Horizontal.Vertical. Christ the King (2023-11-26)

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 Nov.  26, 2023   (Christ the King)   Gospel:  Matthew 25:31-46

Title: Horizontal/Vertical. Jesus Christ the King.

 [__01__] Once upon a time, I was looking out horizontally at the parking lot. I was not thinking about the asphalt paving of the parking lot. I'm not going back to that project!

I was looking out horizontally at the parking lot a few years ago and I received a phone call so unexpected that I remember what I was looking at, the direction I was facing, that it was about 5 pm in the afternoon, mid August. I was being told in the phone call of the tragic passing the death of my father's cousin, Richie. Over the prior months and years, Richie had been caring for his ailing wife, and he had been under immense stress and anxiety.

 

 

It was evident to his immediate family that Richie was very anxious and they were really trying to help him. Amid this great crisis, Richie had taken his own life, committed suicide.

          Due to the circumstances, there also had to be a police investigation. While I remembered where I was when I got the call, others in our family recalled exactly where they were – several heard simultaneously from the television, at 4pm on NBC when Richie’s name suddenly appeared on NewsChannel4.  It was all very public.

[__02__] Richie and I did not see each other very often. But we had met at family events over the years when he would come from NY to NJ or I would go to New York for significant family moments. I remember well, his outgoing and friendly style, how he could read the crowd, or read a situation, given that he was in the restaurant and hospitality business, his forte.

          At the time that I finished my seminary studies and was ordained a priest, he and his wife and other family members came to a Mass and celebration in church with many other family and friends whom I had not seen in a long time.  He sensed that I might not remember everyone instantly in this crowded room and that we had not been together for several years and took the time to re- identify himself clearly, “I’m Richie, the nice one”.  His introduction was humorous and practical- helps me to remember him and exactly what part of the room he was in when he said this.           [*** PAUSE  ***]

          The month of November – of All Souls – and this Gospel reminds us to pray for our own future salvation and to pray for those who have died.

I remember a relative coming up to me and asking me - point blank - is Richie in heaven? For the person who was no longer with us, we have to remember it

is never too late to petition God --- through our praying, fasting, and sacrificing - for the eternal rest and salvation of someone who has died. For the person is no longer on a clock or calendar or even in a “place”, but rather in eternity.

And in the case of suicide, we read in the Catholic Catechism,

[Catechism of CC:

2282 …Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.

2283 We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.]

[__03__]   God knows what is in our hearts better than we do.

          And, the Fatima prayer of the Rosary is an excellent petitions for ourselves and for others:

·       “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy. ”

We read and hear of people dying suddenly all the time.  Remember also this prayer from the Divine Mercy chaplet:

·       “For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

This Sunday’s Gospel of Matthew 25 reminds us of our own need for repentance.

When I first received the phone call about Richie, I remember looking out horizontally at the parking lot. I could have / should have been looking up vertically, toward God.

I am tempted all the time to look around horizontally to look around horizontally at other people, to compare myself to everyone around me to compare myself to others. And to see that in my phone to see that in my thoughts and in my words and what I have done and what I have failed to do. I for example, waste time worrying about what other people think of me or I wait A time on the computer or on my phone, I'm tempted to satisfy only my physical desires to do what's popular. I justify this because I see, hey, that's what everybody else is doing.

In this regard, I “take after not” Jesus but the Pharisee who compares himself to the tax collector. The Pharisee thinks/says, “Hey, I look pretty good compared to everyone else.”

 I also look horizontally at others when I am called to look vertically toward God.

The Gospel reminds of the need for both a horizontal and vertical view.  This Gospel is about the works of mercy which we might be tempted to ignore – because there are oh so many people – horizontally in ouir view  on earth - who are physically hungry, thirsty, naked, imprisoned.

The Gospel invites not simply to look horizontally at who is around us but also vertically at who is above me and God who is calling all of us to a higher road.

