Homilies

Commemoration of All the Faithful departed (All Souls Day)

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:00:53 GMT

Homily All Souls 2025

Commemoration of All the Faithful departed (All Souls Day)

Wis 3;1-9; Rm 6:3-9; Jn 6/37-40

November 2 is All Souls Day! It is not a solemnity but a commemoration of the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. It is a day of prayer and mourning for the souls of the faithful departed who are being purified in purgatory. Unlike All Saints Day (which is a solemnity and a joyful celebration of heaven), this day has a penitential and somber tone. It is not a feast of triumph, but of intercession. When it falls on a Sunday in Ordinary time where we are expected to sing the Gloria, that song of joy and praise is omitted because the tone of the day is not celebratory but prayerful and reflective. The Creed too is omitted because the focus is not on catechesis but application of faith and our belief in resurrection. As we conclude the prayers of the faithful, we will sing the song of farewell to our departed parishioners who have passed on in the past year.

All Souls Day can easily be a sad or even painful day for many. For those who have lost loved ones in the last year, this day can be a challenging reminder of the absence they likely continue to feel quite intensely. Even those who have not lost someone so immediately, can still experience the sadness of thinking about all those who are no longer with us.

While we should not downplay our mourning nor deny our grief, we are also called to recognize that sadness is not the only emotion encouraged by the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. Hope is part of what the feast is meant to offer us as well. Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured into our hearts as St Paul has told in the second reading. All Souls is a day of hope, not despair because it proclaims that love is stronger than death, that God’s mercy is greater than our sin.

The gospel reading from St John also contains a clear basis for this hope. Jesus insists that it is the Father’s will that he ‘should not lose anything of what he gave me’ and pledges that those who follow him will have eternal life, for “I shall raise them upon the last day”.

Whether one has an immediate family member or whether you commemorate all souls more generally on this day, there is hardly a more meaningful sentiment than this hope. We take solace in the promise that our departed loved ones are now in God’s hands, where no unbearable torment could ever touch and bring them down as we read from the Book of Wisdom.

The responsorial psalm we sung presents a different type of promise to prompt another type of hopefulness in the midst of sadness and mourning. Instead of pointing toward our future resurrection, Psalm 23 gives us the comfort of knowing that God is here to accompany us just as God has accompanied all those who have gone before us. “Even though I walk in the dark valley” the psalmist maintains, “I fear no evil; for you are at my side”. Or even more poetically, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”.

Unquestionably, we can trust all the faithful departed had the rod and staff of this Good Shepherd to give them the courage as they faced the unavoidable reality of death. And we find solace in the guarantee that this Provident God will likewise refresh our own souls as we mourn our losses today.

As we remember and pray for all those who have gone before us marked with a sign of faith, let our lives be a legacy of love, our prayers aid them on their journey to God and our service a sharing in the life of Jesus.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord………. and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Exaltation of the Cross

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:07:01 GMT

Homily 9/14/25

Homily for the Exaltation of the Cross

Numbers 21:4b – 9; Philippians 2:6 – 11; John 3:13 – 17

The feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is tied to St. Helena, the mother of Constantine. She was a devout Christian who went to Jerusalem in the 4 ^th Century. There was a pagan temple built over the place of Jesus’ death and burial. Helena tore down the temple and built The Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. In the excavation for that church, legend has it, three crosses were found. A woman who was very sick was healed when she touched one of the crosses so that was identified as the cross of Jesus. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross was put on the liturgical calendar on the day of the Basilica’s dedication in the 6 ^th century.

The Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher still stands today. The church has divided ownership. Three denominations claim it as their own. The Armenian Apostolic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The irony is that this holiest of all Christian sites is a place of much division. The three churches who have custody do not get along. They have been at odds over repair and decoration of the church

As we know, the cross used to be nothing more than an instrument of torture and death. The Romans used it to punish those they considered criminals, to strike fear in the hearts of those who might dare challenge their so-called peace. It was the cruelest form of execution.

Everything changed the day Jesus was crucified. Once he died upon the cross, what was once merely an instrument of Roman punishment became in Christ the symbol of humans’ salvation from pain and death. It became an instrument of divine mercy , a symbol of love , and above all, our hope for God’s total deliverance at the end of time. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross expresses the paradox of Christian faith . Christ’s death and resurrection assure us that death and evil will never have the last word, that God’s love is everlasting and therefore, what God loves is everlasting.

In Christ, the cross now tells not a human story of oppressive power and dehumanizing punishment, but the divine story of redemption. In the cross, Jesus reveals the very heart of God. He shows us how precious each of us is to the Father, and how far God is willing to go for our salvation: “For God so loved that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” On the cross, Christ proves God’s love for us and answers the deepest questions of human life. God alone is the ultimate purpose of our existence.

The cross teaches us that it is better to give than to receive. As Jesus teaches, unless the grain of wheat falls and dies, it bears no fruit. The cross teaches us that a life lived for others is the fullest life. That death is not a calamity when it crowns a selfless life of charity and service. It teaches us the meaning and power of humility. Jesus embraced the cross in humility as an example for us. And He emptied himself for our sake to model for us what it means to empty ourselves for the sake of others.

The cross reminds us to prepare for our impending death by appreciating the temporality of life and the emptiness of a life lived outside the purpose of God. The cross doesn’t just urge us to be good as individuals; it inspires us to work together with other good people for the common good. After all, one of the reasons Jesus climbed the cross was to draw all humanity in unity unto himself.

The cross compels us toward justice, compassion, and solidarity with all those who suffer. It challenges us to open our eyes to the plight of the poor, the hungry, the sick, and the oppressed. It warns us not to rest until there is justice for all, to resist the constant temptation to participate in selfishness, but to transform the vicious circle of life into a circle of grace and mercy.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, my heart goes out to the victims of the recent shooting at the Annunciation Church and School in Minnesota and all those lost in tragic recent events due to hatred. As Pope Francis reminds us: “The Way of the Cross alone defeats sin, evil, and death, for it leads to the radiant light of Christ’s resurrection and opens the horizons of a new and fuller life. It is the way of hope, the way of the future. Those who take up this way with generosity and faith give hope and a future to humanity.”

The cross is our message and our hope. May we, on this feast day, embrace it anew. Please take time to fix your eyes on the cross and respond to Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice.

Homily-19th Sunday of the Year C

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:30:35 GMT

19 ^th Sunday of the Year C

Wis 18:6-9 Heb 11:1--12 Lk 12:35-40

It is often said that life is a journey. Well, this is not a journey like traveling from one point to another on a map. In fact, some people live for quite a while before they even realize that they are on a particular, personal journey. However, the most challenging aspect of our life’s journey is, always, the unknown. We all have hopes, dreams, and aspirations and our plans are made based upon those hopes and dreams.

Probably, the most important plan for each of us is our basic vocation, either to be married and have a family of our own or to be a priest, religious or single person and serve the human family at large. Choosing marriage means finding the right spouse for what will be a mutually shared journey. Serving the human family means discovering a way that suits our talents and abilities. In all of this, there is the unknown and the unforeseen.

No matter who we are, or what direction we take, we cannot know beforehand everything we will face on our particular journey. I vividly recall the anxiety on my day of ordination caused by the fear of the unknown, even though I had been preparing for that day for over eight years!

Consequently, we realistically need both faith and hope. We need faith in ourselves and in whomever we share the journey. We need a well-founded hope – a deep trust – that we will achieve the purpose and final outcome of the journey. What most people never realize is that God is calling us on this journey . God has a plan and a purpose for each of us in the divine scheme of things.

Today’s scriptural readings invite us to trust in God’s ways . The first reading from the book Wisdom recalls the Passover – the last of the ten plagues on the Egyptians and the most destructive of them all. It was the one that finally convinced Pharaoh not only to let God’s people go, but actually to force them out. God’s chosen people had been slaves in Egypt for more than 400 years, each generation saying the same prayer, waiting on God to free them and bring them home. God’s people awaited the salvation of the just and the punishment of their adversaries.

