What did you know? When ...? (2024-09-15, Sunday -24)

 [_v_07_= seven_]      2024-09-15 --  24^th Sunday ● Isaiah 50:5-9a ● ● Psalm 116 ●● James 2:14-18 ● ● + Mark 8:27-35 ● ●    

Title:  What did you know? Who do you say that I am?

 

 

[__01__]    There was once an investigation in which it seemed that there had been a cover-up and a concealment by a government leader of what really happened. And, the lead “detective” asked a famous question.

 

The investigator or “detective”, speaking before reporters and being recorded, not only wanted to know what happened by a particular witness but also asked:

 

“what did he – the witness - know and when did he know it?”

 

For what do you and I expect of LEADERS - whether that leader is your school principal, your manager at work, your mayor, me as your pastor, your child’s teacher ….?

“What did the leader or person in charge know and when did the leader  know it?”

 

You expect to be told the truth.

 

And, even if a leader does not have all the answers during a crisis or difficulty, you expect to be told “hey, we do not have all the answers but we are working on it.”

 

[__03__]    This same question might be asked of Peter the Apostle in the Gospel today who had some data, some revealed truth that none of the other Apostles were privy to.

 

In other words, to Peter, “what did you know and when did you know it?”

 

Jesus had been asking: “Who do you say that I am? Who do you say that he Son of Man is?”

 

And, Peter replies:  “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”

 

Peter is praised for this correct response, for telling what he knows.  We should also not overlook to praise Jesus for making this prediction of his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

 

By doing so, he enables us to prepare to meet him in our own sufferings, in our own dying and to trust that we have a life beyond this world, and a personal relationship with him.

Jesus will later say, “I no longer call  you servants because a servant does not know what his master is doing. I call you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from my father. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”

 

Peter, despite, “knowing this intellectually” is not yet ready to the TRANSPARENT and humble leader to share this information with others about the personal cost of suffering.

 

Unfortunately, right now, Peter is all about covering up what he in fact knows or denying what he knows.

 

 

[__04__]   Do you struggle at times to know what is God’s will and what is the meaning of your suffering and struggle?

 

You might want to give up.  I might want to give up.  We have all been there.

 

[__05__]   Sometimes we struggle to discover what is God’s will in our lives.

 

This was also expressed as a question by Jesuit Father Walter Ciszek in his missionary experience in the mid 1900’s in Russia, a missionary experience that also led to his imprisonment for over 2 decades.:

 

Father  Walter Ciszek, S.J. (November 4, 1904 – December 8, 1984, author of “He Leadeth Me”) was a Polish-American Jesuit priest of the Russian Greek Catholic Church who secretly conducted missionary work in the Soviet Union between 1939 and 1963.

 

He was, in fact, under investigation and considered a spy and enemy of the state for his missionary outreach.

 

After a few years, he was arrested in Soviet Russia, thrown in jail and also did hard labor in what was called the Gulag in Siberia.

 

For 24 years, he was imprisoned and not heard from. In fact, in accordance with the law, he was given up for dead.

 

Then, in 1963, he was released and returned to the United States

 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Ciszek)

 

This appeared in America magazine (Jesuit publication):

(https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/what-im-reading-he-leadeth-me-walter-ciszek-s-j/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CTo%20predict%20what%20God's%20will,places%2C%20people%2C%20and%20problems.)

 

[At the time of his release to the USA, Father Walter was not recognized as alive. His fellow Jesuits had said Masses for the repose of his soul. If you can imagine the shock — and then the joy — relatives and friends felt when news came that he was still alive, you begin to get some pale inkling of the apostles’ joy and exultation that first Easter morning, when at last they dared to believe the news the women brought them from the tomb.”

 

 

Father Walter is also known for articulating to us – the disciples of Jesus today – how we might receive and regard and recognize God’s will  which is sometimes mysterious but not necessarily impossible to realize.

 

What do we look for from a leader in a crisis? We look not for toughness but for transparency – and in this regard we can say Jesus is a leader and Savior with transparency who wishes to share his will with us, his Cross with us, not to punish us but to remind us that our sufferings have meaning.

