MASS HOMILIES FOR CYCLE A

BY DEACON JOSEPH PASQUELLA

Deacon Joseph Pasquella is an Affiliate of the Confraternity of Penitents

Click on the blue links to access the homilies.

Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time

Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Cycle A

Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Corpus Christi, Cycle A

Trinity Sunday, Cycle A

Pentecost, Cycle A

Short Homily for May 8, 2008

Seventh Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle A

Divine Mercy Sunday, Cycle A

Easter Sunday, Cycle A

Palm Sunday, Cycle A

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

First Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Baptism of the Lord, Cycle A

First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

HOMILIES

21st  Sunday in Ordinary Time (“A”)
August 24, 2008

By Rev. Deacon Joseph A. Pasquella

Want to know why or how Catholics can  claim that the Pope has more “authority” than anyone else in the Church, using today’s Gospel?

To really understand the “flavor” and beauty of today’s Gospel (Matthew 16:13-20), in which Jesus gives Peter primacy over all the other disciples (then and now), we have to see what St. Matthew has done with the story. He has placed it right in between two other stories which are not complimentary to Peter.

First of all, a couple of weeks ago we heard about Peter trying to respond to Jesus by “walking on water,” and his weak faith was not up to the event. Next Sunday we will hear Jesus call Peter a “Satan” to show how Peter was interfering with God’s work (Peter was trusting in his own personal opinions). And right in between those two wonderful stories, he inserts today’s gospel story where Jesus says, “I will give YOU [Peter only, because the word is in the singular] the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” Wow! Talk about God’s choices! God always seems to pick the most insignificant person, and elevate him to greatness.

This reminds me of St. Paul’s own writings where he says: not many wise, nor many noble are called, but God's chose the foolishness of the world to confound the wise! In the book of the Acts of the Apostles it is written, ". . . and when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived they were unlearnt and ignorant men, they marveled and took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.”

Catholics believe that this authority given to Peter alone was not meant to “die” with him. Instead, it was passed on to the subsequent patriarchs/popes of Rome. That is why we have complete trust in the Teaching Office of the Church: it has the official recognition of Jesus Christ himself, the One who started it all!

It is only through Jesus, and through his chosen “holder of the keys” that humanity will find true Unity. The popes may have personal and sinful faults. But in teachings on faith and morals, they cannot lead us astray, since they have the Holy Spirit to guide them to the end of time. What an awesome promise! For years I searched for such clarity regarding what to believe; I needed and wanted surety in what I should believe regarding truth, faith, and morals. Now I rest with utter peace because my journey to find this gift was fulfilled when I was accepted by a profession of faith into the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. 

If you have trouble with Rome, with the official teachings of the popes, then it is time to “rethink” your position. If you continue your opposition, in the face of the evidence, you will find yourself fighting against the Holy Spirit. Good luck!

The Lord made Peter alone the “rock” of his Church, and gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock (CCC #881). This pastoral office is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope (ibid.)

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When reading today's Gospel, one could get the impression that Jesus was trying to offend or insult the women he is speaking to. Do you think this was deliberate?  Did you ever wonder why there are only two stories in Scripture where Jesus complimented individuals for their “great” faith?

Here is the surprise element: neither one was a Jewish person! One was a man (a Roman centurion) and the other was a pagan woman (a Canaanite). In today’s story from Matthew 15:21-28, a Canaanite mother is described as pleading with Jesus to cure her daughter who seems to be possessed by a demon. Since Jesus’ primary ministry was to the House of Israel, he slips into one of the idioms of the day – really a negative stereotype – to point out that fact to the woman. “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”

Today we might think that is terribly harsh; but we forget our own use of stereotypes or clichés that sound harsh to other cultures. For example: Catholics are often called “mackerel snappers”; northerners were called “damn Yankees” or “carpetbaggers” by those in the deep South; Jewish merchants were stereotyped as greedy (e.g., Shakespeare’s character “Shylock”); and the list goes on. Some name-calling was very rude; at other times it was simply cultural banter. The culture that Jesus lived in was no exception.

However, Jesus recognizes the woman’s quickness to reply “in kind.” Picking up on the food metaphor, she uses it herself to prove a point: there is plenty of food to go around, even for dogs. However, she was not referring to nutrition. She was referring metaphorically to the power that Jesus possessed to heal. Jesus perceived her correct insight, and granted her request because of her “great” faith.

We can draw an excellent lesson from this exchange between Jesus and the woman. It is this: don’t put Jesus in a box about what he can't or won't do. If you have a need, take it to him. He alone is worthy, but he reads our hearts and responds accordingly. Have faith!

The woman in today’s gospel recognized in Jesus the messianic power attributed to the awaited “Son of David” (CCC #439). If you truly believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, then trust him and fashion your prayer requests accordingly (CCC #2610). 

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (“A”)
August 10, 2008

Can we  increase our Faith, so that we don't “sink” into the sea like Peter in today’s gospel (Matthew 14:22-33)? Perhaps we have our eyes on the wrong person in this story.  Our eyes need to be on Jesus, not on Peter. After all, it was when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and became concerned with his environment, that he began to sink.

Last week during Sunday's Mass, we learned in the  preceding gospel story how Jesus had miraculously fed 5,000 men – and perhaps several thousand more women and children – all from five loaves of bread and two fish; and everyone was content and satisfied.  That in itself spoke volumes about “who” Jesus really was and is.
 