The letter to the Hebrews (our second reading) recalls Abraham’s unwavering faith in God’s promise. The author states that faith is an openness of mind and heart, not merely a set of propositions. He turns to Abraham’s faith to illustrate this. Abraham’s faith showed itself in his willingness to depart from his home and leave his kin, to trust a promise that his descendants would outnumber the stars, and to trust that God will provide even when he was asked to sacrifice the son who guaranteed the promised future. Through all this a covenant was initiated. As we know, those who claim Abraham as their ancestor in faith include Jews, Muslims, and Christians- billions of people!

With Jesus, came a new covenant in his blood, and a call to all his followers. This was to replace any fear people might have with an abiding trust in God to give them the promised kingdom. And Jesus spoke about having a fidelity that would characterize his followers as good servants, good stewards in the household of faith. The hallmarks of this fidelity would be watchfulness for the master’s return, a commitment to guarding treasures of the household and caring for its members. Therefore, dear friends, we are urged to serve God throughout our spiritual journey with steadfastness by doing the best we can in every situation.

Putting our faith in God can seem like walking blindly into the dark—with no assurance that we have heard correctly or that God is there to catch us if we fall. Yet that is what Abraham (our ancestor in faith) did. For his trust, he was accounted righteous. Let us pray for the gift of that same unshakeable faith. Remember , God has a plan for each of us - always present and accompanying us each step of the journey.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 18:40:03 GMT

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21

I think you will agree with me that most of us like to be in control. We like to shape the world around us and steer things in the direction we choose. For instance.

· How many of us feel the need to choose the social lives of our family and friends -, where we’re going to eat, where we’re going to go on vacation?

· How many of us want to be the spouse who sets the rules (and punishments) for our children?

· How many of us want to get our way at work, or even on the road?

Yes, we do like to be in control. No doubt about that. And we probably act that way for a number of good reasons . But the biggest reason might be a simple one --- because we think we can protect ourselves from bad things, from the things we don’t want, and from people acting in ways we don’t like. Put simply --- our need to “control” might at its core simply be a misguided need to try to ensure our “happiness”. Well, I say “misguided” because deep down, we know things don’t really work that way. Disappointments find us. Sorrow finds us. Tragedy hits us. Failure finds us!!!

“Vanity of vanities . . ..! All things are vanity……For what profit comes ….from all the toil an anxiety of heart”

So begins the Book of Ecclesiastes. Is the author of today’s first reading a pessimist or a realist? ‘Vanity of vanities, all is vanity’ might suggest that all our efforts are in the end unstable and futile – a breath of wind blowing dust around. For those of you who don’t know --- this book is not a “warm and fuzzy” one. Its message isn’t that “everything is going to be wonderful”. It’s much more in line with what we know from personal experience. And that means it’s kind of a tough read. So, what is the human author driving at?

Let’s go straight to our Gospel reading from Luke in which Jesus tells a parable showing the fleeting nature of the material things of this world and the fleeting nature of our individual lives. This parable about storing large amounts of grain for the future recalls the story of Joseph and the Pharoah in ancient Egypt (Genesis 41). Where Joseph is praised for his wisdom to store up grain for the seven lean years to come, the rich man in today’s gospel is criticized for what sound like the same thing. Why?

The fundamental difference is in the purpose of these people’s actions. Joseph, interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, advised the entire country to store grain during years of plenty so that people all over the country, and the wider region would not starve during the years of famine. The greedy rich man, however, only stores his harvest so that he himself could live off it for years, so he could do nothing but “rest, eat, drink, and be merry!” (Luke 12:19). Joseph saved hundreds of thousands of people with the stored grain across the country. The rich fool only wanted to save himself. And he sadly failed.

Dear friends, life is more relational than material . We do not exist as isolated individuals. The rich man in the parable is condemned as a fool precisely because he isolates himself from human relationships, and relationship with God, which alone can make us unhappy. Earthly things are good, but they can never satisfy the human heart. St Augustine clearly put it “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you”. Jesus did not condemn wealth as such, but the attitude of mind that wealth consists in accumulating stuff, rather than forming loving relationships, especially with God, who alone can satisfy our longings.

As Christians we are called to live this life as gateway to eternity- our true home is not this passing earth, but the new heavens and the new earth. Everything belongs to God, and we are stewards or caretakers who are expected to use the gifts in service to one another.

Questions to reflect on for the week:

Are you in control of your possessions, gifts and talents or are they controlling you?

What are you storing in your heart?” Is it unforgiveness, habitual sinfulness, or bitterness?

May we become rich in what matters to God so that our treasure will last forever!

Homily July 27, 2025

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:49:08 GMT

17 ^th Sunday of the Year C

Gen 18:20-32; Col 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13

Have you ever had conversations with people who have expressed a distaste for many of the beliefs and practices of organized religion ? Sometimes these criticisms come from people who have had “bad” religious experiences in their own families or have seen what they feel is an ugly side of faith. I understand that. Some others have been hurt and disappointed by the common failings and faults of some of the faithful in the pews. Many others have been particularly crushed by the serious sins of Church leadership. Yet, there are others who simply are trying to be intellectually honest --- people who have truly wrestled with some of the big questions of life and faith and have been relatively unsatisfied with the “answers” religion provides. They “want” to believe at some level but just find too many obstacles. And sometimes that “obstacle” is the image of God presented to them.

One particular element of Christianity that I hear criticized so often is the way we seem to ask God for things over and over again. Many people assert that they just, don’t understand why it needs to be this way!

They argue: God knows everything. God knows exactly what we need (and want). So why do we need to ask?

God has infinite power . There are no limits to what he can do. We don’t have to try to get his “attention” because he is “busy” elsewhere. So why do we need to ask?

God is immutable --- which means, unchanging and unchangeable . That means we kind of diminish God if we think we can somehow “ change” his mind. So why bother to pray if God has already written the script?

Well, today, in both our First Reading and Gospel passage, we hear examples illustrating the power of pleading with God. In the story from Genesis, we see Abraham “bartering” with God --- seeing if he can somehow get the best “deal” possible. Apparently, Abraham is wise enough to not ask for everything all at once, as if he’s using his charm to coax God’s mercy out of him. God goes along with each of his requests. And in the Gospel passage from Luke --- Jesus tells a story about a man banging on his friend’s door at midnight trying to get some bread for an unexpected guest. The friend initially refuses, but then gets worn down from the persistence of the man and gives in. After relating that story, Jesus utters these “famous” words,

“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

So, what gives?

Do we have to “beg” God to get his blessings or does God actually withhold good things from us until we “wear him down”?

Do we have to be expert negotiators, or charmers?

Dear friends, an authentic spiritual life is about none of those things. It’s about a relationship supported, strengthened and transformed in part by a holy conversation --- what we call the divine conversation. This is a conversation that has no beginning and no ending, but rather is one that has been continual from the very dawn of time --- a sacred conversation which enables channels of grace to remain open within every single person --- a kind of listening and speaking that helps each of us remain open to an outpouring of God’s life which has the power to change absolutely everything.

And so, we bring our needs to our God because we believe he loves us more than we can imagine, because we trust in his wisdom and power, because we need to put into words the deepest longings of our hearts. And maybe most importantly --- we ask, seek, and knock simply because it opens us up to every good thing God wants for us (and from us).

Prayer encourages dependence on God and today’s parable shows us perseverance. We do not “keep knocking” because God isn’t aware of our needs but, rather, because we need to remain constantly aware of our daily need for him – our daily bread.

