Most Holy Trinity Sunday Homily May 30, 2021

Most Holy Trinity Sunday   Homily     May 30, 2021

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” 

          We always begin our prayer invoking the Holy Trinity.  We are Baptized and become Christian by the Trinitarian formula.   Indeed, the Trinity is fundamental and basic to our Christian faith.

          But, as important as the Trinity is, it is often mis-understood.  We are tempted to say that the Trinity is a “mystery” – which it is – and then leave it at that.  However, I think we can explore this mystery further in a profitable way.  Let’s see if we can.

          Mathematics is the language of the universe (here turn over first sheet  1 + 1 + 1 = 3).  From quarks and leptons and electrons and atoms, all the way to enormous galaxies and supermassive black holes, dark energy and anti-matter, and everything there is, mathematics describes and defines all of reality.  Pretty amazing.  Therefore, we can very confidently say that 1 + 1 + 1 = 3.   That statement is true for all time, from the time of the dinosaurs to the Neanderthals to the Emperors of ancient Rome and ancient China, up to our own day, and way way beyond, this is TRUE.  And it is true over the entire universe, and even the multiverse, if you believe in such things. 

          But, when we come to the Most Holy Trinity, even mathematics breaks down.  (flip to the next page).   1 + 1 + 1 = 1.  

          What do you think?   Frankly, this doesn’t make sense.

          Our monotheistic brothers and sisters, the Moslems, who do not believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity, but emphasize strongly the unity of God, say God is one, and only one, and there is no other god.

          But we Christians, rather contradictorily, say YES, there is only ONE God, and God is ONE, AND God is THREE. 

          Why do we make this seemingly absurd declaration?   Because of our experience. 

          We experience God in different ways.  God is the source of all being.  God is not an object, not even a noun, but a verb, an active reality. God is a being that really is “to be”.  Holding all creation in existence every moment.  God is the creator, yet radically different and separate from Creation.   We call God “Father”, as the loving source of existence itself.

          But, we also experience God in a specific, unique, concrete human person; who lived about 2 millennia ago, in the land now called Palestine;   He taught us about His Father, and he remained perfectly in tune with His Father’s Will, which we call “obedience”.  By this “obedience” Jesus broke the power of sin and death, and being raised up from the dead on the third day, opened for us the future of eternal life.

          And finally, we experience God in our hearts and in our lives as closer to us than our own breath.  We open ourselves to the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit to console us in troubles, to fortify us in difficulties, to lead us into a life that is holy and full of meaning, and worth, and love. 

          Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three modalities, three experiences, three Persons in One God.  All one, all equal.   Three equals one.  The God of mystery and love, Who became one of us out of love and lived our history, and now sanctifies us, makes us holy, and fills us with Love.  The Lover, the Beloved, and the Love that unites them, one Love, shared with us.             One Trinitarian God.   The mystery of the Trinity is essential to our salvation.  Our hope of salvation only makes sense in the mystery of the Trinity.  So we have very good reason to celebrate this Feast today. 

          May we always live “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  

HOMILY for PENTECOST SUNDAY May 23, 2021

 HOMILY for PENTECOST SUNDAY     May 23, 2021

          HAPPY PENTECOST!!!     In our first reading today the Holy Spirit appears as a “strong, driving, wind”.   Certainly, we in Texas know about strong, driving winds – in tornadoes and hurricanes.   We have at least seen the videos of trees swaying violently in the wind, of debris flying through the air, of transformers exploding in a shower of sparks, of great old trees uprooted and pushed over, of all sorts of wind damage.

          And it is true that the Holy Spirit is strong, and can push us, and humble and awe us with the Holy Spirit’s power.

          There are times we most desperately need the power of the Holy Spirit.  For over the last year we have witnessed storms of protest and civil unrest: over demands for racial justice, over police brutality, and the riots in January in the nation’s capital.   And there is also the pervasive threat of the covid pandemic.   In the face of these threats and upheavals and dangers we have lived through the last year and more, we need the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

          But there is another side of the Holy Spirit that we need now as well, and perhaps even more than the Holy Spirits’ power:  and that is the Holy Spirit’s comfort.  For the Holy Spirit is not only a mighty, irresistible wind, but also the refreshing coolness of a gentle breeze on a hot, sultry day.   The Holy Spirit’s POWER is balanced and accompanied by COMFORT. 