Now, only a few hours after that great miracle, the disciples – sent ahead by Jesus to cross the Sea – are caught on the Sea by an unexpected great storm..  It is  perhaps 5:00 a.m., just before dawn, and the wind-driven waves are tossing the boat around like a cork.  Then they spot Jesus walking towards them on top of the water.  Interestingly, rather than being delighted, it is this very sight that terrifies them, not the chaos of the waves.  They doubt. They are thinking “ghost,” and they cry out in fear.  Jesus immediately tells them, “Do not fear.”  Peter then responds with doubt, “IF it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  Jesus invites him, Peter tries, Peter loses his Jesus-focus, and Peter sinks.  After his cry for help, Jesus saves him, and calms the chaos.
 
Peter’s story is the same for every Christian.  We sometimes forget Who the main character in our life story is: Jesus, the Savior of the world.  If we change our focus, and permit the chaos and evil around us to distract and influence us, then we will sink into the very chaos that we fear!  On the other hand, if we keep our focus on the Source of our safety, our salvation, the One to Whom we call out to save us, then the winds die down, and we are once again content in the Presence of the Lord.  This is the way we increase or sustain our faith: by never doubting that the Presence of the Lord is with us every single moment of our lives!

When we cry out “Lord,” it expresses our recognition of the divine mystery of Jesus.  It also shows our respect and trust in the One we approach for help and healing (CCC #448). 

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (“A”)
August 3, 2008

Do you think that Jesus had his disciples “ration” the bread that they distributed to 5,000 men and their families, to make sure there was enough for all?

If you are old enough, you will remember (if not, then surely you were told) stories by your parents or uncles and aunts about “rationing” during World War II. Many items became “scarce” goods, such as sugar, leather shoes, gasoline and tires, coffee, butter, and meat. Meat substitutes became popular, such as macaroni and cheese (which took fewer ration stamps), oleo margarine, and cottage cheese. And even if you had your monthly ration book of stamps, it was no guarantee that the product you wanted would be on the store shelves.

Wouldn't it be great to have a cupboard that is always full? Today’s readings hold out that promise. There is indeed a cupboard that never goes empty. All you have to do is find it. We could call this cupboard “faith.” Once you find it, you can open its door to enjoy the food that truly satisfies. It is always there, just waiting for you.

In our First Reading (Isaiah 55:1-3) the prophet speaks of the “free meal” awaiting us. The Lord is the host of this meal. He invites us to “come” and “listen” to his Word, a rich fare that satisfies our deepest needs. The Gospel (Matthew 14:13-21) shows a compassionate Jesus, who recognizes both the physical and the spiritual hungers of a huge crowd of people who came to hear his word and seek healing. So with just a tiny bit of food, he feeds and satisfies thousands of people! There was no rationing, and there was an abundance of bread fragments left over!

There is the cupboard that never goes empty! Jesus himself is our food and our drink! Both his word in scripture and his Real Presence in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist nourish and sustain us on our journey back to him. Come, listen, eat, that you might have life!

The action of Jesus in blessing, breaking, and distributing the loaves to feed thousands prefigures the superabundance of the bread of his Eucharist (CCC #1335). God’s gifts are free; seek and accept them with a grateful heart (CCC #2121).

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (“A”)
July 27, 2008

 Buried treasure, costly pearls, nets full of fish - - are these parables (Matt 13:44-52) about becoming wealthy?

Yes, but not as one could think.  Jesus tells his disciples about the man who found a buried treasure. It is really all about Discipleship, and when you have the opportunity, you have to do everything that is necessary to possess it. It’s a very subtle point, but notice that the owner of that field isn't aware that he has a Great Treasure within his grasp! Matthew’s community needed to hear this parable because they were being ostracized by the Jewish community, and had to give up family and friends to be a disciple of Jesus. But if you want the treasure, you have to be willing to pay the price!

The pearl of great price story sounds like it is the same thing as the buried treasure, but again Matthew has introduced another subtle difference. The man who found the buried treasure was surprised when he accidentally found it, and gave up all he had to buy the field where the treasure was located. But in the case of the pearl of great price, the merchant had been seeking that pearl for a long time; his was a deliberate search. Nevertheless, his response was the same: he gave up all he had to possess it. The message to the hearers of Jesus, and to Matthew’s community fifty years later, was the same. Discipleship will cost you! Following Jesus will cost you! But the rewards are incredible!

And finally, there is the parable of the net. The message to the disciples is encouraging, one they needed to hear. “Don’t worry about the opposition to your discipleship. Jesus will do the sorting out come judgment day.” And you will notice, when you read that parable, that the bad fish are not returned to the sea; they are “thrown away,” which means they will die.

If you have ears to hear, then hear!

Jesus’ parables ask us to make a radical choice: give up everything to gain the kingdom (CCC #546). The Holy Spirit has guided the Catholic Church to recognize the “treasure” we have in our salvation redemption justification, sanctification, eternal life, , our kingship as heirs of the kingdom and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, the seven sacraments (CCC #1117), and much more! 

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (“A”)

July 20, 2008 

What can I do to counter the “enemy” sowing “weeds” in my own field? (Matthew 13:24-30)

Many in the Church have tried to sugarcoat the toughness of the Gospel; the demands that the Gospel makes for our lives. We seldom hear of the justice of God that sends the evils doers to the just reward in Hell. Jesus, and likewise the Apostle Paul, were straight forward in  teaching the mercy of God, His forgiveness, the hope of eternal life with the Holy God full of joy forever; but, on the other hand, they were not timid in reminding the world of what awaits those that reject the only way to God, Jesus Christ. Did not our Lord himself tell us that many on the Day of Judgment that cry, “Lord, Lord,” will not enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those that “do the works of My Father.”

 These are difficult times for ourselves and our children; our Christian values are under serious attack every single day – not just in secret at night, but in broad daylight!  The “weeds” are trying to choke out the “wheat” and convert everything to a weed patch.  Our society is clearly slipping farther and farther away from “the Way” of the Lord; in fact, we permit our politicians to ignore God completely.  We are permitting our political system to attack the family structure (God’s “domestic family” consists of man, woman, and children, not homosexual relationships).  Many are returning to pagan Epicurean principles, by killing unborn babies to preserve their alleged “right” to have unlimited sensual pleasures.  Some people even think they are still “Christian” by fighting for abortion rights, mercy killing, and other heinous crimes against humanity and against God.
 