Whenever we turn to God in prayer, we put our minds and hearts in contact with the very source of life and truth. And that refreshes the human soul, just as rebooting your computer refreshes the software that makes the computer run. When stress, discouragement, and frustration start to clog our circuits, we don't need to jack up the voltage by working more hours or by distracting ourselves with even more exciting entertainment; no, we need to reboot, we need to pray with perseverance. When you pray say” “Behold, I am your servant, do with and in and through me according to your will”

In happy moments, seek God, in hard moments praise God, in quiet moments, trust God, in every moment, thank God. Lord Jesus, teach us to pray.

Homily March 2, 2025

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 20:31:07 GMT

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time -- Msgr. Joseph K. Ntuwa

8th Sunday of Ordinary Time (C)

Eccl. 27:5-8; Cor 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45

Over the past few Sundays, we have been reading through Jesus’ great proclamation of the Christian moral life in the Sermon on the Plain. Today we come to the final section, and here the focus is on the disciple. What kind of person is a good disciple?

Some years ago, early in his pontificate, Pope Francis made a simple statement that got a lot of attention. I know all long he has made some statements that have raised eyebrows, especially when taken out of context. He made this particular one in response to a question from an Italian journalist who was conducting an interview for a magazine. When asked who he was --- to sort of describe himself --- the Pope responded very simply and directly . . . “I am a sinner.”

Those who subsequently heard or read what the Pope had said were affected in many different ways. The most common reaction to those four simple words was . . .. Complete surprise!! So unexpected. Something they couldn’t really remember any popes saying before.

The reaction of surprise by many (Catholics and non-Catholics alike) got me wondering about something related to what he said. For many people, this was an odd sort of occurrence. They didn’t see this often, if ever. They were not used to people --- and in this particular case, a person of high status---being so humble. So vulnerable. So honest and transparent.

Is true humility rare in our society? Is it rare in Church leaders, in our homes and schools? Is true humility rare in this very church, in our pews? Is it rare in you and in me?

“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?”

Jesus cautions his disciples and all of us in today’s Gospel passage. The image Jesus paints is truly a powerful one --- particularly in the way he uses a “splinter” to represent the fault of someone else, while choosing to use a “wooden beam” to represent the fault of the one doing the judging. What also makes these words powerful is the fact that many of us, if we take an honest look within, can see ourselves like the very people Jesus is admonishing. We find ourselves doing the very thing Jesus has a serious problem with. We put people down. We criticize. We point out their faults. We gossip and we judge.! That’s where we can really learn from the now ailing Holy Father, Pope Francis. We need to cultivate true humility by taking that critical first step and admit, “I am a sinner.”

Note the gospel passage ends with Jesus' suggestions about where to seek good fruit. And he sums it all up, saying, "from the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks." So, what will lead us to wisdom of heart?

First, we need enough humility and self-knowledge to recognize that we are all blind in some ways and that we need one another's discerning guidance. Second, we need to cultivate awareness that the fault we dislike and criticize in another might be a reflection of our own failings. We are called to live with integrity, to be congruent with who we say we are, and we do.

On Wednesday this week we will begin the season of Lent. As we think about what practice of penance we will embrace, it is often easier to come up with penances for other people- our spouse, children, colleagues, or friends than it is for ourselves. Probably, let your Lenten practice this year include fasting from speech that tears others down. It is our actions and words that show our true hearts. The Church is made up of imperfect people held together by a perfect love.

Homily February 23, 2025

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 20:19:35 GMT

Homily, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you” 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 Cor 15:45-49; Luke 6:27-38

Weren't the readings we heard last week challenging enough? "Blessed are the poor." This weekend, it's "love your enemies." On this seventh Sunday, the Church reminds us of the essential virtues and elements of our Christian life. They include mercy and compassion, love of God and neighbor, self-control, appreciation of values, moral responsibility, and awareness of sin. These are marks of our spiritual progress and Christian growth. Also, they form part of the church’s social doctrine.

Today’s first reading is rather dramatic. David had the death warrant of his enemies in his hands, yet he refused to pronounce it. Instead, he left it for God to pronounce in his way and at his appropriate time. He heeded God’s word: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not take revenge. Vengeance is mine” (Rom 12: 17-19; Deut 32:35).

And in today’s Gospel, Jesus gave a very important sermon on these essential virtues and elements that must guide our lives and actions as Christians. It is a new commandment because it overrules the Old Testament law of reprisal attack or retributive justice. Humanly speaking, it is a very difficult one. It demands a lot of sacrifice and courage.

So, how do we reconcile our constant quest for justice with the virtues of mercy and compassion? Is there any common ground between them? When somebody wronged or hurt us, we usually have only one thing on our mind --- getting even. Quid pro quo. An eye for an eye., a tooth for a tooth. On the surface, it makes perfect sense. It is almost a kind of survival instinct that seems to be hard-wired in us.

The second-weekday preface of the Eucharistic (II) prayer gives us a clue to this problem. It says, “In justice, God condemned us. In mercy, he redeemed us.” Yes, it is what it is. Contrary to what our society has programmed us to believe, justice and mercy are not mutually exclusive. Jesus challenges us:

“Do unto others as you would have them do to you”

Hurts and wounds do not heal so fast. In some cases, their scars do not disappear entirely during one’s lifetime. However, Christ knew this perfectly well. He not only preached this sermon, but he also lived it. So, he is not asking us to do what he did not do.

St Paul reminds us in our second reading that we derived our body and way of life from the earthly man (Adam). In contrast, we derived the spirit that gives life and animates our body from the heavenly man (Christ). Hence, the spirit guides those who have received Christ. They are born of the Spirit. Christ’s new commandment may seem complicated, his spirit and grace will enable us to live these essential virtues and elements of our Christian life.

So, no matter our situation or circumstance, we must not lose the sense of the sacred. We must guard against sin. Let us also remember that we cannot help God in his judgement. God knows what to do, how to do it, and the best time to do it. We must let God be God - “The Lord is merciful and kind.”

In the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to forgive us on one condition, that we will forgive others in our turn. There is a proven power in forgiveness, mercy and love. Forgiveness is a sign of strength not weakness. Forgiveness heals all wounds and wipes all scars away.

Perhaps this week, reflect on a time when you experienced mercy.

• How did it feel to be forgiven and treated with kindness?

• Is there someone in your life who is difficult to love and to forgive?

• Pray for the grace to love the unlovable, to forgive the unforgivable and to remember in prayer those we would rather forget!

“Stop judging and you will not be judged”

“And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?”

Homily February 16, 2025

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 20:02:57 GMT

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time -- Homily by Msgr. Joseph Ntuwa

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time –C

Jer 17:5–8; 1 Cor 15:12, 16–20 ; Lk 6:17, 20–26

Blessings are woven into the fabric of our Catholic heritage: “Father, will you give me a blessing”; “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned”; “Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts.” We invoke God’s blessings on all sorts of things in our lives: everything from food to fishing gear, from automobiles to religious articles.

As Catholics, why do we do that? We do it as a way of inviting God into all the different places we go in our lives. Far from confining God to one hour on the weekend, we want to be aware that God is present in our lives when we go to work, when we are cooking dinner or cleaning dishes, when we are at rest or at play, and when we are alone or with friends and family. And rightfully so. In the creed, we profess faith in God, creator of “all things visible and invisible.” Surely God cannot be restricted from the world he made, but — although we are mere creatures — God chooses to give us real choice as to whether to invite him into our lives. Blessings are our response to that.

Our readings today speak five times about blessing, and that doesn’t count the refrain in the Responsorial Psalm. The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.” That sounds nice enough. But things take a surprising turn when we hear our Lord’s words in today’s Gospel: “Blessed are you who are poor.” “Blessed are you who are now hungry.” “Blessed are you who are now weeping.” “Blessed are you who when people hate you.” These blessings sound familiar but a bit different. When we were younger, many of us learned that there are eight Beatitudes; those come from the Sermon on the Mount as reported in Matthew’s Gospel.

