St.'s Simon and Jude

Yesterday the Church celebrated the feast of St.’s Simon and Jude, Apostles and martyrs.  

I’ve always wondered why the Church put these two together, instead of giving each their own feast day.  I know part of it probably has to do with the fact that we don’t know much about them.

 

For Simon, all we know is that he was a “zealot,” a veritable terrorist of his day, and for Jude… poor Jude… I have to admit that I’ve always thought of him as a syrupy-sweet old man, trying to stay out of people’s way, because he didn't be to be accused of being the "other" Jude in the room, you know -- Judas Iscariat. 

The little we do know about these and the rest of the apostles makes you wonder if Jesus knew what he was doing when he chose them.  From a tax collector, to fishermen, it seems as if Jesus went out of his way to scrape the bottom of the barrel for disciples.

Regarding Simon and Jude, some try to spin this by pointing to them as a proof of the diversity of the Church – I mean how much more diverse can it get than a terrorist and a nobody? 

Others say that by placing these two saints together, we get a glimpse of the humanity that Christ calls to himself – how very lofty... and how very unapproachable.  But I wonder if there is more to this… something deeper.

When I envision Jesus choosing Simon and Jude, I see a mastermind at work.  He doesn’t pick these two to make a point about how “all are welcome” or to glorify the human tendencies to be either radical or malleable.  No, by choosing these men, Jesus is making a clear statement here, and that is to evangelize.

You see, the reason he chose Simon and Jude was because he wanted to save them!  He wanted to save them from themselves and their sins.  He wanted to free them from the tyranny of violence, the saccharin chains of ambiguity. He wanted to transform them into himself, so that His Good News could go throughout all the earth, and as the Psalmist says, "give glory to God like the angels of heaven!) (Ps. 19:2)

But most importantly, for us today at least, Jesus chose them to be a foundation of witness for us; a witness of conversion.  He shows us, through this chose of broken men, that he wants us too, even with our brokenness: our weaknesses, our ambiguities, and even our violence.  He wants it all!  He wants us completely, so that he can heal us, and so, as St. Paul alludes to in his letter to the Ephesians (Eph. 2:19-22), make us "members of His household;" so that he can make us "fellow citizens with the holy ones;" and so that he can show us, that even in this valley of tears called life, we are "strangers and sojourners no longer."

My friends, how much more radical, or loving, can you get?

God's Wheat

 

http://www.ourladyofgracemonastery.com/2012/10/17/saint-ignatius-of-antioch/

"Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God.  I am God's wheat and shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ's pure bread... Let me attain pure light.  Only on my arrival there can I be fully a human being... My love of this life has been crucified."

-- Second Reading for the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours
17 October 2013

Quote of the Day

"All objectification tends towards murder, all self-objectification to suicide, for the only time a person is only an object is when he is a corpse."

Aaron the High Priest, Pray for us!

I've recently come to admire our Orthodox brethren who have the practice of venerating not only those saints of God that have brought the Good News to the World after Christ's coming, but also those Old Testament figures who paved the way and who eagerly awaited the coming of the Savior.

While celebrating the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, my confessor reminded me about this.  Since God is outside of time, those moments we see in the past are as present to Him as those moments that, God-willing, are to come.  This gives us a glimpse of God's power, as well as His love.

The first high priest of the Jewish people is my namesake.  Aaron, derived from ancient Egyptian and Hebrew meaning "heavenly paradise", "high mountain" or "the enlightened" (thank you Wikipedia), was a man who made mistakes, who was utterly human, and yet called by God to be spiritual leader of His people.

How fitting, then, for a man who's name is the same and who is on the path to become a priest, to have a devotion to this saint.  He is the archetype not only for the priesthood today, but he also foreshadowed the man who became the foster-father of Christ, St. Joseph.  They both were men, sinful men, who were called to cherish God in a specific way, guiding and nurturing, and remaining faithful despite their sinfulness.

And so today, I renew my efforts to be like this saint of old, and my patron.  May he continue to pray for his brothers and sisters here on earth. 

St. Aaron, prophet and high priest, pray for us!

The Real Game of Thrones

On today feast of St. Denis, Bishop and Martyr, the second reading from the Office today gives us a commentary on Psalm 118 by St. Ambrose.  He speaks of the martyrdoms we must all face in life, be they public or private.  ultimately, martyrdom is witness for Christ.