Make no mistake, this is a war for souls, not just a little skirmish!  It calls for an all out effort by you to pass on and defend God-given standards of morality.  Jesus has shown us “the Way” to live, and empowered his mission to the Apostles, who passed on the same mission to the Bishops.  By our baptism and confirmation, we too are called to participate in this same mission, remaining faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Church.  Without this core faithfulness to God – our recognition that we depend upon Him – no progress can be made.  Not only the voting booth is involved; it really begins with frequent prayer every single day.

 If you are making a serious effort to do something, then you can also draw on the strength mentioned in the Second Reading today (Romans 8:26-27): our God will not let us down!  We can be patient, even when surrounded with weeds, because the Holy Spirit intercedes for us exactly as God Himself wills!  Consider this: if you remain silent, and misuse not only the voting booth but daily opportunities in the workplace and family, you have indeed become a “weed.”  Today’s Gospel tells you the destiny of weeds.
 

Each one of us has the weeds of sin mixed with our good wheat; because of that, the Church constantly calls us to the path of penance and renewal (CCC #827).  Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Church has the power to free us from the prison of the weed-patch, if we ask humbly. 

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (“A”)
July 13, 2008

How can I tell if I am “hard hearted” like certain Pharisee leaders that Jesus had to deal with regularly?

 Some folks just do not want to hear truth. Jesus called them “hard-hearted.” But he also had a way to make them listen. If he spelled out clearly just how dumb and stupid they were, and how they were working against God’s plan by placing obstacles in the way of people’s spiritual journey, then they would ignore him or attack him. So instead he would tell Stories. He had a special kind of story, called a Parable. It had a moral point to make, but did not attack anyone explicitly. Instead, you had to reflect on the story, and find the underlying truth – as well as the identity of the real-life culprits being criticized (which just might be you and me).

For example, how do you tell the Pharisees that they are “hard-hearted” because they will neither listen to nor accept his teachings about the kingdom of God? Well, “There was a sower who went out to sow some seed…some fell on rocky ground…and it withered for lack of roots.” And later, Jesus explains his parable, saying in part, “The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it.” The Pharisees probably knew that he was talking about them; but there was nothing they could do about it, because it was all “hidden” within the parable; no direct accusations had been made, no names had been dropped. So all they could do was burn and seethe with anger.

Resistance to God’s call to change our ways is “hardness of heart.” A modern example would be resistance to the Church’s teachings on faith and morals (such as contraception, abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment). Sometimes the seeds of the Church’s teachings just fall on rocky ground, or on the barren path of our hearts. The Evil One is very active today!

You and I are called to “sow” God’s word in our children, and to live out the values that Jesus “sowed” in us through his Church; but first we must open our hardened hearts and become true disciples (CCC #546). Consider “telling stories” to illustrate the truth in the message you are trying to convey.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (“A”)
July 6, 2008 

Our media can and does confuse us with their own “Hollywood images” that distort truth. For example, when we think of Moses in the Old Testament, do we think of a muscular, handsome and powerful Charlton  Heston – the Hollywood portrayal of Moses in the movie, “The Ten Commandments”? Yet Scripture tells us that Moses was the meekest man on the face of the earth (Num 12:3), probably had a speech defect (Ex 4:10), and was perhaps shy and fearful (Ex 3-4). That seems to be the type of person that God can and does use so often as his instrument of redemption!

So is it any surprise that “one like Moses” (Dt 18:15) would be “meek and humble of heart”? This is the way that Jesus, who cannot lie, describes himself. In fact, he says that only if we come to him will we find peace and rest. He adds that only if we come to him will we learn the most important truths of all time. This is not book-learning; this is heart-learning!

Some people miss the message by scorning the messenger! God would “never” become human, so Jesus is maybe “just” a nice holy man, albeit a heretic, and the Christian Bible is wrong (says Islam). Jesus would “never” object if I killed my unborn and inconvenient baby, because if Jesus did object he would not be a loving God; therefore the Bishops are wrong (say the pro-choice folks). How I interpret Scripture is up to me, not some Bishops somewhere (say the dissenters and relativists).

It is frightening to see so many of our neighbors and fellow-Americans fall prey to the “father of lies,” Satan. St. John’s gospel reminds us that Jesus had a strong warning for those who carry out the desires of “their father the devil,” rather than accept the truth from Jesus, the meek and humble one (Jn 8:44).

 In his prayer to his Father, Jesus expresses delight that the meek, the poor in spirit have had the truth revealed to them (CCC #2603). To impose our ideas upon God is to fabricate idols (CCC #2779).

The Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.

29-June-2008

Submitted by Rev.Deacon Joseph A. Pasquella

Simon Peter, was called  Kephas – Peter the Rock – by Jesus, upon whom, through his profession of faith that Jesus is the Lord, the Church is founded.  Saul, renamed Paul after his conversion, fell in love with the very Jesus he’d once persecuted through those who confessed that Jesus is the Lord. From the earliest times of Christianity these two men were always linked together as the bedrock of the Church in Rome because they gave their lives for Christ in that city.

Unlike Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of pagan Rome who were suckled by a she-wolf, Peter and Paul fed on Jesus Christ, the true Bread of Life: “The food that remains for eternal life.” Jn. 6: 27

Peter and Paul were both very different people with different personalities, and sometimes had the knack of rubbing each other up the wrong way, as Paul tells us in his Letter to the Galatians. It just shows that Christians aren’t clones made from a mould that conforms to a particular model.