Today’s Gospel passage from Luke is a difficult one --- difficult to understand, but also difficult in what it seems to be saying. Afrter talking about those who are blessed, Jesus continues by describing the flip-side of each of his previous statements. He uses a strong word “Woe”; “Woe to you who are rich . . . Woe to you who are filled now . . . Woe to you who laugh now . . . Woe to you when all speak well of you.”

What exactly is going on?

There is a tension that exists in every human life, especially in every person striving to live a “good”, “meaningful” and “faithful” life. This tension exists between the person each of us is and the person each of us wants to be or feels we should be. We hear that inner voice calling us and challenging us to be more, but we often resist it, or ignore it, or fail to embrace it. And so, we often work toward meeting our needs before the needs of others, we often take the easiest path, the safest one, or the one that demands little from us. In a real sense, many of us do all we can to make sure that we aren’t hungry or weeping or disliked. However, part of us knows that there is a better way that will help us be the very best version of ourselves. But that person often seems to be an imaginary someone --- someone we will be tomorrow or the next day or next year or after we get married or have kids or when we retire.

In many ways, this is a direct consequence of The Fall by our first parents, Adam and Eve. Because of The Fall we often get our priorities all mixed up, choose one “good” over something else that is a “higher good”. Even when we know what we should choose, we often lack the will to follow through on it, lack the courage to live lives not simply for ourselves, but for God, and for each other.

The words of Jesus this weekend are a kind of wake-up call. Like Jeremiah, the woes curse the one “who puts his trust in man and relies on things of flesh”. Blessed are they who receive from the Lord and who make the Lord their hope. These beatitudes are a call not to prudent and respectable living but to unwavering discipleship. As Saint Paul tells us in the second reading that If Christ is not raised, then we Christians labor pitiably and in vain. But Christ has been raised from the dead.

May we be truly “blessed” by choosing to be a blessing to the world around us.

Homily - The Presentation of the Lord

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:20:05 GMT

Homily - The Presentation of the Lord - February 2, 2025

Third Sunday of Year C

Nehemiah 8:2-6,8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21

As we know, in educational circles and the corporate world, the issue of vision and mission invariably comes up. Managers and personnel always review or restate their goals and purposes. Mission and vision are standard and critical elements of any company's organizational strategy. They relate to the purpose and aspirations of an organization. On this third Sunday of the year, among other themes, the readings help us to look at our mission as God’s people and disciples of Jesus Christ.

Today’s first reading from the Book of Nehemiah talks about the reconstitution of the Jewish community after the Exile. It describes the story of new beginnings of a community full of hope, even though great difficulties still loomed ahead. The people had lost the connections to their faith. Ezra and Nehemiah were commissioned by the Lord to teach what had been lost, to rebuild the communal structures and inspire the people once again to the high ideals of their Jewish faith- in a way it was a ceremony of recommitment. Ezra, a priest and Nehemiah a governor worked together to effectively accomplish God’s tasks. In life, we do need each other to achieve great things.

And in today’s second reading, St Paul’s continues to call for unity among the Corinthians. Corinth was a large wealthy city that boasted of a population rich in ethnic and religious diversity. Unfortunately, for the Corinthian community this diversity had worked against them. Individuals and groups were integrating differing views and prayer forms into their understanding of Christianity. Paul reminds his people that they were all baptized into the very same Spirit that guided Jesus and their unity in the Spirit outranked any distinctions among them. As members of Christ, they were to consecrate their gifts and talents for the good of the community.

In this text, St Paul gives us one of the great images of the Church as a body. The Church as the “Body of Christ” is one of the three great images of the Church along with the “People of God” and “Temple of the Holy Spirit”. Just as a body has many parts, so does the Church. The body, for its best functioning, needs all the parts to interact. In the Church, we need all parts to function well. Each of us has unique gifts to bring to the Church and carry out different roles. We are so blessed to have various ministries here at All Saints. And with our different gifts and talents, we build the kingdom of God.

Describing the Catholic Church, James Joyce, an Irish writer and poet, once said, “Here comes everybody.” What an apt description! Here comes everybody.

Here comes Peter, the denier. Here comes Thomas, the doubter. Here comes Judas, the betrayer.

Here comes Augustine, a converted pagan. Here comes Ignatius, a soldier. Thomas Aquinas, a philosopher. Here comes Paul, a tentmaker.

Here comes the outspoken Catherine of Sienna and the quiet Therese of Lisieux.

Here comes Francis, preaching to the birds and Claire, dancing in the fields.

Here comes Francis Xavier Cabrini, Elizabeth Ann Seaton, John Neuman.

We are all that and even more.

We are that soldier on deployment praying the rosary, we are the teenager who walked the March for Life this week.

We are the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters of America. We are the members of Grief Share, Moms’ Group, Prayer group, Wednesday in the Word.

We are the catechists, extraordinary minsters of Holy Communion, readers, ushers, greeters and children in faith formation.

We are the members of the choir and those who assist with our outreach efforts.

We are young and old. We are saints and sinners. Yet, we are – the Body of Christ. Not perfect and not whole. Broken and bruised. In need of healing and in need of grace. Yet, we are – the Body of Christ.

Like a stained-glass window. We are those different glasses. Some are blue, some are green, some are yellow, some are gold. Some are big, some are small. When we bring our faces close to the stained glass window, we can admire the beauty of each glass, the way it’s cut colored, and shaped. But as we step back from it, we can see that all these different glasses, all these different colors and shapes reveal to us another beautiful picture, a more complete picture, telling a story none of these different stained glasses can tell by itself. That is what being the body of Christ is about. That is what our life in a community is about.

Each of us is like a little glass with a different shape and color, yet a little piece of a magnificent work of art. No one can really say, “You are different. You do not belong. I do not need you. I alone make God visible” – No – only together, as everybody, do we reveal the body of Christ, the face of God to the world. No one person can “do it all” in life -whether in family life or parish. And God does not ask us to do it all. He simply asks us to share the gifts and talents we have in the season of life we find ourselves right now. Then, those who see us –as members of All Saints Parish, will be able say to say: “They make God visible.” That is what being the body of Christ is about!

January 2025 St. Joseph Food Pantry Report

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:14:56 GMT

January 2025: Households Served - 758; Individuals Served – 2,989

September was a very busy month at St. Joseph’s Pantry, providing 3,119 weekly meal servings to our food insecure neighbors. Last week volunteers provided food for 225 households on a single Thursday afternoon. The recent increase in number of applicants coincided with the opening of school and can be partially explained by the cessation of the summer food distributions scheduled by the Food Bank of Eastern NC at designated sites throughout Pender County. Many of our returning families praised this valuable program that supplied packages of nourishing food for their school age children during the summer vacation. The Pantry was happy to distribute fliers promoting this program in early June.

Burgaw’s St. Joseph’s Food Pantry is a community project with volunteers from Pender and New Hanover Counties. There are more than 75 individuals who volunteer time with this mission. They attend to tasks including registration of applicants, data collection, food pickup, food transport, loading food in storage, packaging food in boxes for each household, and loading the boxes into vehicles each Thursday.

In the past, St. Joseph’s reports have highlighted some of what happens in the registration hall and the people who welcome pantry guests. In the next few months, they will turn the spotlight on the contributions of other volunteers and how they contribute to the food distribution. Today it will begin with volunteers who keep St. Joseph’s stocked with food.