We are called to pray, for example, for the intercession of our Blessed Mother for Our Lady of Lourdes, for those those who are sick,

          The Gospel also reminds that God we need God’s help because of what we do and what we fail to do.

          For this we also the sacrament of confession, penance, reconciliation so that we might meet God with a clean heart. As Catholics, we are obligated to go to Confession at least once a year, but I recommend going  - and go myself – at least once a month, so that I am also aware of what I “do and fail to do.”

          Jesus reminds us, his followers, to be prepared for his eventual return, for Judgment  Day and for his call which may arrive at a moment we do  not expect.

I myself can spend a lot of time worrying about the praise of others – HORIZONTALLY ---  rather than the praise of God – VERTICALLY.        We come to church for a true horizontal view our neighbors and relationships and also vertical view of Jesus himself who may arrive with a call or message we did not expect. He wishes us to be ready whether we are at the beginning, the middle or the end of our lives.   [end] 

We Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Thanksgiving, 2023)

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 Thanksgiving Day 2023

This homily mentions Damian of Molokai. There is an excellent 1999 Hollywood of his life – it’s available free on YouTube – Click here.  

  [__01__]   Today we read a section of Luke's Gospel, known as the travel narrative, the narrative of Jesus's journeys, where Jesus not only talks through his wisdom, but also walks his journey toward his passion, death and resurrection in Jerusalem.

            Christ's actions are the true Incarnation of the famous phrase by a Pennsylvania Quaker who emphasized the urgency of doing good: "I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do... let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Jesus, traversing the terrain between Galilee and Samaria, is in unfriendly territory, as the Gospel notes that "the Jewish people and the Samaritan people shared nothing in common." (John 4:9)

Samaria, the northern territory of Israel, was the place of the initial “hostile takeover” by foreign occupation that broke up kingdom of Israel. It is in this place that Jesus encounters 10 lepers, with 1 displaying gratitude and prayerfulness for his healing—an embodiment of a true "good Samaritan" outsider illustrating devotion, prayer, and humility.

The Samaritan was not trying to control the “travel narrative” but rather just wants to travel “inside” with Jesus.

[__02__]   I, OTOH, am one who likes to control the travel narrative and control the outcome or what comes next.

Recently, during a family medical visit to NYC, we embarked on a journey to find parking in a garage frequently full.  I expect this to be problematic and am nervous on these trips.

That day, we were fortunate. The garage was full, but we presented a HDCP parking sticker, the attendant guided us to available spaces. We expressed gratitude with a tip, not only as thanks for his assistance but also with the anticipation of returning. In a city of 9 million, I hold out some hope he might remember us. This reflects my occasional approach—to go down paths again for future benefits. Yet, doing good is really about the present moment!

The food you have presented for the poor is not simply about the future, it is about the present moment.

[__03__]   The mission of mercy that Jesus embodies emphasizes his presence in the here and now, a concept echoed by the Good Samaritan parable. While the wounded man is left at an inn, the Good Samaritan promises to return.

 

[__04__]   Jesus's healing of the Samaritan underscores his sacrifice for all, portraying him as an outsider in his own right. He sets an example for us to follow, acknowledging the shared experience of being outsiders. “It takes one to know one.”

 

[__05__]   A Catholic missionary exemplifying the Gospel commandment to give his whole life – was in the 1800s, Father Damian of Molokai, canonized in 2009.

            Coming from Belgium, he traveled to Hawaii, confronting the isolation and suffering caused by leprosy. Amidst a dire situation, he tended to the afflicted, demonstrating compassion and care in the face of a devastating disease and epidemic.

 

[__06__]   Molokai, where Father Damian served, was not a destination for health and wellness; it was a place where people were exiled to die, a practice rooted in European rather than Hawaiian culture.