Indeed, as Paul writes in the Letter to the Ephesians. All of us are: “God’s Masterpiece, a work of art, created in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2: 10

What bound Peter and Paul together was their love for Christ, which led them to give up their lives for Him rather than give up their Christian faith. An ancient tradition in the Roman Church says that on 29 June AD64, Peter and Paul were taken from the Mamertine Prison, and said farewell for the last time. Peter was taken to the west of the city, where he was crucified upside down in the Circus Vaticanus, which was on the site where St. Peter’s and the Vatican stand today. He was then buried in the pagan cemetery that was just outside the Circus. His bones now lay in the spot where he was buried, above which was built the Papal High Altar in St. Peter's. Paul was taken to the east, and martyred just outside Rome at a place called Tre Fontane, which is still there to this day.

As Paul was a Roman citizen he was allowed a rather more dignified death than Peter. He was beheaded, and that’s why, in art, he’s always shown holding a sword in his hand. A Roman Christian woman called Lucina buried Paul in a small vineyard on her estate. Above his grave the Basilica of St. Paul was built in 384 AD when the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire had finally ended.

I've visited the Basilica of St. Paul's a couple of times and looked down into the burial site of Paul under the High Altar. I’ve been privileged to be able to go right under the Papal High Altar in St. Peter's, and see the bones of Peter. To stand a foot or two away from the mortal remains of Peter and Paul forges an unbreakable, tangible link with the Lord, whom they followed, and we follow today.

The Basilicas of Peter & Paul, which house their mortal remains, are wonderful works of art and architecture, but that isn't where their true beauty lies. If they were ever destroyed, would it matter? As works of art, yes, but ultimately, no. They're spaces, which point to something much more lasting. These stone and marble buildings are not what matters in the end. They should direct us beyond themselves, and even beyond the mortal remains of Peter & Paul, to something eternal. To: “Christ, the Living Stone” 1 Peter 2: 4 If Christ, the Living Stone, is securely keyed into our lives then we: “Like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house to offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 2: 5

We can learn from Peter & Paul that what really matters is to be faithful to Christ as they were, and to love Him as He first loved us. And, like Peter and Paul, we have to take the love, life, and message of Jesus into an alien culture just as they did when they went to Rome.

Paul, writing to the Philippines whilst under house arrest in Rome, said: “Rejoice at all times in the Lord; again I shall say: rejoice!” Phil. 4: 4 Two years or so later, in a dungeon in the Marmertine prison next to the Roman Forum awaiting his death, he wrote to his friend Timothy: “The time for my death has come. I have kept the faith. To [the Lord] be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Tim. 4: 6, 7 & 18

Joy and hope in the Lord shining through in impossible circumstances. In this era of the history of the Church we see lots of people falling away from the Christian faith, and lukewarmness in others. There are many reasons for this: but, whatever those reasons are, it makes us unhappy, fearful for the future of Christianity. We feel as the Disciples did when they were caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was asleep in the boat, seemingly unaware and uncaring, about what might happen to the Disciples. But when the storm was at its height, He awoke and stilled the storm. See Lk. 8: 22 – 25

When the Church, the Ark of Christ, seems to be in the midst of storms, Jesus is still in control. Maybe, through the storms, He’s trying to teach us to hold fast to Him.

In the Scripture readings today we can hear the voice of Jesus telling us to listen to Him through the storms. To keep: “Earnestly praying” Acts 12: 5 for each other as the Church did for Peter and Paul during their imprisonment in their death cells. Prayer opens our hearts to enable us to say to Jesus as Peter did: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Mt. 16: 16 so that Jesus can become the rock on which we build our lives. The chains holding us in fear fall off, and we can go into the world with the security of having Jesus as our friend.

Then, at our life’s end, we receive the crown of righteousness from that same friend. And it’s not just reserved for the great saints like Paul, because he said so: “[It’s] not just for me [he wrote] but all those who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Tim. 4: 8

May this Feast of Peter & Paul be a moment for each of us to reflect on our faith, and to renew our own personal commitment to Jesus Christ, and His Church. To give thanks for the Lord’s “appearing” in the Eucharist under the form of bread and wine; and to look forwards, with hope, to His “appearing” when He takes us to Himself to give us the gift of eternal life. 

12th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle “A”)
June 22, 2008
Is it hazardous for me to live a truly Christian life in its fullness?

The all-important context for today’s gospel (Matt 10:26-33) is the missionary instruction that Jesus is giving to the twelve apostles. Jesus is firm in his assertion that persecution and division will be their lot. This will come from “outsiders” who do not accept Jesus, and even “insiders” within their own families (as well as those who claim to be followers of Jesus but still believe and live like pagans). Not once does Jesus even hint that being his disciple will be an easy task.

Three times Jesus tells the apostles not to be afraid. Fear is sand in the machinery of life. It is False Evidence Appearing Real Wherein we have fear we are not trusting God.  

Jesus wants them to focus on their soul, not their body. You can't be an instrument of God if you are constantly living in fear of danger to your body. And only God can kill the soul. Then he turns to simple images, so that they will get the point. God knows exactly how many hairs you have on your head, whether many or few. Not only that, he knows what is happening even before a dying sparrow hits the ground. The point? God cares about everything, and especially he cares about you! The incarnation is proof of that! This is why Jesus can say three times, “fear not”!

This  same message God gave the Old Testament prophets, so that they could be his instruments. For example, to Jeremiah he said “Have no fear…I am with you…” (Jer 1:8). In many places in the gospel Jesus reminds his listeners that the prophets had been persecuted (an illustration is in the First Reading, Jer 20:10-13). Now he tells the apostles that they can expect the same thing. The message continues to be true for any disciple thereafter: to be a follower of the way, the truth, and the life means that you can expect to be treated just as Jesus and the prophets were treated. It may not be an easy job, but you have Jesus with you at all times.