· Pick up empty boxes at ABC Store, every week (Dan & Dave)

· Pick up All Saints Parish’s Food Donation, Thursday (Art & Maureen)

· Pick up Apple Annie’s pastry donation., Thursday (Patricia)

· Pick up Feast Down East, Wednesdays at Train Depot (Marianne & Justin))

· Food Bank of Eastern NC, once or twice a month (Pete, Tim, Dan & Robert drive their trucks for big pick-ups)

· Deliver Good Shepherd’s Second Helping, Thursday, after making pancakes (Phil brings second helpings to Burgaw)

· Pick up Harris Teeter donation, Monday, 9:00 am (Jim & Patricia)

· Pick up Harris Teeter donation, Wednesday, 9:00 am (Marianne & Justin)

· Pick up Panera Bread donation, Wednesday evening (Brian or Dan)

· Delivery from St. Therese Parish, Monday

· Pick up Walmart’s Food Donation, Wednesday (Lidia, Steve, Glen)

· Pick up Wilmington Bread Co., (Francine)

· Unload and Store Monthly Food Delivery from TFEAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program):

Drivers - John, John and Corny Unloaders - Dan, Jerry, Kevin, Roy, Dave, Ralph, KC, Atti, Kim, Lidia, Dennis, Jim, Phil, Paul.

–

Elias, a farm worker from Duplin County earning $300 a week, arrived in the car of a neighbor. Elias recently immigrated from Honduras with Juan, his 8-year-old son. This father tenderly described his son who was in school learning English, but tears filled his eyes when his story turned to his wife and younger twins back in Honduras. Th family did not have sufficient funds for all of them to travel. The Drug Cartel wanted Juan, so they had no time for delay. Elias is working hard to be reunited with his loved ones.

Jake, an elderly senior citizen, waited outside the registration hall on Thursday. Kevin, who directs parking in the lot, noticed and approached Jake 3 or 4 times inquiring if he could help. Each time Jake responded in the negative. Eventually, Jake entered the hall and sat in the back row. Recognizing him from previous visits, I approached Jake and inquired if he wanted to register for food. Jake shook his head explaining that he just needed a ride. He proceeded to put his hand in his pocket while explaining he had gas money but no car and needed to go to the hospital in Wilmington. When I enquired if he was sick. Jake replied ‘No”, clarifying that he needed to go to the hospital to visit his mother who was there with “a very bad heart”. He was sure someone would be in the hospital visiting his mother to bring him home. Staff responded. Bill, a faithful volunteer, called Uber and others chipped in to pay the fare.

Volunteers meet immigrants, low-wage workers, and many struggling seniors at the Food Pantry in Burgaw. All are welcomed. A few are difficult, most are patient and endearing. Volunteers learn their names, find beauty in their stories, make them smile, and are enriched by these encounters.

The Gospel Stories are Personal.

This Personal Attention to the Poor Continues at St. Joseph’s.

St. Joseph’s Food Pantry

1303 US 117, Burgaw, NC 28425

Patricia Kopchick, Director

518-275-9887

stjoesfoodpantry@yahoo.com

Homily - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

Homily - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 26, 2025

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, John 2:1-11

I don’t know about you but when I was a much younger person during those College years I used to hate “last call” --- especially whenever we were having a night out with friends. I never wanted the fun to end! Of course, there are other sorts of “last calls” in life. It happens at formal occasions such as parties, dinners and receptions that involve renting a space for a certain amount of time. “Last calls” happen at amusement parks, and all places where the fun only happens during specified hours. They even exist at parties in homes. How many times have we seen one of the hosts hold back a yawn and know that it is our cue to grab our coats and say our goodbyes? And, of course, kids really take these sorts of “last calls” quite hard --- they always want to stay up a few minutes past their usual bedtime, or finish their video game, or ask if the play-date at a friend’s house can turn into a sleepover. It seems clear that when things are good, we don’t want them to end.

The opposite is also true. A dental procedure that seems to take forever. Part-time studies that make you wonder if you will ever get your degree. Scolding by a parent or teacher or coach. Even a boring homily! Yes, sometimes the unpleasant things, and painful things in life seem as if they will never end. Where does God fit into all of this? Anywhere? Nowhere?

“Fill the jars with water.”

Dear friends, we just heard the story of the Wedding at Cana. This is one of those stories that is rich in meaning. On one level, it is simply about Jesus’ power, his compassion, his authority unfolding in full view ----- a manifestation of his identity as God’s Son. In fact, in the early Church three biblical “events” were all celebrated on the exact same day --- the Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord, and the Wedding Feast at Cana. The Church saw in all three a “revealing” of Jesus to the world!

Preachers will sometimes use this day to say something about Mary or say something about how Jesus always defies expectations or say something about how wedding feasts in the bible are often allegories of the unfailing love that God has for us. All inspirational stuff.

Yet, what really struck me this time when I was reflecting on this passage was the whole idea of Jesus not wanting the joy to end, not wanting the celebration to end, not wanting all the good will and hospitality to fade into the night. Jesus wanted the party to go on --- in fact he wanted the party to even be better than before. In the simplest terms, Jesus stepped in (at Mary’s request in this case) and the whole situation was better for it. Jesus got involved and reversed the course of events.

Yet, we know that in our own lives it’s not one continuous party. Sometimes things go the right way. Other times they go wrong. Someone succeeds and another fails. Someone’s heart soars. Someone’s heart breaks. Someone gets healed. Someone dies. Where is the celebration in all of that?

Well, the things God promises us are often not what we think he is promising or are not what we want him to promise. The things of God are richer, deeper, more meaningful and eternal. God’s generosity to us is an abundance of the things he knows truly make a difference (such as the gifts of the Spirit we heard Paul talk about in today’s Second Reading). In other words, the celebration God wants to last forever is an openness to His grace --- an openness that allows God to fill us to the brim with every good thing, not our own terms but on His terms. The presence of God’s very life within us cannot be undermined or diminished by anything going on around us --- good or bad. Their efficacy does not depend on external things.

Last call? Never! There is no such thing when we let God be God. When we surrender to God’s will, true joy, true peace, true hope will dominate the landscape of our lives.

Finally, Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr, the civil rights giant whose holiday we are celebrating next week once observed that life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’ Let us remember that positive involvement in the life of others should both be our duty and our vocation.

Homily - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 16:46:42 GMT

Homily - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - January 19, 2025

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, John 2:1-11

“Fill the jars with water.”

Last call? Never! There is no such thing when we let God be God. When we surrender to God’s will, true joy, true peace, true hope will dominate the landscape of our lives.

Homily - The Baptism of the Lord

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:48:48 GMT

Homily - The Baptism of the Lord - January 12, 2025

The Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Video

With today’s feast of the baptism of the Lord, our Christmas season ends, and we begin the next chapter of the Church year. Moving through the liturgical year is like reading through the chapters of a book or watching the seasons of a television series. Season one is Advent, focused on eager anticipation for the Messiah. Season two is Christmas, focused on celebrating the Incarnation: “Immanuel” God with us. Season three is Jesus’ public ministry and today is episode one: his baptism. We have two other seasons- Lent, a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. And during the Easter Season, we celebrate Christ's triumph over death.

Responses to this question are as varied as the gospel writers and church fathers themselves. Matthew says that it is ‘to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3/15). The Gospel of John simply neglects to say that Jesus was baptized by John. Instead, John the Baptist merely testifies to Jesus without baptizing him at all. Then, Luke places the baptism of Jesus in the passive voice, almost as an afterthought; In Luke, we read; ‘After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized’ (Luke 2:21).

Let’s think about it for a moment. If we identify the key things which occur when any of us is baptized and ask whether they also occurred in Jesus’s baptism, we discover that they didn’t and that they couldn’t have taken place. When we are baptized, we are healed from the guilt of original sin, and we are incorporated into the Church. Did any of this happen to Christ? No. Jesus did not suffer from original sin so he didn’t need to be healed from it, and Jesus had not yet founded the Church so he couldn’t be incorporated into it. So, Jesus’ baptism at the hands of John did not have the same effects as our baptism does.

It is clear Jesus had no need of baptism because he is the Son of God incarnate. In the act of descending into the waters, Jesus revealed his mission: not to be separate from humanity but to stand with us, to take upon himself the weight of our sins. The heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father proclaims, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). In this moment, the Trinity is revealed, and Jesus begins his public ministry, bringing God’s presence into the world in a new and transformative way.

