My friends, with this Sunday we begin the four short weeks this year of Advent before Christmas wherein the Christian Church-United is invited to take some quiet moments among the busy days of preparation for what, we might say, in the very best sense, is our annual celebration of love.

Advent is, and can be a quiet celebration of impending joy which builds during this holy season, and as always, for us Catholic Christians, and our sister and brother Christians of different denominations, the rituals serve to help us build the momentum which will be heightened on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, “Gaudete,” which quite simply means, “Joy Sunday,” and we signify this mounting joy by changing from the royal blue of the other Sundays to the white or pink in the candles and other drapings.

Last week I mentioned the unfortunate falling-back within our hierarchical church to the pre-Vatican II use of purple in the candles, vestments, and drapings in our liturgical spaces. I say, “unfortunate” because the “purple” seems to align this season of joy with the season of Lent which is more about looking within ourselves in a deeper way than usual for the times we have failed in being the people our brother Jesus calls us to be, and then asking heart-felt forgiveness for those failings.

Now you might be thinking, what difference does it make, and I can’t stress enough the big difference it does make! With the 28-year pontificate of John Paul II, our beloved Church experienced a relentless turning-back from the “fresh air, and opening doors and windows” with the new ideas of John XXIII, to a time when once again we were encouraged to “beat our breasts—mea culpa, mea culpa,” for not measuring up

So then, the remembrance of our God sending Jesus to be one-with-us at Christmas time is “dumbed-down” to be like so many other things pre-Vatican II, about “sin,” and “sinfulness,” instead about “love.”
Thus, the royal blue is so-very-important as it stands for our faith-filled sister and mother, Mary of Nazareth, and the blessed fruit of her womb. Later during this holy season, we will read about this same Mary going in “haste and joy” to visit her aunt Elizabeth, so that she can proclaim in joy and confirm for her niece her recognition of the miracle that Mary is carrying. This folks, is about “joy” not “sin,” and is to be celebrated for the wonder that it is, that our God would love us this much, to send One to show us the way. It is truly sad, in my mind, that our Church hierarchy chooses to omit this beautiful ritual of impending joy, replacing it with the smallness that we humans can be at times.

But let’s look to the Scriptures as we always do to find our true path. The prophet Jeremiah is a true guide in letting us know that, “Our God is our justice”—our brother Jesus is coming to help us see that our “love and care” must look more and more like the “love and care” that our God will show through our brother Jesus in his life among us—proclaiming that all are welcome, and that no one is excluded.

Many of us have just completed quality time with family and friends through the celebration of Thanksgiving. For some it was about traveling many miles to be with loved ones, to share the “old, timeless stories,” the fun memories…for some this year marked the 1st, or yet another year without a special loved one, and that is always hard, thus, we should listen to the stories of those missing others.
And too, for some, this holiday time is about saying, “the long good-bye,” and for those who are dealing with dementia in a loved one’s life, you know what I am speaking about.

Our Scriptures for today do call us though, as throughout our Christian lives, to balance. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians today calls us to the concerted, day-in, day-out practice of love needed as we continue to try always to be closer and closer to the memory of Jesus of Nazareth. Paul says, “may [you] grow and overflow with love, and may [you have] strong hearts, [and additionally, may your hearts be] blameless and holy.”

In Luke’s gospel, we hear about the “balance” that we should strive for in Jesus’ words to, “be on our guard” [against excess] because each of us knows how easy it is to get caught up in the excesses of this world.

So, the caution to “balance” the mounting joy during this season,” with times of “quiet reflecting” on truly why, we Christians celebrate the season of Christmas in the first place, is sound. Too much of anything is usually not good—we all know that, but let’s not, as is said, “throw the baby out with the bath water.” Let us allow ourselves, during this season of impending and mounting joy, feel that joy, feel the mounting sense of love that our God has for each of us, and attempt more and more, to love likewise, those who make up our lives. Amen? Amen!

My friends, as I have previously mentioned, I will be away this next Sunday, November 17, 2024 taking in a retreat with my Midwest sister-priests. I have also added in a bit of vacation time before and after the retreat. Being that I won’t be with you on Sunday, I am leaving an older homily of 12 years ago, and except for the outdated examples, I think you will find that much of the overall thought is still relevant. I wish you all a good and healthy week–enjoy the weather and remember to keep on doing all the good you are always about! Remember those from our parish who are preparing for surgery, doing rehab, and preparing to relocate. Peace and love to you all, Pastor Kathy

P. S. Please know that any of you are welcome to pray on Sunday with the Congregationalists! We will gather again as a community on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 10 A.M.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Homily—33rd Weekend in Ordinary Time
November 17/18, 2012

My friends, I believe for many of us, the apocalyptic readings—those that describe the “end times” or the, “end of time,” are disturbing. Whether they were meant to frighten or not, the fact is, for many of us, readings like the first one today from Daniel and the selection from Mark’s gospel, do. For this reason, exegesis of the Scriptures becomes important, so that we can understand what is truly meant by words that we may otherwise just take at face value.