Quote: “[One native Hawaiian man] heard that the government was rounding up lepers and sending them to Molokai. "How cruel," he complained to his neighbors, "to separate mother or father or children from home when they need the family most. If the white man wishes to treat his sick differently than Hawaiians do, why doesn't he go away and leave us alone? He forced his cruel illness on us and now he is forcing his brutal cures."” (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/damien-of-molokai-539)

We also need family and friends in times of crisis. And, you and I can learn – some of you know well – it is difficult but also a blessing – care for someone who sick or dying.  It is a precious moment that we shall never have back – again.

 

[__07__]    Damian believed in the dignity and worth of every person with leprosy. And he was well aware that the lepers on Molokia lived in a cycle of disease à despair à drunkenness that led to amny illicit / licentious behaviors.

 

 

 

[__08__]  Damian taught them about dignity and virtue, to plant and harvest crops, to raise animals, to play musical instruments, to sing. One witness reported that he saw two keyboard playing church organists – victims of leprosy --  sitting side by side in front of a church organ. One had suffered the loss of her RH, the other, LH but together they had 2 good hands to play !

There was no self pity in Molokai.

One American writer observed life on Molokai before and after Damian. Before, he saw miserable shacks and huts. Years later, with Damian’s personal carpentry skills and training of the people, he found two villages of white painted houses with flower gardens and cultivated fields. Molokai boasted a decent hospital, a graveyard, and 2 orphanages of children. But what really delighted the visitor was the sight of men and women rather than sitting around – were out horseback riding, enjoying life.

[__09__]    Damian taught inhabitants essential skills, turning the once dismal landscape into vibrant villages. His dedication to celebrating life, even in the face of death, is reflected in the construction of a proper graveyard. Eventually succumbing to leprosy at 49, Damian left an enduring legacy, symbolized by his statue in the U.S. Capitol.

Even Father Damian, however, left projects unfinished.

And I am grateful for the collaboration that consistently and the collective effort of you, Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners who helped me to minister to many people here at Our Lady of Lourdes to our young people, to older people, to poor people. It's important that we work together.

We are all called to collaboration, collective responsibility to work in faith, hope, and charity. It underscores the importance of leaving a positive impact for those who follow and expressing gratitude for the gifts bestowed by God. None of is able to   “to do it all”, but we can all love our neighbors, forgive from the heart, and recognize the temporary nature, the transience of our earthly journey.

            Our home is in heaven. We shall not pass this way again.  [__end__]  

Priceless (2023-11-19, Sunday - 33rd)

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Homily file for November 19, 2023 /   33^rd Sunday     ● Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31● Psalm 128 ● 1 Thessalonians  5:1-6 ● Matthew 25:14-30 ● 

 Title:    Priceless

 [_01__]       In late December, years ago, my brother and his wife arrived at our house to stay for Christmas. They had come from California and arrived several days before 12/25. I remember – in those final “shopping days”, before Christmas, they went to the Macy’s / Old Navy at the mall, , every day – the December 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd …. They arrived before the doors opened. My sister-in-law said, “Your dad really likes to go shopping!” They were punctual partly because my father drove them there and really wanted a good parking space, and while all those trips signified something “material” and “monetary”, it also signified my father’s wish to spend time with my brother and sister-in-law … while getting a good parking space and doing some shopping.

           The memory of their trips to the mall has lasted much longer than the material things they bought.

 Jesus regards our attitudes about money as symbolic of our character. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6:21, Lk 12:33).

Where is your treasure? What is my treasure?

[_02__]  PARABLE

          In the parable we read that there is a distribution of TREASURE and of TALENTS – a different amount to each of 3 different servants.

          And, the word “talent” is not referring to skill or competency but rather to the actual weight of a precious metal such as silver.

          And, each servant receives a different measurement of silver or money.   And, that is similar to the regular everyday economy and world. Some people have more money, advantages, income, wealth.

          But, is the parable strictly about money?

          I am suggesting the parable is also about MERCY – some people have been forgiven more – have received mercy for truly serious sins and they are more indebted to God, feel more indebted to God than those with less serious sins.