He ends his commentary with these powerful word concerning the "kings" of sin:

"There are as many kings as their are sins and vices; it is before these kings that we are led and before these we sand.  These kings have their thrones in many hearts.  But if anyone acknowledges Christ, he immediately makes a prisoner of this kind of king and casts him down from the throne of his own heart.  How shall the devil maintain his throne in one who builds a throne for Christ in his heart?"

May St. Denis, witness for Christ in his life and death, be an example for us on how to build up the throne of Christ in our hearts.  Amen.

Be Bold for Christ

As I prepare to give my second sermon in Advanced homiletics class, the second reading from the Office of Reading spoke to me on a new level.  Written by St. Gregory the Great in a pastoral guide, he speak particularly to those intrusted with the pastoral care of the Church.  May the words I share "encourage [you] in sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."

"To advance against the foe involves a bold resistance to the powers of the world in defense of the flock... Anyone ordained a priest undertakes the task of preaching, so that with a loud cry he may go on ahead of the terrible judge who follows.  If, then, a priest does not know how to preach, what kind of cry can such a dumb herald utter?"

Powerful words for those of us in formation for the priesthood, but also powerful words to those who share in the priesthood of all believers.  By our baptism, we are called to proclaim the Good News -- not "hesitate to say openly what is right because [we] fear losing the favor of men."

Be courageous!  Be a saint!

[all quotations come from the twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours]

The Porn Generation

This is a very powerful article about the effects of pornography on youth.  It is up to parents to educate themselves and their children about what unrealistic and objectifying sex does psychologically and morally.  And that does not mean playing the "You're going to hell because you looked at it!" card.  This is the worst thing to do for children, as they will react to this negatively.  Education about the beauty of the human person -- all of the human person -- requires that we look with dignity on sexuality.  It ends with a sobering statement, one that all parents need to realize:

"[Parents] need to get tech-savvy, and as toe-curling as it seems, [they] are the first generation that will have to talk to [their] children about porn."

Think about it; pray about it.

His Call; Our Answer

The following is a theological reflection given for house prayer at St. Meinrad Seminary.  The reading on which it is based is Ephesians 1:15-23:

As members of a house of formation for the priesthood, we have, no doubt, spent quite some time thinking about our “call:” our vocation.  During my time here, I have found that I often try to understand this call in one of two ways: what do I have to offer, and what can be done in me?  These viewpoints are important, especially if we take into consideration what our lives might be like as priests. 

While the priestly life is filled with many graces, it only takes five minutes of candidly speaking with our pastors to realize that it is also filled with very real problems.  For the sake of the Church, we will be asked to do what may seem impossible to us at this point in our life; we will be presented with overwhelming obligations, under-appreciated tasks, and isolating situations.  We will struggle against the powers of evil, found in our neighbor, and in ourselves.

So, in order to meet these challenges, we must be prepared, we must be formed to do what will be required of us.  Our resolve to obedience, to perseverance, to initiation must be tested; our ability to face the inevitable obstacles of sin and sinner, both in others and in ourselves, must be strengthened and honed. 

But in all of this preparation, in the quest to grasp our vocation, we must be remember, as the reading makes clear to us tonight, that it is not our vocation we are called to have, it is the Father’s, and so it follows that it is not our gift we are called to give, but his.  

“The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory” has opened the “eyes of [our] hearts to be enlightened, that [we] may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance… what is the surpassing greatness of his power… in accord with his great might” (Eph. 1:18 and following)

If we can remember and acknowledge this in our lives, my brothers, God will use us to reflect the salvation He has prepared in the sight of every people, who is Christ our Lord.

We will then realize that what we have to offer is not a call, it is an answer.   

What is yours?

Christian Universities in Okla. Challenge Abortion Pill Mandate :: OBU

Christian Universities in Okla. Challenge Abortion Pill Mandate :: OBU

"Do not be afraid"

(The following is a homily written for my "Advanced homiletics" class, here at St. Meinrad Seminary. )

Let me take you on a journey. 

Close your eyes and envision a large stone dungeon, filled with the smell of burnt hair and grease. 

A row of eight pairs of shackles is attached to one of the walls, and all of them are empty except for one pair, which holds a middle-aged woman. 