In reflecting on the Baptism of Christ, we are drawn into the profound mystery of what Jesus brought into the world. Joseph Ratzinger, the late Pope Benedict XVI, tells us: “Jesus has brought God, and now we know his face, now we can call upon him. Now we know the path that we human beings have to take in this world.”

Note that Jesus did not bring immediate world peace, an end to all forms of suffering or a new age of universal prosperity. He brought something infinitely greater: God. Through Jesus, the invisible God is made visible. In his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus shows us the face of the Father and opens for us the path to eternal life

The path he walked, marked by faith, hope, and love is now our path, illuminated by his light. Yet, as Ratzinger observes, it is often our hardness of heart that blinds us to the magnitude of this gift. We may long for tangible signs of triumph — peace, prosperity, a perfect world — and fail to see that in bringing God, Jesus has given us the source of all peace, the origin of all good. To know God, to call upon his name, and to walk in the truth as his sons and daughters is the greatest gift we could ever receive.

Dear friends, today is an appropriate occasion for us to remember the graces we have received in Baptism and to renew our baptismal promises.

Let me conclude with a prayer reflection from a renowned homilist, Flor McCarthy, SDB:

Lord Jesus, touch our eyes,
so that we may see the signs of your presence
in our lives and in the world.
Touch our ears so that we may profess our faith.
Touch our hands that we may give and receive.
Touch our feet that we may walk in your paths.
Touch our minds that we may understand you ways.
Touch our wills that they may be in tune with your will.
Touch our hearts that we may bring your love
to the praise and glory of God. Amen.

Homily - Christmas Day Mass

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:57:09 GMT

Homily - Christmas - December 25, 2024

4th Sunday of Advent

Micah 5:1-4a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Today, as we begin this final week of Advent, the great mysteries and personalities we have traveled with over the past weeks suddenly converge in new ways. The prophetic promises made to Israel become stories of a child to be born, the son of a Virgin, conceived by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist – the voice in the desert we have heard these last weeks – is now vocally silent but communicates by leaping for joy in the womb of his mother as he hears the voice of Mary who is pregnant with the Christ child.

One can only imagine how wonderful this encounter in today’s Gospel must have been – two generations locked in the embrace of divine joy and hope. Elizabeth, a woman in the autumn of her years, her deepest hope now answered, greeting the maiden from Nazareth, in the springtime of the world’s salvation.

Both are women of extraordinary faith: one believing the message of an angel despite all the questions that must have swirled around her head, the other trusting that even in her advanced age she, too, might be fruitful.

Through overwhelming grace and faith, these two ordinary women, without title or prestige, stand center stage in the great drama of salvation: stitching together the old and new covenants and witnessing to God’s fidelity and eternal mercy.

It would seem God has a special love for the most ordinary: the simple virgin from Nazareth, the elderly couple from the hill country, the town of Bethlehem. As Micah prophesied, You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel. The long-awaited ruler of Israel will come – he who would fulfill the dreams of the Davidic dynasty. All these details of Jesus’s incarnation and birth reveal to us the character of God. If it is God’s way to choose the small and humble, then it must be ours as well.

Dear friends in these last days of Advent, we are called to travel more deeply into the mystery of the Incarnation and allow our lives to leap for joy in the presence of the Christ child. We are called to find the glory in the most ordinary, and the greatest blessing in the smallest of things.

The circle of light on our Advent wreath is complete. To embrace its warmth and joy we must, like Elizabeth and Mary, open our lives to God and to others. We must live in the hope of God’s fidelity and allow that hope to transform and empower our lives not just for a day but for every day. Let's ask Elizabeth and Mary to help us see what is happening among us, to discover God's workings in our lives and to leap for joy. May the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model of belief and discipleship continue to intercede for us!

Homily - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:48:29 GMT

Homily - Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 22, 2024

4th Sunday of Advent

Micah 5:1-4a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Homily - Third Sunday of Advent

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 18:06:13 GMT

Homily - Third Sunday of Advent - December 15, 2024

3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

We celebrated the feast of our Lady of Guadalupe last Thursday. And if you are not familiar with the full story of this apparition of Our Lady, I do recommend reading up on the treasure of our faith that those nearly 500-year-old events are to us. By way of a very brief summary, after a period of unsuccessful missionary efforts to spread the faith in the Central part of the Americas, Mother Mary appeared to a humble, un-expecting convert, Juan Diego. He was told by Our Blessed Mother to go to the bishop to request a church be built on Tepeyac Hill, just outside of present-day Mexico City. Understandably, the bishop did not at first believe the humble laborer and he asked him for a sign. And Mary delivered.

Skipping over many details regarding the sign, there are two that I want to focus on this Gaudete or Joyful Sunday, First, Our Blessed Mother told Juan Diego to go to the top of Tepeyac Hill; there he found roses that Mary told him to take to the bishop. Well, this may not sound like much, but this was December, the ground was covered with frost, and these roses were not indigenous to this region of Mexico, but rather to the place the bishop had come from in Spain. Secondly, Mary arranged the roses on Juan Diego’s tilma to take to the bishop. A tilma is sort of like a mix between a tool belt and an apron. And it was upon this working apparel for daily use that the miraculous roses were carried and that the heavenly image of Our Lady of Guadalupe still rests, many years later, in the Basilica that bears her name in Mexico City.

I share this story today not only because of the providential timing of this Feast close to the Third Sunday of Advent, but because the way in which this influential miracle took place is right in line with St. John the Baptist’s response to the questions from different groups in the Gospel of “What should we do?” Of the many ways the Blessed Mother could have proven herself to the bishop, she chose a humble, working man and his humble, working attire, to impress not only the bishop, but the whole world.

St. John the Baptist does not tell those who question him today to do anything extraordinary. He does not demand that they leave the world, move to the wilderness, and live off locusts and honey. Rather, he tells them to be virtuous, right where they are. Tax collectors — don’t take more than you should. Soldiers — don’t be bullies, be honest, and thankful. The rest of us — don’t be greedy and share what you have. None of this is rocket science, but it doesn’t mean that it’s easy.

Last week, the Baptist called us to repentance; now that we have repented, and hopefully gone to Confession and been forgiven of the sins that separate us from God and one another, the question to reflect on now is that of the crowds: “What should we do?”

Understanding that Our Blessed Mother used St. Juan Diego’s tilma, an apron/tool belt, as a sign, so let us use our day-to-day items to act as a sign to bring and radiate joy to the world. Remember those roses weren’t supposed to grow through the frost? We too are called upon to break through the frost especially in today’s polarized society.

In simple terms, John the Batist tell his listeners and all of us; “Don’t do bad things”. The “things” he’s telling them to avoid are things that everyone already knows.

· share your extra stuff.

· give some food to someone who has none.

· Don’t cheat anyone and don’t practice extortion.

· don’t lie and don’t get greedy

My dear friends, we know what is “right” by what we have been taught by our parents, teachers and friends. We know what is “right” by seeing similarities in the moral teachings of many faith traditions throughout human history. We know what is “right” by what our Church teaches and urges us to live out. Most importantly we know what is “right” by that voice within each of us, our conscience --- that whisper of truth striving to inform our every word and action.

Today, St Paul tells to make our kindness known to all, and the Baptist urges us to seek real joy, but we have to begin with moral integrity. That will bring joy to God and neighbor — and even to us! In what ways are your prepared to spread joy in your family, at your workplace or school and in your neighborhood?

Happy Gaudete Sunday!

Homily - Second Sunday of Advent

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:59:13 GMT

Homily - Second Sunday of Advent - December 8, 2024

2nd Sunday of Advent C

Bar 5:1-9 Phil 1:4...11 Lk 3:1-6

One of the practical things we all have to deal with is reducing the clutter in our living space. Human beings tend to hang on to things. Many people do not like to dispose of anything that might be of use in the future. While some people naturally seem to be neat and tidy, others don’t seem to mind the clutter of untidiness. And the extremes are either a sterilized and almost empty space or the chaos of hoards of everything.