          Do you remember an episode where Jesus goes to the home of Simon the Pharisee and meets a woman who is known to have a very sinful and broken past? This woman – a relative stranger in Simon’s house --  lavishes oil and washes Jesus’ feet. Meanwhile, Simon the Pharisee is not showing Jesus much attention.

          Their attitudes reflect an unequal distribution of God’s mercy. He who has been forgiven much loves much…but the one who has been forgiven….loves little.

          Simon the Pharisee is also unaware of his need for God’s forgiveness.

          The parable of the talents is reminding us that God has invested in all of us with his mercy, with the precious Body and Blood of his Son on the Cross.

          This is his mercy. We are called to share it with others.

 [_03__]  What is your attitude toward material things and money? How important are they to you?

          A TV commercial in the 1990’s – which was not religious – touched on this question of attitude. Do you recall the credit card commercial for MasterCard in which theme word is “PRICELESS”, and uses examples to depict what we would want to have for an important event.

          Let's say the “important event” is family reunion / Thanksgiving. And the TV commercial would recite a list of things that you would want to have::  new clothes $100, plane ticket to fly to New York  $200, food for Thanksgiving $400,  a camera to take the family photo: $200.  But, what is it worth to have a photo with 4 generations of adults and children … well, there is number. The photo is “priceless”

 

[_04__]  The mercy of God is also “priceless” – and essential to our lives.

2 of our traditionally Catholic works of mercy relevant for November – the month of All Souls is “bury the dead” and to “pray for the living and the dead.”

 

It is a work of mercy to “bury the dead” and pray for the dead which does not simply mean having an expensive funeral, but simply to pray, , to attend the funeral or send a Mass Card not only for the person whom you really liked and the family and friends you long to hang it with. What about going to the funeral or praying for the soul of someone by whom you were hurt or trespassed against?

This is a work of mercy to pray for the dead, for the deceased, for their eternal rest.

In this month of November as we anticipate Thanksgiving and remember our families – living and deceased - we can make wise investment choices in our own character and salvation and in praying for others as a work of mercy.

Why come to church?

Investing in this silence and silent prayer for mercy will help you to know what is truly in your conscience and how to communicate out loud, to communicate with those with whom you are struggling to love or care for or to forgive.

Your prayer will not change the other person but will change your heart.

Investing in forgiveness and humility will help you to be courageous and compassionate toward others.  You double your money by praying not only for yourself but for another person.  You will also be working toward the salvation of your soul and soul of others.

Yes, material things are expensive.

However, your eternal salvation and your soul is of greater value.

We are called to repent of our sins,  in Confession, to invest in God’s mercy because our soul endures beyond death.

The Gospel parable is not about the reward of money but of eternal life through the priceless of experience of God’s mercy. It is our calling, a responsibility as the Master said:   Well done, my good and faithful servant.  Since you were faithful in small matters,  I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy. (Matt 25)

Tense. Waiting (2023-11-12, 32nd Sunday)

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●  Homily file for November 12, 2023  ●  32^nd Sunday    ● Wisdom 6:12-16 ● Psalm 63 ● 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ●  ●  Matthew 25:1-13  ● 

 Title:    Tense (NW)__  original

 [_01__]   Years ago, I felt some tension in my mind and in my heart – one Saturday – when I was concerned about the start time of a wedding scheduled here at Lourdes.

I had come over here to church on that Saturday to get ready for Saturday 5:30 pm Mass AFTER such a wedding. I was surprised that when I arrived the wedding had not even started yet. When I asked the visiting priest about this

He asked me –” are you tense about time ?”

I don't recall much more about the day, except that of course, the bride and groom and family finally arrived, there was a  wedding and 530 Mass still happened.  As we text, so to say: NBD. No Big Deal.

And I forgot about the whole thing. That is until about 3 years later. I saw this visiting priest again. This time, not at a wedding. And he reminded me of the whole episode … although I had totally forgotten about his question.

I was “tense” again when he reminded me,  “are you tense about the time?”

