the parable, the master himself serves his servants. In the Gospel, the Son of God kneels to wash His disciples’ feet.

Humility is not weakness. It’s strength directed toward someone else’s good. And humility prepares the ground for the third habit—because to keep putting others first, we need staying power.

 

3. Fidelity – Staying Faithful Through Failure

Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “God does not call us to be successful; He calls us to be faithful.”

Fidelity means staying committed to what is right—even when the results are invisible, even when we stumble along the way. In fact, failure is not the enemy of fidelity. Failure is the friend of fidelity.  Failure means we are trying, risking, and growing - and encouraging others to do the same.

 

[[The Divine Mercy Prayer reflects this. Have mercy on us and on the whole world. Have mercy on my trespasses. Have mercy on the trespasses against me.]]

 

Some of my greatest gratitude is for mentors who gave me room to make mistakes, but also the encouragement to try again. Each of us is a work in progress in God’s hands. Fidelity keeps us showing up, day after day, even when we’re tired, even when the fruit isn’t obvious.

Bringing It Together

Mobility keeps us alert and ready. Humility ensures we move for the sake of others, not just ourselves. Fidelity keeps us moving and serving even when the road is hard.

This is what the Master in the Gospel models: He returns unexpectedly, not to be served, but to serve. This is what our parish can model for the world—a place where people respond quickly to God’s call, put others first, and keep showing up in faith.

My hope and prayer is that Our Lady of Lourdes will be this type of community:

·       Where we respond without delay when God prompts us.

 

·       Where we choose the good of another over our own comfort.

·       Where we remain faithful, knowing God’s plan for us is merciful and good.

 

That plan includes FIDELITY.

It is a profession of in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

END OF HOMILY