However, if an important visitor is expected– people usually make changes. They take pains to create a homey living space for their guest – They clean up any mess or clutter that is unsightly. This is one of the reason people take special care to prepare for the Christmas holidays. Guests will be coming!! Extended family members will visit. Furthermore, children are warned to be on their best behavior. Most adults resolve to be gracious and polite in every circumstance.

Unfortunately, however, most of our world fails to realize that God is coming on Christmas Day. On the 25th of December, we celebrate the birth of God-With-Us. The infant Christ always comes with a special gift for us. Yet, so many are unprepared for what he wants to give us. We are unprepared because we have failed – or refused – to get rid of the godless clutter in our hearts and lives!

The scripture passage on this second Sunday of Advent from prophet Baruch was written to encourage the exiles in Babylon. Most people succumbed to the pagan culture of the time and persisted in living lives cluttered with sin and unfaithfulness. To the faithful few, Baruch promised hope and restoration. It was a wakeup call to be hopeful. In the future, they would return to the Promised Land. They would be home with God dwelling in their midst once again

Hundreds of years later, the returned Chosen People were living without freedom once again. They were under the power and dominion of Rome. They had fallen from God’s favor because their hearts were no longer in the right place.

Yet, God never really abandoned His People. In fact, God was sending His own Son into their lives. But they had some serious spiritual work to do beforehand. Consequently, God sent John the Baptist to preach repentance and change.

Brothers and Sisters, we ourselves are no different than the Chosen People. We are God’s New Chosen People. John the Baptist’s cry to “prepare the way of the Lord” is a charge to discern the Lord’s voice calling out to us in the midst of the noise and clatter that fills our daily lives.

· How can we open space for Jesus to draw near to us today?

· What mountains are keeping us from drawing nearer to God and what barriers are affecting our relationship with Christ?

· What valleys might be impeding our journey into the heart of the Divine?

· What wounds or fears might be keeping us from drawing close to his Sacred Heart?

Let’s clear the way of stumbling blocks and clutter so that we may not hinder the Lord’s coming to us.

This week we will celebrate both the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Immaculate Conception reminds us that humanity is made for God. Guadalupe gives witness that Christianity belongs to every culture. Both feasts celebrate the human potential to collaborate with God’s ongoing offers of grace and thus change history.

Let’s celebrate this week with John who believed in the joy of metanoia (change) and with Mary who rejoiced when invited to live its promise. And may our God who crosses mountains and valleys to draw near to us make us pure and blameless … filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus!

Homily - First Sunday of Advent

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:04:14 GMT

Homily - First Sunday of Advent - December 1, 2024

First Sunday of Advent Year C

Jer 33:14–16 1 Thes 3:12–4:2 • Lk 21:25–28, 34–36

I promise!

Dear friends, these are two little words we’ve used a million times before. I promise I’ll call you to get together for lunch. I promise I’ll do my homework. I promise to get those reports in by Friday. I promise I will cut down on sweets and carbs. I promise I ‘ll do my exercises. I promise I’ll love you forever. Promises, promises, promises!

And we like it when people keep their promises. We expect them to. Yet, we know that’s often not the case. Each of us is well aware of and regretful for the times we have failed to keep our promises, the times we haven’t followed through, the times we have neglected to do what we said we would do, and the times we have betrayed the confidences of others. Yes, promises are quite easy to make, but not always easy to keep.

“The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.”

We’ve just heard this from today’s first reading. It’s incredible to think that God --- who owes us absolutely nothing would even make promises. God is sovereign. However, our God wants us to know him, to hope and trust in him, to find safety, security and peace in him. Our loving God wants us to understand that we can count on him, not just occasionally, but always.

This weekend, we begin the holy season of Advent. Once again, we await the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise to us --- his complete immersion in our world in the person of Jesus , God who comes to be with us, walk with us, and ultimately save us. This was not God’s first promise. God has made promises through the ages --- from Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to the prophets --- assuring them of things that he would bring to fulfillment. And it was all leading to the fulfillment of God’s plan in the gift of his Son, all leading to what we are preparing to celebrate in a few weeks’ time. But God’s promises and plans do not end there -- we also look to the day when Jesus will return to bring to completion what God has prepared for us and all of creation.

You’ll agree with me that we sometimes get God’s promises a little mixed-up. And so, we start believing that God has promised to take all our problems away or that bad things won’t happen to us; we start to believe that God will allow our life to unfold exactly how we want it to unfold and align his “plans” with our “plans”. Dear friends, that’s not what God promises us. We just have to look at the cross to see that true faithfulness does not assure us that life will be easy, or that it will be just what we want.

Today's readings urge us to broaden our concept of God and God's involvement in history. The Scriptures give witness that we sometimes have to pass through periods of doubt to refine our sense of God .

As we journey these four weeks together, let’s reflect more on God’s promises, and rejoice in his greatest promise --- the person of Jesus whom we await. We do not have to wonder whether we can count on God, whether or not we can trust him to keep his promises. But can God count on us?

At the beginning of the new Church year, it’s worthwhile to take a basic Catholic checkup.

When was the last time you made a good confession?

· Regular confession has always been encouraged by the saints and the great teachers of our faith. It helps us to examine our lives! This coming Wednesday at 7pm, we’ll have 7 priests for our Advent Communal reconciliation service. If you miss out because of other commitments, there are other opportunities here and in our deanery Parishes for this season.

How do you begin and end each day?

· Do you start out the day by giving it to God or to your smartphone?

· Do you start the day by giving thanks or by sighing about all that must be done?

· Do you end your day by asking God’s forgiveness for all failings and resolving to do better?

What about love of neighbor?

· Do you look for opportunities to serve?

· Do you strive to forgive, difficult though it may be – seeking God’s help to do so?

Do you faithfully support your Church, not only financially but also through getting involved?

Have a blessed Advent everyone .

Homily - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:08:45 GMT

Homily - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - November 17, 2024

Readings: Isaiah 56:1,6-7, Acts 13:46-49, Matthew 28:16-20

Dear friends, this weekend in all parishes, campus ministries across our Diocese, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Catholic faith being lived and proclaimed in Eastern North Carolina! We have different scripture readings; special prayers and we are using white vestments.

It is always humbling to become part of someone’s story. On the day of our baptism, we are immersed into a love story and intimate relationship with the Triune God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We live out this relationship with the Holy Trinity as members of the Body of Christ in communion with the Church. And like those first disciples, we take to heart every day the charging words of Jesus who said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matt. 25:19-20)

Many of us are gathered here today because our parents/guardians heard those words and took them to heart much like their parents did as well. We are here because we heard, and we believe as we embrace this mandate and go forth to proclaim the joy of the Gospel and invite others into a relationship with God and the Church, we trust in the reassuring words of Jesus who said, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

For 100 years, the clergy, religious, and faithful of this local Church of Raleigh have desired to live in relationship with God and each other by living the virtues of faith, hope, and love. For all these years we have been “God’s great family,” and in proclaiming the Word, celebrating the sacraments, and serving the needs of others, we have made Jesus present to the world.

Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to this mission. We receive his mandate again today in the Gospel. The Church exists to evangelize, and the Church is all of us. For so long, people have thought the Church’s mission is only a responsibility of the clergy and religious, or “Church professionals” working in parishes and chanceries. But Jesus’s words today are clear.

When Saint Pope John Paul II came to the United States in 1987, he said: “The work of evangelization is not over. On earth it will never be over. … The duty of carrying forward this work rests on the whole Church and on every member of the Church.” That means you, and me. Every one of us is called to evangelize — to be a missionary disciple, as our Holy Father Pope Francis likes to say.