 [_02__]   And, the parable is told not to turn our attention to “weddings” but rather to “living and dying”.

Do we want Jesus the groom to come into our lives? His arrival signifies both death and life after death.

Of course, if you were me on that Saturday afternoon in the sacristy, you would be anxious for groom and the bride to arrive. I was anxious for them to arrive, because I was thinking in very material physical terms.

And, if I had more oil in my lamp, more strength in prayer, I would have been less tense, more patient.

But the parable – in the end – is not just about a car arriving with the groom, but rather about the CROSS and way of the Cross with Jesus and you and me.

Do I want such a groom, such a guest to arrive in my life?

Pope Benedict XVI (B16) observed that sometimes we have an idealistic conception of death in that we see death as simply a release from physical problems:  disease, disability, pain.

But death is not simply a rescue from pain. Death is a renovation, or to use a construction metaphor, is the extreme makeover par excellence.

Pope Benedict XVI (B16)  reminds us that the LOVE is the core concept of our lives.  And, to love God and love your neighbor is the greatest commandment.

For example, sometimes, it may be both spiritually and physically painful to admit I am wrong. Or, to seek forgiveness. But this is the Christian “dying to oneself”

[_03__]   In a practical sense, “love” is not simply associated with the declaration and vow of love at a wedding.

            Rather, love is also associated with dying and death and sacrifice.

            This weekend is also Veterans Day when we remember – as we do on Memorial Day – those who gave their lives in military service.

            I read this quote from a U.S. Marine in his book about the battlefield (Elliot Ackerman, “Places and Names …”) Recently, I heard this military veteran make this statement – bravery and courage – while they are virtuous – are not sufficient as EMOTIONS, FEELINGS for the soldier. What soldiers needs is to bonded by LOVE. They may not feel brave going into battle, but they can (we can) feel and be motivated by love in a difficult situation. Even to love unto death.

            And, that Jesus – as our bridegroom giving himself on the Cross – loves us unto death.

[_04__]     The priest who asked me that question, years ago and upset me at the time and did not make me less tense – but rather more tense -- with his question about my attitude. 2x. It happened twice!

He asked me –” are you tense and upset about time ?”

I was also being asked – in a sense – am I motivated by love?

Given that he had way more experience than me at the time, he had been a priest for about 25 years. At that point, I had been a priest for about 25 minutes….maybe 25 days.

He gave me something to pray about.

What am I doing when I'm waiting? What am I doing when I'm waiting for the bus? What am I doing when I'm waiting in traffic? What am I doing when I'm waiting for something to start? What am I doing when I'm waiting for a sign from God? Then I'm going in the right direction. Because we are all in some sense waiting in the interim.

It's good to pray the prayer of the Divine Mercy, Jesus, I trust in you to pray that we trust in Jesus when we're waiting, this will help us to this will help us to replace the oil in our lamps and to give us the fuel the energy to practice our Christian disciplines of prayer, sacrificing, charitable giving to pray.

Jesus, I trust in you.  When we are waiting. we are called to pray.

Going to someone else's wedding reminds us that we are waiting for the bride and groom to say “I Do” and to stay together until death until do they part. That's inspiring to all of us.  The wedding signifies our lives.

We are also at mass coming to receive the body of Christ who is also united to us as our spouse, Jesus is your spouse, my spouse, and he desires that we would love him until the end.    You and I also need God’s grace and help as oil to wait for Jesus until he appears at your door or at my door. [END]

Founder's Day 109th Anniv. Mass (2023-11-05) Sunday 9:30 am

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Homily file for November 5, 2023  31^st Sunday      ● Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10 ●  Psalm 131:1, 2, 3 ●  1 Thesssalonians 2:7b-9, 13 ●  Matthew 23:1-12●  

 Title:   Founder’s Day Mass

[_01__]       In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus reflects on whether we should place our trust in the Pharisees and scribes, and whether they are truly believable and worthy of being followed. Jesus's message is clear: we should heed their words but not necessarily emulate their actions because, in essence, they lack credibility.