          Indeed, one of the titles of the Holy Spirit is “Comforter”.   And having lived through a dangerous and difficult year, we need the comfort and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

          In one translation of the Sequence for Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is described thus: “Come, within our bosoms shine. / You, of comforters the best; / You, the soul’s most welcome guest;/  Sweet refreshment here below;/  In our labor, rest most sweet; / Grateful coolness in the heat; /  Solace in the midst of woe.”

          “Solace in the midst of woe.”  Have we not experienced enough of woe this last year?

          For me personally that solace often comes in the form of a new perspective.  When I have run into a difficult or intractable problem; maybe in dealing with an employee of the parish who is not performing their job satisfactorily; or disagreement with a brother Paulist priest;  or even with a Bishop or diocesan official who I find difficult and disagreeable and wrong; or even with a parishioner who constantly complains and criticizes and questions everything, (of course not any like that is this parish), or any kind of problem, and I become worried and frustrated and upset, when finally I remember to take the problem to prayer, and hand the problem over to the Holy Spirit, most of the time it is as if the fog lifts, and I see clearly again; I remember that it is Christ’s Church, not mine; that the Lord is in charge, not me; and I become less tense, less tight, and can breathe more easily again.   “Solace in the midst of woe.”

          We need the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives to make our lives worth living.  As we heard in the Second Reading today: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”        We can all use more of these gifts.

          The Holy Spirit is strong, powerful, forceful:  but also comforting, consoling, refreshing.

          The Holy Spirit lifts up our spirits, fills us with hope, and peace, and love.   Truly the Holy Spirit is a most wonderful gift.  Happy Pentecost!!!      

Homily Sixth Sunday of Easter May 9, 2021 Mother’s Day

 Homily   Sixth Sunday of Easter May 9, 2021   Mother’s Day

           In the Gospel we just heard proclaimed, Jesus says to His disciples, that is, to us: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.”   Today Jesus solemnly tells you: “I love you.”

          Maybe you get told frequently by a spouse or parent or child or friend, “I love you.”  But for most of us that is not common, and for all of us we can always use more affirmations that we are loved.  And today, in this Gospel, Jesus says to you, “I love you.”       //

          How does that make you feel?  Do you kind of shrug it off as no big deal?  You say to yourself, “Yehhh, big deal, that doesn’t help with my bills or my aches and pains.”  And so, you kind of blow it off?

          Or does it embarrass you somewhat?  It is so personal, so tender, so touching.  It is outside our usual expectations, it gets so close, it just is uncomfortable.

          Or does it threaten you a bit?  Anyone else scarred of intimacy?   Of such closeness?  Of the mutual obligations and expectations it places on us?  Do I really want to go there?  What am I getting into? 

          Or are you overjoyed at this revelation of Jesus’ love for you?   Does it make you happy, excited, feeling more alive, overwhelmed?  The Lord loves me!  Hurray!!!  The sky is bluer, colors more vivid, I feel more alive, Alleluia!  I’m loved!      //

          I have all of these reactions in varying degrees.  And most likely you feel at least some of these, as well as other reactions, on hearing Jesus solemnly say to you in today’s Gospel, “I love you.”

          It is really important, first of all, to hear that.  “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.  Remain in my love.”

        Notice that there is a dynamism to this love.  It moves.  It begins with God the Father, the source of all, and the love moves from the Father to the Son, or as Jesus says, “As the Father loves me,…”   Then the love moves from Jesus to us.  “so I also love you.”

          But it doesn’t, or shouldn’t, stop there.  Jesus goes on to tell us: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”  From the Father to the Son, from the Son to us, from us to everyone we meet. It is a dynamic, living love.  It is all love.    //

          How can Jesus “command” love?  Love must be freely given.  It cannot be forced.  You cannot legislate love.  How can Jesus command love?  