Once again Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of God, undoubtedly more difficult in the face of persecution (CCC #305). There will never be a period in history when the Church doesn't undergo some form of persecution somewhere in the world; we must be prepared to witness to and about Christ in every circumstance (CCC #1816).

Eleventh  Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle “A”)
June 16, 2008

Who, Why, and Therefore are three words we use in our everyday language.  These are three words that could guide us in every meditation on every day’s readings from the Bible. “Who” are the people? “Why” is Jesus speaking to them? “Therefore,” what has it got to do with me?

Who? Today Jesus is addressing his disciples, and is observing an approaching crowd.

Why is he speaking to the apostles? He is commenting on both the lack of true leadership (the crowd was troubled, abandoned, without a true shepherd), and the need for more disciples or “harvest workers.”
He responds to his own observation by preparing the apostles to continue his own mission of healing and preaching. Notice that the apostles are sent to the people that society marginalizes. That process of exclusion gives society “permission” to ignore their very existence. For example, anyone who was sick or had a disease of any kind was probably “ritually unclean” and therefore avoided. Lepers? “Don’t even think about it” would be the reaction of the more fortunate. Contact with the “dead” would also make one “ritually unclean,” and therefore another category to avoid. Yes, these folks had indeed been “abandoned” by the religious leaders and their religious rules (i.e., those that came from the “tradition of the elders” – regulations not in the Torah but imposed as “oral Torah” by the rabbis without regard for the dignity of the person).

Therefore, what has that to do with me? Jesus was moved with compassion for the people of God. He perceived that they were like sheep without a shepherd and immediately enlisted the help of his apostles to spread the “good news” about the kingdom. He asked all of his disciples to “pray for more laborers for the harvest.” That is my cue. As a baptized Catholic, my role is to participate in Jesus’ mission by using the gifts he gave me to help the marginalized in my own society, starting with the people in my own parish, or people I meet that are struggling and abandoned by their own families, or have no family to help them.  These gifts will be my time, talent, and treasure — I am to give back freely what I have received. All of us share in the common priesthood of Christ; only some are given the gift of ministerial priesthood. But all work toward the same goal: proclaiming the kingdom by words and acts of love.

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! The Church believes in the healing, life-giving presence of Christ, especially active through the sacraments (CCC #1509). God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor (CCC #2443).

10th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle “A”)
June 8, 2008

Are there such people today, as in Jesus time, that are pious hypocrites?

The Pharisees were outwardly pious Jews. They were very concerned to keep all the ritual laws of God, and went even beyond those laws, interpreting them way out of context.

Notice how the “cultural setting” influences our understanding of today’s text. 

 First, the Pharisees would have been very rigid when it came to ritual purity and other rabbinical regulations.  So the “ritually impure” would have been on the receiving end of their sarcasm and even hatred.  Included in that “rejected” group would be the tax collectors, peasant farmers, Samaritans, and anyone else who could not adhere to their rigid human regulations, either because of their state of life (even alcoholics and prostitutes), or their place of origin (Samaritans, pagans).  The Pharisaic approach was strictly exclusive – do it “our way” or become an outsider. They thought nothing of the spirit of the Law of God. So badmouthing others, gossiping, commenting on how righteous they were as opposed to the poor sinners etc., was well within their daily practice.  But they didn't keep the more important aspects  of God’s laws, such as mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love. They had a form of godliness which was no true godliness at all.

 In the Gospel today (Matt 9:9-13), Jesus brings to the forefront two key themes addressing this exclusivity.  These are unconditional Love and unconditional Mercy.  The behavior of Jesus was against many “accepted” religious norms, meaning many regulations added by the Pharisees.  Jesus became an “outsider” because he did not ask the people he healed about their religious beliefs, Nor did it matter to him if they were “ritually clean.”  His mercy was unconditional.  All the potential recipient had to do was “ask.”

 Jesus quoted a Greek proverb (“you won’t find a physician around the healthy”), cited a Scriptural prophecy (Hosea 6 about God desiring Love), and identified his own vocation (“I came to call sinners”). 

 Nothing could be more clear: God’s love is universal, not exclusive.  The lesson for all of us is to imitate Jesus: be unconditional in our own love and mercy.  We cannot be a vehicle to bring others to Jesus if we exclude them from all contact or conversation with us.  Our challenge is to carry on the Mission of Jesus – to “follow” Jesus (like Matthew did) and bring the presence of Jesus to the sick and the sinner.

Jesus offended the Jewish teachers of the Law, because he “taught as one who had authority,” not like the Scribes; he even disavowed certain human traditions of the Pharisees (CCC #581).  The “blind” teachers were scandalized when Jesus showed mercy to sinners (CCC #589).

Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle “A”)
June 1, 2008

Is God just like a Dictator, standing there and telling me what I must do and think? 

On the contrary, God in his love is giving you absolutely total freedom in making your own free will choices! From the depths of that love he also lets you know what will happen, based on either choice. But the choice is still yours! He will never, ever force you to choose the way that he already knows is the only morally good way. Remember, God is omniscient and already knows the consequences of all choices.

Take the first reading, for example (Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32). It is really a simple matter. There are always two choices for everything – one is morally good, one is morally bad. As God knows, one involves the path to eternal life, one involves the path to eternal death. So not only does Moses relay God’s word about these two choices; he also urges the Israelites to freely “choose life” (Dt 30:19).