          As we commonly state: “Do as they say, not as they do.”

          I bring this up also to consider that real faith and real confidence is not simply based on what something is, but also on who someone is.

          Ultimately, our relationships are built on trust in people, not in things.

 This particular Sunday holds special significance as it marks the anniversary of our parish, Our Lady of Lourdes. Each year, we celebrate this milestone, our 109^th anniversary since its foundation on November 9, 1914.

A few years ago, during our Centennial, 100th-anniversary celebration a few years ago, some parishioners fondly recalled the very first pastor, Monsignor Nicholas Marnell.

He devoted 28 years of service to Our Lady of Lourdes, from 1914 to 1942. The esteem with which they spoke of him left a lasting impression. This strong testimony, combined with the accounts of other parishioners, reinforced my belief in his exemplary leadership.

          At one point one person was elaborating, what a great pastor, what a great pastor… for a split second, I was wondering why is she talking about me?

          Never mind!

           My present-day confidence and belief in Monsignor Marnell and our original parishioners is not only based on the testimony of witnesses who remember them as they were but also based on my observation of who you are as parishioners of today. 2023. And the welcome and hospitality you show – you are our parish staff, volunteers, everyone in church and your visits and prayer for others beyond this church building.

          We gather here to pray and to ask God to watch over us and our families. In this month of November, we pray especially for our loved ones who have died and to recall that while our bodies and physical strength will decline and pass away, you and I have an immortal soul which is individual and will be judged by God and last forever.

          For this reason, we have confession so as to purify our souls to meet God face to face.

          In parallel, every building, every cathedral is not physically eternal, but has the eternal presence of God. The Church is present yesterday, today, forever. I understand there will be Mass in Heaven. The parking is great.

          Love lasts forever.

          So, how do we build and protect our church and parish?  We do so by acts of love, charity. I read this an ancient homily, a reflection on Psalm 127: “Unless the Lord build the house, in vain do the builders labor.”

          Jesus is reminding his listeners in the Gospel not to be dismayed by human leadership – and its brokenness in the Pharisees of their day – or in the brokenness of any human leader, because the Lord is building the house.

           You and I are called to build and to give to Our Lady of Lourdes. I am grateful for your financial support and for the volunteer time and prayers you offer for our parish.

          I read this by Saint Hilary of Poitiers (France)  (Source: Liturgy of the Hours, vol. 4, “Common of Pastors”, p. 1756, (Nos. 7-10: PL9, 696-697))

          “This temple is built by God. If it were constructed by human effort, it would not last … through the efforts of the individual faithful [parishioners – you !], this house will grow into many houses -  [into the prayer at your dinner table, your living room, your room] – and thus will arise the blessed and spacious city of God.

          God cared for Abraham in his wanderings, he rescued Isaac when he was about to be sacrificed, supported Moses against Pharaoh.

          [Told Joseph and Mary, the Holy Family about Jesus’ coming through angels]”

          (Source: Liturgy of the Hours, vol. 4, “Common of Pastors”, p. 1756, (Nos. 7-10: PL9, 696-697))

Right now, there is much trouble in the world, trouble which is based partly on politics and borders, but not entirely.

          Trouble also appears – with a capital T – when there is hatred, a refusal to understand, a rejection of personal dignity.  A lack or deprivation of love.

          I have also been trouble – been in need of mercy and absolution – when I have been lacking in love, or in a vision that will see not only the body (material) but also the sense to perceive the soul (spiritual) in a person or situation.

          For this, we need God, we need the Church. We need you to come to church. For unless the Lord build the house, in vain do the builders labor. And, at Mass and prayer, the Lord is not just building up walls and roof as house but is building up you as a house and as temple of the Holy Spirit..

 We can build up God’s house and accept his spirit when we follow Christ – by whom we can follow both his word and example.

Do as he says.

Do as he does.