 

You and I are invited ask what do we know and when did we know it, of God’s mercy and love, of Jesus’ suffering and death. If we seem to have forgotten, there is still time to get back on track.

 

Father Walter writes of what he came to recognize in prison also applied to life beyond prison:

 

“"God’s will for us was in the 24 hours of each day: the people, the places, the circumstances He set before us in that time. Those were the things God knew were important to Him and to us at that moment, and those were the things upon which He wanted us to act."”

 

God also wishes for you  and me to act, to pray, to fast, to give charitably and also to be willing to recognize that our sufferings – united to Christ – make Him present not just in our hearts but in our relationships and in our travels to many destinations.

Listening (2024-09-08, Sunday - 23)

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 Homily – Sept 8, 2024  23^rd Sunday (Year B)   ● Isaiah 35:4-7a ●  Psalm 146 ●

● James 2:1-5 ● + Mark 7:31-37 ●

 Title: Listening

[__01__]     Personal Encounter with Grace     There was a miraculous healing in  this Gospel (Mark 7:31-37). Jesus encountered a man unable to hear or speak, both deaf and mute. However, while momentous, this miracle wasn’t performed in front of a large crowd, but in a private, intimate encounter between Jesus and the man. This intimacy teaches us something profound about the nature of God’s grace: it’s personal. While God’s grace is proclaimed in large gatherings in churches, on sound systems, through YouTube or TV or radio, it is also experienced deeply in personal moments.

We gather for Mass on Saturdays and Sundays, and this communal worship is vital. It is where we turn ourselves toward God and renew our commitment to follow Christ. But the experience of God’s word and grace isn’t confined to the pews or limited to the time we spend at Mass. Being at Sunday morning Mass is an essential part of our faith journey, but it is only the beginning. A “weekday” and every day conversion – for you and me - continues in your kitchen youir garage, your car, your work, your school, your home.

When we come to Mass, we don’t just come for ourselves. We come to pray for others as well—for those sitting beside us, for those we don’t even know. The Church and the Mass are communal experiences, where we collectively listen to God’s word and lift our prayers for one another. This reminds us that we are part of the Body of Christ, interconnected and interdependent.

 

 

[__02__]    Hearing the Message Clearly

Even in this communal setting, with microphones and speakers, it is possible to miss things. We may not always hear the full message of the Gospel.

Distractions come, and you or I may not be fully present, tuned in. Have you ever found yourself hearing only what you want to hear, filtering out the rest? I know I have. It’s something to be mindful of, when it comes to listening to God’s word.

 

[__03__]    Listening as a Virtue

St. James gives us guidance on this matter in his letter: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). Listening is a skill that requires effort and attention, but it’s also a virtue that helps us grow in our relationship with God and with others.

 

[__04__] Moments of Missed Connections     In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us the importance of listening. But have you ever experienced a moment where you only caught part of a conversation or didn’t get the full story? Maybe you were late to a meeting, or only half-listening to a discussion or standing too far away.

Does this “distance” or “disconnect” make you unsure of what to do next? This can happen in our spiritual lives too. We might feel like we’ve missed something important, unsure of what God is trying to say to us. But in those moments, we can always turn to God, asking for clarity, guidance, and help in understanding.

We also need witnesses – guides – such as our parents, friends, siblings -  who can remind us of the Gospel in real practical ways.

We live in a noisy world, filled with distractions that make it difficult to hear God’s voice. But God is always speaking to us, always present, always ready to help us hear His word more clearly. And I am here, in this church, to help you with that. My role isn’t just to share my opinion about God’s word, but to help you truly hear it and connect with the message God has for you personally.

 

[__05__]    Example

Let me share an example. Recently, I was reminded that sometimes, even when I miss something initially, I may get another opportunity to hear it, to understand it more fully.

This past Saturday, I attended a funeral for a family member named Claudia. At the Mass, Claudia’s children gave a eulogy, sharing lovely memories and stories about their mother.