          This is not at all like the commandments that God gave to Moses on Mt Sinai, the Ten Commandments, the “Thou shall nots…”  Rather this is the “command” from one lover to another.  It is not a law, but something much more powerful, a request made in love.  And the desire to please the beloved is greater than the force of any law or threat of punishment.  //

          On this day when we remember and honor the other-serving love of Mothers, and all mother figures, we are presented in the Gospel with the ultimate example of other-serving love, Jesus Christ.  Jesus loves me, and Jesus loves you.  His example, His love, His giving of Himself to us blesses us, challenges us, motivates us to love one another. 

          Jesus assures us today: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you   This I command you: love one another.”

God bless!

Homily Fifth Sunday of Easter Cycle B May 2, 2021

 Homily   Fifth Sunday of Easter   Cycle B   May 2, 2021

 “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”

          So begins our second reading today, from the First Letter of St. John.  It is a short but beautiful letter.  

          But it is a little off-putting.   St. John addresses us as “children”.  I don’t know about you, but I find that a bit odd or even demeaning.  We, as Americans and Texans are so proud of our self-determination, our independence and ability to answer for ourselves, our adult ability to be responsible and independent actors, that the address of “children” strikes me as a bit off-putting. 

          In the Orthodox Bible translation, it is even more off-putting. They translate this as “my little children.”   How would you feel if I addressed you all in my homily as “my little children”???  //   It just doesn’t work for us.

          But that is really OUR problem, not St. John’s.  Because he is speaking to you and to me with great tenderness and great intimacy.  Such tenderness, such intimacy, such affection and closeness takes us by surprise, startles us, makes us a little uncomfortable, a tad embarrassed.  At least it does so for me.   It is not manly. 

          So let us swallow our inflated sense of self-importance, let go of our pride in our adult independence, and graciously receive John’s tenderness and love, and allow him to refer to us as “my little children.” 

          And what he tells us is simple but very important: “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”

          In other words, do not just talk the talk but walk the walk.  Or as Jesus tells us in St Matthew’s Gospel: “Not everyone who says to Me,

‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” MT 7:21

          We all, I think instinctively, understand this.  To simply profess our faith with our lips but then not to live it out in practice by what we do and what we avoid doing, is simply hypocrisy.  And I assume that all of you do not want to be a hypocrite.

          How do we do the hard work of avoiding evil and doing good, of avoiding gossip but building others us through support and compliments, of avoiding greed in all its forms but generously helping others in need, of not cheating or lying, but professing the truth, and on and on and on?

          The answer to this important question is in the Gospel today.  Jesus solemnly declares: “Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.

 

If you have never seen a grape vine, take yourself out to Fredericksburg.  Along the way you will see dozens of wineries.  Many of them have vineyards on their property.  Stop and look at the vines.  Look at them, and remember what Jesus tells us: “I am the vine, you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me and I in her will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.”

           How do we remain in Jesus?  It is not an esoteric or mysterious or extremely difficult thing.  It is a relationship, and like all relationships, it takes work.  You need to spend time with Jesus.  Mass on the weekend is a great start, but it is not sufficient to maintain or grow your relationship with Jesus.  You need to pray daily.  You know that.  There are a myriad ways to pray, and there are dozens of apps you can place on your cell phone to help you do that.  I use one Fr Paolo introduced me to, called “Pray as you go”. 

          Bible reading is a wonderful way into prayer.  Some find the Rosary as a great way to settle, calm down, center and pray, meditating on the various mysteries. 

          There is the story of a priest who noticed a rather rough and obviously poor man who prayed daily in the church, moving his lips but the priest could not hear or make out the words.  It intrigued the priest to imagine what this common laborer was saying in all these words.  So finally, one day he said to the man, “I see you praying all the time, mouthing the words, but not hearing you. What do you say in your prayer?”  The poor man replied: “Oh Father, you know I am not a very educated man and don’t know a lot of big words.  So I just recite the alphabet.  I give God the letters and He makes the words.” 

          That is prayer.  Spending silent time with the Lord is prayer.  Pope Francis speaks of sitting silently before the tabernacle and says “I look at the Jesus and He looks at me.”  That is prayer.

           In conclusion my dear children:  Jesus is the vine.  We are the branches.  Whoever remains in Him and He in us will bear much fruit.  This fruit will not increase your bank account, will not heal your arthritis, will not make you popular and loved.  But it will lead you to glory.

 As Jesus assures us at the end of today’s Gospel: “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much and become my disciples.”