We pray for many more years for Lourdes parish to come. Ad Multos Annos, Our Lady of Lourdes. Pray for us.  [_end __]    

All Souls Day (2023-11-02)

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All Souls Day     Yesterday – November 1^st -- All Saints Day, a day of reflection on the nature of sainthood, the qualities and virtues that make a person a saint, and our own personal journey towards embodying saintly virtues.

Today – November 2^nd - we observe All Souls Day, which provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the realm of the soul. What exactly is a soul?

What distinguishes us as souls, and what does this term entail in our human experience? The word "soul" carries interpretations related to music, to food … and to personality.

In the Catholic Catechism, the term "soul" is multifaceted, often referring to human life or the totality of an individual.

However, it also refers to the innermost and spiritually significant core of a person, the aspect that mirrors the divine image within us. Essentially, the soul embodies the spiritual essence of a human being.

St. Augustine has some “medical” and “spiritual” advice about the body and the soul and the difference between the 2:

“Take [GOOD] care of your body as if you were going to live forever; and take [GOOD] care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.”

It is by our souls that we are judged and that we meet God.

Also, in Catholic sacramental life we speak not only being joined to others physically but also spiritually.

Matrimony is the union of 2 souls. We speak of spouses being “soul mates” and also good friends being “soul mates”

In confession, we confessing and repenting of what is in our souls. It is true that if, for example, if I have a troubled conscience or anxiety in my soul, I may feel this in my body – as perspiration, heart rate, etc.

 

On the plus side, if I feel spiritually relieved…if I receive forgiveness, I can move about more freely. I can breathe a sigh of relief.

Jesus says to the man who is forgiven and healed – body and soul. Rise pick up your mat and walk.

In other words, God wants us to be restored both body and soul.

But, we begin with the soul. We are called to pray, to silence, to reflect on what is in our souls.

 

            I would like to use an example of rebuilding – first of an actual building then of my own personal journey to the priesthood – to refer to both body and soul.

 

1.     Notre Dame Cathedral

At present, the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in the city of Paris is need of extensive restoration and reconstruction, following a devastating fire in 2019.

The fervent hope of French government officials was to see the beautiful cathedral restored to its original grandeur and beauty, no later than the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.

This is the dream not only of Catholic people in France, but of the French – in a sense, the church represents something both visible and invisible. The Church is the soul of the city

However, it appears that the cathedral may not be open in time for the Olympics and might be ready by Christmas 2024.

In the meantime you can come here to Notre Dame de Lourdes. Our Lady of Lourdes. We have a beautiful church. We are open.

While the physical restoration of the cathedral is indeed a remarkable endeavor, there is a more profound goal underlying this effort - the recovery of the cathedral's heart, soul, and intrinsic meaning.

      I daresay the government of France is wrong if they are opening the cathedral just to satisfy a tourist demand to take selfies and sell more products and get more people into restaurants. The church exists not only for the outside, but the inside. The soul.

Intriguingly, this Notre Dame construction endeavor is not merely about employing contemporary construction techniques.

Instead, it involves a commitment to using ancient tools and methods that mirror those employed by the original builders over 1,000 years ago. Builders are manufacturing, crafting knives, axes, and cutting tools, preserving the historic authenticity of the cathedral's construction. In doing so, they aim to rekindle the soul of the church, recognizing that the essence of this magnificent structure transcends its physical form. The soul.

 

2.     Personal example

Around the year 2000, I was working and living in and around Hoboken, NJ in Hudson County.

            I was comfortable there, but also sensing that I was called to do something else. And, that “something else” was to become a Catholic priest.

            And, there were changes to my life that I would be called to make both on the outside and inside.

            At the time – in 2000 – I started meeting with a local priest who became my spiritual director and was very helpful to me in understanding he Church and prayer and the priesthood.

            I remember he gave me this example back then about how the difference between appearance and reality, but that our feelings still have validity.