However, from where I was sitting in the church, I could comprehend only half of the words and sentences. I was disappointed that I couldn’t share in the moment, couldn’t fully participate in the laughter and the touching remembrances. I was actively myself smiling and pretending to hear and laugh at what was being said, but in reality, I had missed my chance to truly hear it all.

After the funeral, we were standing on the sidewalk outside the church – waiting to drive to the cemetery - when something fortunate happened. I riding in the car with Claudia’s husband, John, and their son. From the back seat, I mentioned to John that I had heard a few tid-bits of a story in church – in the eulogy - about something about Claudia and a minivan, but I couldn’t get the full details. John, eager to talk, began to fill me in.

He told me that Claudia believed in doing an act of kindness every day of her life. If she saw someone in need, she would help, even if it was someone unknown to her and he gave examples. In this regard, John said, he and Claudia were opposites. While he also wanted to help people, he didn’t do so in the same outgoing, forward-thinking way that Claudia did and for COMPLETE STRANGERS.

John then shared the story of the minivan which was several years old.  Rather than trading it in, the decided to advertise it in the newspaper and get some money to buy their next car.  A potential buyer called and rang the doorbell.

Claudia not only met the buyer  but learned her story, learned about her and also learned how much she really liked the van, but also that she was a single parent and could not really afford it

A few days later, John noticed the minivan was gone and asked Claudia how much they had sold it for. She revealed that she hadn’t sold it at all; she had given it away to the woman and her family

This story wasn’t widely known among their family and friends until after Claudia’s death, but it was part of the eulogy … part of what I could not hear on the first try.

But there I was, hearing it directly from John, hearing it in a way that no one else in the church had, and also realized he was the one really challenged by this action and transaction.

Missing something, I was given another chance to hear it—more clearly and directly than I could have imagined from the one who had really experienced it.

 

[__06__]   Learning to Listen and Sacrifice

We are called to hear God’s word and recognize that sometimes, Jesus does things differently from how we might do them and speaks from his experience to our own. He already planned to give up His life for us when we would likely try to save our own. But through love, whether in family, marriage, or friendship, do we not also learn the value of planning to lay down our lives for one another?

This may mean doing the opposite of our own preference.

This is the message of next Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 8:27-35) when Peter tries to reverse Jesus’ prediction of His passion and death. Peter still has much to learn about what it means to sacrifice himself and unite with Jesus’ mission.

Jesus also takes Peter aside 1-on-1 not just in this instance but several other times!

It may take us more than once, more than 7 or 77 times, to hear God’s message clearly in our minds and hearts. But God is always speaking, always giving us another chance to listen and understand. [end]

Doing the Right Thing (Deflategate) (2024-09-01, Sunday-22)

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Homily – Sept 1, 2024  22^nd Sunday (Year B)  ● Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8 ●  Psalm 15 ●

● James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 ● + Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23   ●

 [__01__]   This past Tuesday, in a parking lot, I saw a man get out of his car. His shoulder was wrapped in ice. He appeared to be injured, maybe hurting. Meanwhile, he was checking out the wheels of his car to see if anything was wrong. Maybe he had a flat tire or low pressure – a DeflateGate situation of some kind!

I offered him my tire pressure gauge.  He didn't have one. He was grateful.

I also shared something that I knew about, that the car’s required tire pressure “number” is written a label inside the front door on the driver's side. The young man thanked me for this and told me he knew about this label - from a video on TikTok.

I felt a little disappointed that I had been so outranked and preceded by Tiktok at that moment.

It won't be the last time

 

[__02__]    Jesus is asking the scribes and Pharisees, why do they witness?  Why do they follow the commandments? Is it only to be popular, is it only to get on Tiktok, or the equivalent of Tiktok, in their day?

We promise – in the Creed and Profession of Faith to follow these laws  …  Prior to these promises - during Baptism and Confirmation - we first renounce Satan and his malevolent – evil - influences.   This renunciation parallels turning away from unhealthy foods and drinks for better health.  In other words, as you and I prepare your body to receive medicine or treatment by a physician. 