You will agree with me, today’s culture is highly secularized, and it is being aggressively de-Christianized. The sense of sacred and transcendent is being lost. We are living in a time of dangerous confusion about the true meaning of human life and human freedom. But as we know —this world will not be saved by politics or technology or by all our efforts to define our own concepts of existence. Only Jesus- no other name under heaven can save us. Jesus is the way that leads to the truth and to eternal life with the father.

As our Bishop Lius Zarama wrote in his letter for this occasion; “Let us rededicate ourselves to reaching out in love to those who used to come to Church but are unable to now due to physical limitations; to those who have become lukewarm in their faith or have alienated themselves from the Church and especially to those who cannot defend or protect themselves, most especially the unborn”.

Every anniversary is an intersection of the past and future. The challenge, of course, is that the future is hidden from our eyes. We can never predict the future, and we really have no idea what the world, our nation, our Church or our Diocese will be like in the years to come. So, much of the future is beyond our control. A prayer composed in honor of St. Oscar Romero said it so well and can be use as a source of inspiration. “ We plant the seeds that one day will grow……We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise……We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.”

Finally, I invite you to discover the rich history of our Diocese and purchase your copy of the Centennial Book- It is a great addition to your coffee table or a gift for your family and friends this holiday season. May we continue to love God, love others and make disciples.

Homily - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 18:40:42 GMT

Homily - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 27, 2024

Readings: Jer 31:7-9 Heb 5:1-6 Mk 10:46-52

One aspect of our human nature is that many of us do not like to wait. Most people hate waiting in line – or for a delayed event to start. Some even don’t wait for the final blessing to be commissioned at the end of mass. We dislike it when a project is held up – or when a trip postponed. Time always seems to drag when we must wait for something important.

During the time of prophet Jeremiah, the Chosen People were being scattered all over! Israel was led captive to Assyria; Judah was exiled to Babylon; some even fled to Egypt – taking the unwilling Jeremiah with them. In all this disruption and displacement, the faithful few had so little hope. Yet, these were the Remnant who kept their religious beliefs no matter where they happened to be.

Consequently, God used Jeremiah to bring them some comfort and hope. There would be a time of restoration. Every faithful person would be included- the blind, the lame, mothers with children, and those with a child in their womb would be brought back. This would happen because God was faithful and loved them. However, none of this happened for generations to come. And when that restoration finally began – it continued to evolve over hundreds of years! It was clear God had not abandoned his people.

Bartimaeus, from today’s gospel was someone who waited. He waited in suspense every day of his life. He was blind – He was a beggar. Each day he sat and waited for the coin or two that would sustain him. Bartimaeus was incomplete – and he knew it!

However, suddenly there was hope. Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. So Bartimaeus cried out for help. People tried to silence him, but he would not be silenced. He was persistent. Jesus stopped – had him brought forth and cured him.

We are incomplete – and we know it. Experience has proved this, time and time again. Nothing here, in this life, can completely fill us. True believers seem to know this and understand that only God can fill and fulfill them. But God’s plan for us takes time to unfold. And so much of our life is waiting for that plan to develop and take place in our own regard.

It is sometimes tempting to give up when we think God doesn’t answer our prayers. We can feel helpless or hopeless, ignored or forgotten. But the words of the psalm, the pleas of a grateful people, should offer reassurance in times of despair: “Restore our fortunes, O Lord…. those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing”

Again and again, scripture calls on us to trust in God’s limitless love and generosity, and to be grateful for all he gives to those who have confidence and courage to trust. This is the true measure of faith. The familiar words from St Paul, captured in a popular hymn, tells us all we need to know: “We walk by faith, not by sight.” That was true of Bartimaeus, who rewarded for his faith by receiving sight.

Are we courageous enough, confident enough to trust like that? It is important to note how the story of Bartimaeus ends. The beggar who was given sight didn’t just head home---maybe to enjoy looking at all that he had never been able to see--- but, instead, made another choice. Mark tells us: “He received his sight and followed him on the way”. A new disciple was born. May we all give thanks to the Lord for all he does for us and resolve in our gratitude to follow him wherever he leads.

Finally, one of the wonderful aspects of stewardship spirituality is its balanced approach to all areas of life. As stewards, aware of our total dependence on God for everything, we come to Him with grateful hearts. Stewardship is not a fundraising scheme. Rather, it is way of life rooted in the teachings and the person of Jesus Christ using the God-given gifts to serve God and others, responding with gratitude. Stewardship is what we do after we say, “We believe”. Although God’s grace cannot be measured, there are some things we can view as evidence of His goodness flowing in our parish life and ministry. We are building a new Church because of commitment and sacrificial giving. This weekend we have the opportunity to listen to some stewards in our parish sharing their witness stories.

Homily - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:07:53 GMT

Homily - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 20, 2024

Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45

Dear friends, as you know I arrived about 24 hours ago after travelling for almost 30 hours! I am still recovering from jet lag and struggling to find my bearings, so expect a shorter homily! I am glad to be back home.

Today’s Gospel has a familiar theme: the disciples’ inability to understand the nature of greatness in the Kingdom of God. James and John obviously saw the Kingdom as governed by the same rules as earthly ones - where Jesus would sit on a throne and his favorites sit on his right and left. Jesus realized that they did not fully realize what such a request might entail. In fact, when Jesus came into his kingdom, it was to be a criminal on his right and another on his left

Inevitably, the desire for the favored seats in the Kingdom caused indignation among the other disciples. And so, Jesus again teaches them about the nature of greatness. In the Kingdom, there is no place for those who wish to lord it over others or people who like to make their authority felt.

There have been times in the history of the Church where this teaching has been forgotten and Church leaders have modelled their behavior on that of pagan rulers rather than on their Master. During the Jubilee Year, Pope John Paul II made a public apology for the sins of the Church - acknowledging its misuse of power and abuse of authority. It was recognition that the temptation which affected James and John, and the other disciples is never very far from the life of the Church - and especially those given authority within it.

Many of you may not have such authority in religious matters - but all of us have areas in our life where we may be tempted to wield our own self-importance. This may be in families - in workplaces - or in our social capital. However, if we look at the life of Jesus, we find a very different model of authority. No-one could deny his effectiveness - he changed the world - but he never lorded it over anyone - or forced people to accept his teaching. In Jesus, people encountered the authority of a love that was prepared to give its life for them. Jesus does himself what he asks others to do: to serve, not to be served; to give love freely; to reach out to those in need, not to wait for adoring approval.

It is tempting to be selfish with our time and energy. There are so many plausible excuses for excluding ourselves from the work that needs to be done. But today’s Scripture calls us to examine our conscience, and to face the question, “What can I do for my community, rather than what can my community do for me?

Christian discipleship is a service industry in which there should be no unemployment. There is work for everyone, for all of us. We are not only consumers of grace, or spectators of Christ’s grace at work. Jesus’ kingdom is not about who wears the crown but who bears the cross!

Today is World Mission Sunday, a day set aside to recommit ourselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. Every year the needs of the Catholic Church continue to grow. New dioceses are formed, as houses of formation for those hearing Christ’s call to follow Him as priests and religious. Areas devastated by strife or natural disasters are rebuilt, and as other places are opening up to hear the message of Christ and His Church. That is why the involvement and commitment of Catholics from around the world are so urgently needed. Our support, combined with offerings from elsewhere to the Propagation of the Faith help to support the life-giving presence of the Church across the globe. I am a beneficially of this support as the seven years of priestly formation were funded by the subsidy from such collection. I do not envisage my parents could have managed to support my formation at the seminary with nine other siblings who also needed education. Today, the voice of salvation continues to call us to be more faithful to God’s mission and the words of St Therese of Avila clearly capture our mission.

“Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours”

September 2024 St. Joseph Food Pantry Report

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:48:55 GMT

September 2024: 3,119 weekly meal servings to our food insecure neighbors.