In the Gospel today (Matt 7:21-27), Jesus confronts his listeners with a similar choice. He is in the middle of his “Sermon on the Mount,” and he is challenging the people with the true meaning of discipleship. You can just “listen” to his words, and stop there. Or, you can “listen” to his words AND “act” upon those words of wisdom. The latter is the choice of true discipleship, and is the way that leads to eternal life. Those who simply “listen” without living out the gospel message will discover that they have not been doing the will of the Father. All of their actions will come to nothing, as fleeting as sand castles that disappear with the tide.

Regarding the message of preachers — they are simply passing on this same wisdom of God. No preacher would force a choice upon you; in fact, it is impossible to do so. But the responsibility of that preacher is to pass on to you the challenge of Jesus’ words, and the scriptural warnings about the consequences if you make immoral choices.

The “law of the gospel” requires us to make the decisive choice between the “two ways” and to put into practice the words of the Lord (CCC #1970). You discern God’s will through prayer (CCC #2826).
 

MOST HOLY BODY and BLOOD OF CHRIST (Cycle “A”)
May 25, 2008

By: Deacon Joseph A. Pasquella

When I was a Protestant Minister, I officiated many times at communion services. In our particular denomination, we only celebrated this "memorial" on Good Friday" and sometimes on New Years Eve.

Although we usually maintained that the Bible should be understood literally, there were exceptions, such as this memorial of the Lord's Supper. We believed and taught that what Jesus meant by eating his flesh and drinking his blood referred to accepting, and symbolically eating, His Words, the Word of God. We knew that Jesus was considered the Logos, the Word from John Chapter One in the Bible. "In the beginning was the ‘Logos’ the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...".  Elsewhere in the Scriptures there were verses such as, "we did find His Word and did eat them". So in my former ecclesial community, we only shared a bit of the truth of the Eucharist Meal.

While having only a part of the truth of the Lord’s supper, it seems most Christian ecclesial communities almost instinctively endeavor to obey the Lord's wish that we "do this in memory of me".  The Catholic Church, along with our Sister Churches from the East, knows the fullness of what Christ meant when he shared the Last Supper with his Apostles. 

What is the Body and Blood of Christ? John’s Gospel tells us what it is and what the Church that Christ established on earth is to believe. It is truly the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   Jesus was not speaking “symbolically” when he called himself the “living bread” (John 6:51). 

Bread was perhaps the most significant part of one’s diet in ancient times, especially for those experiencing poverty.  As a dietary staple, it was truly life-giving and life-sustaining.  Still, the consumption of bread doesn't slow down the aging process.  It doesn't prevent death, which approaches surely and relentlessly as we mature in body and spirit.
 
How do you think you would have reacted to those startling words of Jesus: “If anyone eats this bread, he shall live forever”?  Not only that, he identified this “bread of life” as himself, his own flesh and blood.  Some folks found that to be a “hard saying,” especially when he said that he was the bread that came down from heaven.  It caused many of his disciples to walk away and no longer follow him.
 
We are blessed with the gift of Faith, believing that Jesus meant exactly what he said.  So we belong to that group of disciples who did not walk away.  We recognize – as did Simon Peter – that Jesus has the words of eternal life, and that he is the Holy One of God.

However, we learn from St. Paul's teaching to the Corinthian Church that many were partaking unworthily of the Lord’s Body and Blood at the Holy Mass. The Great Apostle Paul warns us that to do so brings sickness and death, and damnation if unrepented  Damnation is spending eternity in hell, eternal separation from God. Yet God in his mercy offers us forgiveness of all venial sin by partaking in this life-giving Sacrament of the Altar. His mercy also gives us the Sacrament of Reconciliation wherein we confess all our sins to Christ -- to the priest who as in the person of Christ -- to give us absolution from our sins. Then we may worthily partake of this wondrous gift.
 
This wondrous gift of the Body and Blood of Christ continues to be present to us now in Sacramental form.  When we come forward to receive Holy Communion, we need to recognize that the very act of “coming forward” itself is an expression of our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus.  We believe that Jesus is truly present under the appearance of the consecrated bread and wine – not just as a symbol, but as a reality.
 
Therein lies the promise of Jesus.  This food for our journey back to God is also the food that strengthens us to continue the mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Believe! Live out your belief! Receive eternal life!

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM!   Jesus links faith in the resurrection to his own person, promising to raise up on the last day all those who believe, eat his Body, and drink his Blood (CCC #994).  Christ makes himself wholly and entirely present under the sacramental forms or appearances of bread and wine (CCC #1374).

MOST HOLY TRINITY (Cycle “A”)
May 18, 2008

All Theology is centered around the Most Holy Trinity. I have taken many classes during my seminary training regarding the Holy Trinity. Stacks of papers I had to read besides many books of dogmatic theology. At the very end of the class on "Trinitarian Theology of the Church", after all of us had passed the class the professor said, "In the end, the Holy Trinity cannot truly be explained. It is a mystery of the Church of Christ, and must be taken by faith in Him.” The Scriptures were written for people of faith, people who believe, and the Holy Spirit speaks to the hearts of those that seek God and wish to know Him more fully. He reveals Himself to the Church and personally to the individual seeker.  

God reveals himself as Creator, One True God, Shepherd, Healer, Protector, Defender, and Father in the Old Testament and New...but the Fullness of Who God is, was reveled in Jesus the Christ. Jesus taught that He was God. Jesus taught that the Spirit is God, the Holy Spirit, "Penuma Hagion"(in Greek). We baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit--one God, three Persons. Jesus is the key to entering into Mystery of the Holy Trinity.
 
Have you seen football games with “John 3:16” cards held aloft — so often that the passage is losing meaning for you? That can happen to us many times when we take things like this verse for granted. It is a temptation for us, when we see and hear the same messages, to pay no attention to them; some may even get bored by the message because, in our modern culture, we are exposed to so many stimuli. How many times do we pray one of the most ancient prayers of the Church--the blessing of ourselves in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Do we always give due attention to this prayer? It is our theology of God in a nut shell.
 