            He said – let’s say you come into school or work one day and you see someone and say “Good Morning” and the person appears to ignore you, blows you off and does not respond and you feel rejected, perhaps sad, maybe anxious, more…

            Later, that day, you discover that the person is going through a personal crisis that prevented him or from responding.

            But, does that mean that your feelings had no merit? No value?

            He was urging me to consider that there is a level – in our levels – beneath emotion and beneath feeling.

            This the soul and you and I are a body-soul unity not just being in control of our emotions.

            I have been, at times, in control of my emotions – at least nominally outwardly..but been a mess inside.

 

            Recently, I had a chance to visit this priest and friend again to talk about the priesthood and ministry

            The similarity is that now, 20 plus years later, I am still learning what it means to be called to be a priest and also to look beyond appearance.s.

            What it means to be rebuilt.

            It is a meaningful coincidence to me that he – my friend- lives in Hoboken, in the neighborhood where I used to live.

            So I went to 704 Jefferson Street, to St. Ann’s Church, to see him the other day.

            A recent visit to a neighborhood that held personal significance in the past serves as another illustration of the enduring nature of our internal experiences.

The urban landscape had changed, with many new buildings and altered streets.  I was determined not to use GPS as I had prior knowledge of the streets, but due to all the construction and new lanes, recreational parks, buildings, ramps, I had to use GPS.

It also felt strange to walk on these same streets carrying a smartphone. Back then, I had the most basic cell phone with very poor/low battery and I rarely turned it on.

However, amid these external changes, I also felt at home in an old neighborhood. The soul.

While external circumstances may evolve, our internal experiences, emotions, and recollections endure, forming an indelible part of our identity.

 

There is a connection between the physical and the spiritual aspects of our existence. The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral demonstrates the significance of maintaining the spiritual essence and soul of a monumental structure, emphasizing that its authentic soul is far more enduring than the physical stones and arches.

Meanwhile, you and I have lasting identity of memories and experiences leave on the soul, regardless of external changes.

While our physical bodies may eventually decay, the soul remains immortal and possesses eternal value.

“Take [GOOD] care of your body as if you were going to live forever; and take [GOOD] care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.” (Augustine)

This eternal aspect of the soul invites prayer about on our actions, our choices, and the quality of our lives. It underscores the idea that there is more to our existence than our finite physical presence.

You are probably well aware that as you get on board on airplane – flight on United or JetBlue – you are counted and the flight attendants take a final count of how many passengers are on board.

And, then before take-off, the pilot will report to the Air Traffic Controller a total count of every passenger, flight attendant, pilot, co-pilot – saying for example: “There are 155 souls on board”

            And, pilots will state the number of souls when declaring an emergency.

            The Church is also here to care for you in the emergencies and joys of life.

Acts like confession and prayer are deeply rooted in this understanding of the eternal nature of the soul. They are not merely mechanisms for self-improvement but rather expressions of our recognition of the eternal significance of the soul. When we go to confession, we do so not only in pursuit of personal betterment but also in acknowledgment of the eternal value of our soul and in the hope of attaining eternity in heaven.

Additionally, these acts of reverence and devotion extend to our regard for others. We are called to respect the inherent value of another person's soul, recognizing that they too possess eternal worth. Often, we may fail to discern this eternal aspect in our interactions, but our prayers should serve as a reminder to see people as God sees them, not just as physical bodies but as unique body-soul unities.

The soul has profound nature of the soul and eternal value. It prompts us to recognize that we are more than the sum of our physical experiences and that our actions and intentions resonate on a deeper, eternal plane. As we navigate the complexities of life, we are reminded to cherish and respect not only our own souls but also the souls of those we encounter, for within each soul lies an eternal spark, a reflection of the divine.

We pray for the eternal rest of our loved ones – the names to be read are _____29___ souls in our prayer list tonight. But, of course, each one is more than a number, but also a name and a person created by God and loved by you.

We also pray in the silence of our hearts for the eternal rest of all of our deceased loved ones.