Thus, we also are called to prepare our souls to receive God's grace and a relationship with God by rejecting what is evil, and also to love God and love our neighbor better.

[__03__]       Life encompasses more than just performing virtuous deeds; it also involves avoiding wrongdoing. God's supremacy exceeds that of Satan, who was created as an angel and then rejected God.  We are called to prioritize our relationship with God, even if it means diverging from societal norms or going against “peer pressure”.  Your virtue is valuable even if it is rejected by those who are close around you or proves to be “unpopular.”

 

[__04__]        We, for example, live in a world through which we get lots of data about what's good, lots of information, historical, scientific, personal data tells us how to protect ourselves from harmful things like addictive substances and unhealthy habits. Yes, we also live in a world where carbohydrates, calories and sugar are constantly advertised. So we're called to make our own choices, not just based on the data that's out there, but what's inside of us and what is good for us from the inside out.

We also know that our lives can be ruined, or a life can be ruined by immorality, infidelity and scandal.

The data is there. But despite knowing this, temptations remain and scandals continue to be common. The question is, do we care about the data, and what kind of consumption decisions are we making?

 

[__05__] Life isn’t just about gathering data; it’s also about making decisions. In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus challenges the Pharisees and scribes not only to be SEEN doing good and to be seen by the “right people” but to consider where their choices are leading them.

          What direction are we going in?

[__06__] What is the most important decision?

Many people would say the most important decision and direction is kindness and respect. And while kindness and respect are valuable, they are superficial if we do not also speak the truth in love.

I recently found myself standing in line at the supermarket, impatient with the person ahead of me who seemed to be taking forever. I said nothing—perhaps that was kindness. But, in reality, I resembled the Pharisees who honored God with his lips while his heart was far away. I was outwardly polite but inwardly distant.

Jesus gives us examples of things that can come out from the inside that are bad. He gives us a list at the end of the gospel, I'd like to refer to 2 of them.

 

[__07.01__] One example is unchastity. How do our habits of viewing or seeing others or envisioning others —perhaps turning them into objects—affect our ability to love someone as a whole person?

We teach our young people and try to learn ourselves not to judge by appearances.  Yet, impurity and unchastity is often based on appearances or seeing only who we want or what we want to see and disregarding the rest.

To grow in purity and chastity, we can benefit from periods of fasting, not just fasting from food, but taking breaks from TV, from videos, from social media, taking breaks from sports. Sports emphasizes appearances very much. And thus we take time to reset, repent and reboot, allowing us to see others more clearly and to understand the right images of others.

Unchastity comes from within, and it is a destructive force because it tempts us to see others as we would like, to rank them and then, perhaps, then reject them. Evil can be algorithmic.

 

[__07.02__] Another example is greed. Do I find myself wanting things that don’t belong to me? And if I’m fantasizing about acquiring what isn’t mine, does that make it harder for me to appreciate and take responsibility for what I do have? The list at the end of today’s Gospel serves as an examination of conscience—something I encourage you to reflect on before your next confession. Confession isn’t just about listing sins; it’s also about reviewing the direction of our lives. Where are you headed? Jesus reminds us not just to wash our hands but to cleanse our hearts and make a decision about Him. He’s not just giving us data or directions—He’s inviting us to decide.

 

[__08__] Several years ago, my parents were on a road trip far from home when one of their tires went completely flat. Before they could even call AAA or roadside assistance, two young people appeared and offered to help. They jacked up the car, replaced the flat tire with the spare, and put the flat in the trunk. When my parents tried to tip them—because, as New Yorkers, that’s what you do—the young people refused. They simply said, “We did this because we are Christians,” and walked away.

 

These young people had the data: someone was in need. They saw a direction they could go in, to help another driver in trouble. But most importantly, they made the decision to act—not for a reward, but because it was the right thing to do. And, in doing so, they witnessed to their faith. While there is evil in the world and in our own hearts, praise God for the good that comes through the Holy Spirit, guiding our consciences toward heavenly rewards. This law is written in our hearts.

[__end__]