To bring the message of John 3:16 back to life, today try focusing on just one “key” word: gave. God loved the world so much that He didn't just “send” His Son; He gave His Son! He was given as a gift to us. This gift is so incredible and wonderful that all we need to do is accept the gift, which means to believe in Him.
 
There is more. That precious gift of Jesus Christ has a purpose. If we truly believe in Him, then the consequence of that gift is our salvation. If we refuse to believe in Him, we have chosen to reject this gift. Such a choice, to reject Jesus, is to condemn ourselves.
 
How can this possibly be, you ask? How can we condemn ourselves? Again, we need to look at the consequences of our choices. To ‘believe’ in Jesus is to follow Him, to become his disciple, and to live the moral life of unselfish love that He exemplified. Our good deeds flow from our discipleship, which in turn flows from “believing.” The Most Holy Trinity comes to dwell within us and strengthen us through the Sacraments instituted by Christ; most especially by Baptism and Confirmation.
 
One who chooses to ‘reject’ Jesus, on the other hand, will not have the benefit of the indwelling Spirit to help him and may not be challenged to live a morally sound life. Thus, by choosing independence from Jesus, he has chosen a path strewn with obstacles that might become insurmountable. A life that begins with sanctifying grace (baptism) is not an option for such an individual because of his fundamental choice to be a disciple of some thing or someone other than Jesus.
 
God gave; will you accept the gift and follow the example of Jesus?
 
The most precious gift that God could give to us is his only Son (CCC #219). Jesus came so that the world might know God’s love for us (CCC #458). 

Short Homily for May 8, 2008

Wishing to determine the truth
about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,
the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.
Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,
so he called out before the Sanhedrin,
“My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
When he said this,
a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,
and the group became divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits,
while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.
A great uproar occurred,
and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party
stood up and sharply argued,
“We find nothing wrong with this man.
Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
The dispute was so serious that the commander,
afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them,
ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst
and take him into the compound.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage.
For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness in Rome.” (Acts 22:30, 23: 6-11)

“Divide and Conquer”

St. Paul was a really brilliant evangelist.  When he found himself in the middle of an antagonistic and hostile group, he would get them to fight each other, rather than take them on all at once.  It’s called “Divide and Conquer” — a well-known strategy to break down opposition into manageable pieces.  Politicians learn that quickly.  Armies have strategies designed for that specific goal.

On the home front, every kid learns, sooner or later, that one of the easiest ways to get what you want — or at least a “sometimes” successful way — is to get your parents on oOpposite sides of an issue.  “Mom, can I go to the movies?” – “NO.”  So you go to Dad privately, “Hey, Dad, I hope you like the wash and polish job I did on your car. By the way, can I go to the movies?” – “YES, sounds okay, son…”  So you go back to Mom, and the debate is on, most likely ending in your favor.

This is exactly what St. Paul was doing in today’s first reading – pitting the Sadducees against the Pharisees over the issue of Resurrection of the Dead.  It got him out of a hot spot, temporarily at least. But it also gave Paul an opportunity to preach about the core of Christian belief: that Jesus rose from the dead. Only God can do that.  So our entire faith hangs on that Truth, and we proclaim it as the center of our Gospel. As we respond to our call to holiness, we need to be alert for subtle attacks from others who try to divide and conquer Catholics by under-mining our beliefs.  If they can make even one inroad and weaken our values, or our courage to stand up for those values, then they are on their way to winning a victory for the Evil One.  You will find these little attacks quite common during an election year, as candidates try to get you to “water down” the Gospel truth.  So, pray that the Spirit of Truth protect you, and give you courage to stand up for truth at all times!

Seventh Sunday of Easter (Cycle “A”)
May 4, 2008

We might imagine that the time immediately after the Ascension must have been a fearful time for the disciples, knowing that Jesus was no longer going to be with them.

The answer is undoubtedly “yes and no.” Being a true disciple requires at least three things. The first two are transparent: courage and using one’s gifts. However, the third and most important ingredient is the power and action of the Holy Spirit. So far the Spirit had not yet fallen on the disciples gathered in the Upper Room. The crucial day of Pentecost was just around the corner. Initially, then, the disciples must have been fearful, because they were behind locked doors when Jesus first appeared to them (John 20:19). Without the Holy Spirit, and in the absence of Jesus (his ascension), it is quite probable that this fear of the Jewish leaders continued.

Nevertheless, there must also have been a sense of peace because they were in the midst of a novena of prayer, with the Blessed Virgin Mary at the center. They would have recalled Jesus’ words at the Last Supper just a few nights earlier, when he spoke of the glory he desired and the glory he gave to his Father (John 17:1-11a). When the evangelist John speaks of “glory,” he is talking about revelation. Jesus had given his Father glory – that is, he had revealed to his disciples the Father’s love and plan of salvation. On the night before he died, he had also revealed his own desire to be glorified – that is, for his true identity to be revealed to the world, his identity as the Son of God!

But without the Holy Spirit, that is a lot of revelation for the disciples to absorb and understand! So we also hear the consolation that comes from Jesus’ prayer in today’s gospel – somehow, Jesus has been “glorified” in them! Yes, very soon the Holy Spirit will make it clear that when you see the disciples acting in the power of the Holy Spirit, you are seeing Jesus at work in them. Jesus has indeed been revealed or “glorified”!

The event of the Cross and Resurrection transcends time and constantly draws everything toward life (CCC #1085). Jesus prays for us. Our High Priest who prays for us is both the one who prays in us and the one who hears our prayer (CCC #2749).

Sixth Sunday of Easter (Cycle “A”)

What does Jesus mean, “I will not leave you orphans”?