On the opposite wall is a table, with various knives, blades, and, oddly, a platter with a roasted pig on it, apple in the mouth and all.

In the center of the room lies a young man.  He has been tortured beyond imagination, all while the woman, his mother, has had to watch. 

On the verge of death, he remembers the words of the Psalmist: “I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word” (Ps. 17:6) 

He hears his mother whisper: “Do not be afraid,”

and at that moment, they both have the certainty that only hope can give;

the certainty that God is there with them.

This story is given to us partially in the first reading; Chapter 7 of II Macc. 

It is one of the most heart-wrenching stories I have ever read. 

It tells us of a family that literally gave up everything to follow God’s Law: their comfort, their bodies, their lives.

But what is even more heart-wrenching to me is that this story is not a lone event in history;

it can be seen happening this very day. 

In Syria, for example, kidnappings, arsons and riots have led to a death toll that is unimaginable,

and the cause can be traced in large part to religious intolerance.[1]

Closer to home, we find that, in 2008, there were nearly 10,000 reported victims of hate crimes in the US,

2000 of which were victims of religious persecution.[2] 

I wonder if, by now, you are as thoroughly disturbed as I am.

 

It is natural to be afraid of this feeling;

We avoid being disturbed because it is not comfortable. 

It goes against the idea that we are “exceptional,” that we are “better” than what history has told us about ourselves.

Yet, when our lives are disturbed, we are forced to look for refuge in something – anything – that will help us.

When physical or emotion crises rise, or when we feel isolated or besieged by attacks to our very soul, the kings of sinfulness and selfishness demand from us a choice.

A choice for the ultimate good, or self-preservation.

I think the first reading today gives us a way to know which choice to make. 

It reminds us that, in the end, it is vain to hold on to what this world can offer, because even that can, and will, be taken from us. 

It shows us that we are called to give of ourselves, so that other’s may know God’s ability to sustain us. 

It shows us that we are asked to have faith in God’s power to overcome death, even when death is staring us in the face.

The family in this reading gave up their lives so that the community of God’s People might persevere in union with God. 

They knew, with unwaivering hope, that by “disdaining” the pleasures and comforts of this world, they would regain them again in the world to come,

They knew that they would be preserving the true freedom of God for His Children (See II Mc 7:6). 

That they would be holding fast to the certainty that God heard their cries for redemption,

And that He had answered them by giving them a certainty that there is more.

That there is sharing in God’s eternal Life.

When our lives are in union with God’s Will, He shows us that we do not have to be afraid of the hardships that life may throw at us,

because He hears our cry. 

When those physical or emotional crises arise, we can rest assured of God’s Grace, preparing us and sustaining us.

When feelings of isolation or fear present themselves, we can trust in God’s Presence. 

When we are faced with personal challenges of the soul, God consoles us with the Promise He made to those who seek Him in good faith.

Could it be that our task then,

today and every day,

is to allow God to teach us how to place His Will for us in the place of our own wills? 

This is something He wants to do for us; He wants to liberate us from sin and raise us to glory.

Let’s try to recognize this and hold fast to the hope that God gives us “through his grace, encourag[ing our] hearts and strengthen[ing] them” (II Thess. 2:16) to say yes. 

Do not be afraid; God has heard our voiceless cries for redemption, and He has answered us.

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[1] http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/09/25/syria-save-the-children-report.html

[2] http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2008/data/table_01.html

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The 5 Stages of Evangelization

1. Pre-evangelization—a preparatory phase (often seen in the work of missionaries) to assist in meeting the basic human needs so as to prepare hearers for the Gospel (NDC, 49).
2. Missionary Preaching—directed towards non-believers (by ignorance or choice), followers of other religions and young children this involves the initial preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (NDC, 49).
3. Initiatory Catechesis—the formation of catechumens, children and youth.  “The function of initiatory catechesis is to introduce the life of faith, the Liturgy, and the charity of the People of God to those being initiated (NDC, 50).”
4. Mystagogical Catechesis—from initiation to participation in the life of the Church, especially its liturgy and missionary activity (NDC, 50).
5. Permanent or Continuing Catechesis— “Involves the systematic presentation of the truths of the faith and the practice of Christian living.  The function of permanent catechesis is to nourish the faith of believers throughout their lives (NDC, 50).”

 

(this is from a presentation given in my Catechetical Ministry class, taught by Fr. Brendan)