April 27 2008

What consoling and comforting words we hear in the Gospel today (John 14:15-21)!  Jesus is about to ascend back to his Father in heaven.  So Jesus tells his friends – and therefore you and me – “Don’t worry. You won’t be orphans.  I will be back in a little while.  Trust in that.  In the ‘between time,’ the Father will send you another Advocate who will be with you always.” 

What do you think occasioned those words from Jesus?  Well, obviously the Apostles were a bit on the scared side!  They probably were feeling exactly like teenagers going off to college – scared to death, going off on their own for the first time, and fearing the unknown.  So they receive the consolation and affirmation and support of their parents.  Jesus is saying that, as long as you have the Holy Spirit with you, you will have absolutely nothing to fear.  So get out there and spread the Good News.

Deacon Philip worked mighty wonders (First Reading : Acts 8), but only because he was filled with the same Holy Spirit.  In fact, his work of evangelization and healing was with the hated Samaritans, and the power of the Holy Spirit produced its results.  Nevertheless, the bishops (the Apostles) had to come and “lay hands” upon these new Christians so that they could also receive the Holy Spirit.

That is the message for us today.  Never forget that the Holy Spirit dwells within you, not far away in some cosmic location!  Baptism and Confirmation bring the fullness of the Holy Spirit into your life – the same effect as if Jesus were walking with you and living in your house!  That is a tremendous consolation, knowing we can call upon the Spirit of God within us in our time of need – which is every day of our lives.

The Father sends us the Holy Spirit because Jesus asks Him to do so; this Spirit is the Advocate – “he who is called to one’s side” – always there to lead us to all Truth (CCC #692).  The gift of the Spirit imparted by the Sacrament of Confirmation perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church (CCC #1288).

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Cycle “A”)

April 13, 2008

3,000 new members in one day (Acts 2:36-41)?  Why don’t we see that happening in our Church now? There is not enough space to respond adequately!  However, let me ask you: how often do you hear a preacher give a homily that calls you to repent?  I suspect that most people overlook that last line in Peter’s message today: “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”  Yes, this is indeed a corrupt generation today, in the year 2008 – probably worse than in Peter’s time, because we have no excuse.  Immorality, violence, baby-killing, political and commercial chicanery at its worst, total disregard for both the natural law of God as well as the scriptural revelations about right living - - the list of corruption is endless!

 You know, the clergy need to hear more than “that was a nice homily, Father/Deacon.”  They need to be held accountable for proclaiming the Good News; but that proclamation also needs to include the challenge that the Gospel message always places in front of us.  The challenge is to change, or using Peter’s language, to “repent,” and then to actively respond to our environment.  We need to confront this “corrupt generation” with the truth, and help each other in waging that deadly combat that determines the final resting place of our soul and the souls of our brothers and sisters.

It is not just the person in the pew who must change and engage in spiritual warfare.  Your help is needed in reminding the preachers about our nation’s apparent loss of a sense of sin, and the dangers that poses to our families.  We need to hear about “sin” as well as God’s grace, to help people recognize and cope with it since they encounter it every day.  Remind your priests and deacons about that!  I suspect that if we returned to meaningful preaching (including paranesis or moral exhortation) in today’s environment, then perhaps the pews would fill up again as the Truth is recognized…to say nothing about the confession lines…

Sin is present in human history – and that includes today; any attempt to ignore it or joke about that dark reality is both futile and deadly (see CCC #386).  God’s grace is freely given to us to overcome all evil, and also to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church (CCC #2003).

Third Sunday of Easter (Cycle “A”)

April 6, 2008

This is an admonishing Gospel story today!  It is confrontational because it might lead you to discover that your faith is missing two terribly important elements.  Those two elements are a real encounter with Christ, and secondly, the demands which that encounter makes upon our daily lives.

            Did you notice that it was not until the “breaking of the bread” that the two disciples from Emmaus were able to recognize Jesus?  The scriptures were a help; they provided intellectual support from God’s inspired word for the truth that Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant scriptures.  In fact, in hindsight the two disciples remembered that their “hearts were burning” as the scriptures were unfolded for them by Jesus on that long walk.

            Nevertheless, the real encounter took place only at the breaking, blessing and distribution of the bread.  At that precise point, they recognized Jesus.  Even when he “vanished” they knew beyond any doubt that he had been present to them in that Eucharistic action.  Their “blindness” was removed; now they could “see,” even though Jesus was no longer present to their human eyes!

            The second element is the demand that such an encounter makes on us.  The Gospel is not just a “nice” story to remember.  It is also a call to participate in the mission of Jesus.

Also, Jesus is present with us in the Holy Scriptures, in the preaching of the Homily by the deacon, priest or bishop. Such preaching of the Gospel makes known to us the written Word of God, which in turn makes known the Risen Living Word, Jesus Christ.

But who is it that interprets the Words of God…is it the priest or deacon or bishop? No. Not individually. It is our Mother the Church through the Official Magisterial Authority given her. Jesus did not leave us forsaken. Jesus still guides the Church. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost with the promise that He would lead and guide the Church into all truth. Jesus established the Apostles to be the first Bishops and High Priests and Peter as the first Vicar of Christ. The Pope is the Vicar of St. Peter, and therefore of Christ. He is the Living Representative and rules the Church with the bishops in Communion with him. Peter and the Church can not err in matters of faith and Morals.  So we are safe if we follow the teachings of the Church, and I exhort all to have and study the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of the Holy Father and of Pope John Paul II the Great ( of blessed memory).

  Now Christ our God wants you to continue to spread the Good News of God’s love, and to invite your friends to “come home” to the Church that Jesus established.  It is only in the “breaking of the bread” that blindness is removed, and people can truly “see.”