First, we have to understand that the ancient Israelite people had a concept of two different times—the “end times” and “the end of time.” The end times were thought to be a time of transition, when suffering and hard times would be no more, when the Chosen One, whom Christians believe is Jesus, the Christ, will come again in glory to make all things right and the kin-dom will be celebrated before the face of God, in that wonderful reality. It is a tremendously hope-filled image that is attractive to many people. The cinema has in recent years come up with such images of a time of justice when good, will reign—we have seen it in the epic series, The Lord of the Rings, and in the Star Wars movies. The “end of time” is another time, and when that time will come, none of us knows, or in fact understands just how it will be—we will just have to trust that all will unfold according to God’s loving plan.

So why are we given frightening images—of the sun and moon going dark—of stars falling from the sky? Both the readings from Daniel and from Mark have an apocalyptic tone, and part of that, the exegetes tell us, was their way to cover the subversive tone of their writings from their enemies. In Daniel’s writings, the Israelites were told that all they were suffering would come to an end—the Chosen One would come to alleviate their sufferings—this was their hope. This knowledge that their God did hear their cries and would come to save them, gave them the will to go on.

It has been thought that the reference to the “heavens and earth passing away” referred to the destruction of Jerusalem. As with the first reading, it encouraged fidelity when the people’s world seemed to be crumbling around them. And for each of us, this type of reading gives us courage in our struggles through life because there is reason to hope—we are not alone, our God is with us.
The placing of the “end times” readings on this weekend is appropriate as our Church Year is winding down, with next week’s traditional celebration of Christ the King, which in fact ends the Church Year, setting the stage for the wonderful season of Advent—a time of gentle hope, yet building anticipation for the coming of Jesus, our Way, our Truth, and our Life.

I made mention of next Sunday’s feast; in all Christian Churches, the feast is named, Christ, the King. I have mentioned this before and I humbly suggest again that we try and think of a title for Jesus that more honestly and clearly reflects his reality in our lives—what he in fact calls us to. We don’t live in a time of “kings,” so perhaps a different way of depicting him is appropriate. We might want to envision him as our Brother, which he is, having taken on our human form as Paul writes so beautifully to the Philippians. He was one who came to establish not a kingdom, which evokes a top-down, control-over mentality, but a kin-dom, based on love, compassion, mercy, justice. “Kin” as opposed to “king”–kin representing “family”—a concern for each one who makes up the family. In this light, calling Jesus, our brother makes more sense than to call him our king. If we are simply worshipping someone who stands above us, we don’t have to become engaged with that person if we don’t choose to. But when someone is your “brother” that is a whole different relationship.

This weekend’s readings serve then as a beginning to a time of transition in our Church Year, but also in our personal lives. They also remind us of the end of time, whenever and however that might come to be. The end of time—our personal time, when our life as we know it, comes to a close, need not frighten us if we strive in our lives to do our best, always keeping our eyes on Jesus, who truly shows us the way. The thought then of our God—Jesus, the Christ, coming “in the clouds,” with great power and glory,” should bring us joy and anticipation, not fear and dread.

Many people over time, from those people who were the first Christians, followers of Jesus, thought that the “end times” were inaugurated with Jesus and that the end of time would follow shortly. Jesus, they thought, had come to make all things right, get us on the path of goodness—mercy, love, justice, compassion and once we got it, Jesus would return and take us all, the faithful, with him, to heavenly glory. It seems it has taken us all, collectively, longer to “get it” then those first Christians thought. And when the end of time will come, no one knows, and perhaps it is not something we need worry about, but rather, to concentrate on the transition in our own lives.

This past week, I took the opportunity of renting a table at Winona State University (WSU) to display our “wares,” as it were, as a Catholic parish here in Winona. I recently received a letter, which I’ve mentioned before from someone taking issue with me about calling our church “Roman Catholic” in the WSU student bulletin when I don’t agree with the bishops. The last time I checked, my baptism within this Church signified that I would ultimately be following Jesus, not the bishops. It is great when the two are asking the same of me as far as how I live my life, but when that is not the case, I must follow Jesus’ lead.
My time at WSU was to offer an invitation to the student community that all are welcome at our table, should any want to pray and celebrate with us. That is what the call of the end times is all about—that we would be our best selves. I would guess that the traditional Catholic community has the same mission; that people would be their best selves; but if the choice is between following Jesus or the bishop, the choice for me is clear.

Interestingly enough, what I discovered in sitting for 5.5 hours in the lower hyphen of Kryzko Commons, a well-traveled area by students, is that “church,” as represented there is either a non-issue to them, or for Catholic students, they are an ultra-conservative lot. Three young people stopped at different times, with two engaging me and another Church member, at one point, rather passionately about the law and of how I was confusing people. Both, rather smugly, promised to pray for me and I promised the same for them. We have a long way to go my friends in helping people “get” the message of Jesus.
The hopeful note was that of my presence there and of trying to engage students as they passed by, with a smile, a greeting. We never know the seeds that we plant.

Friends, there is much suffering in our world—just this past week we heard of the renewed fighting in Jesus’ homeland. Suffering in our world has traditionally been held as a sign that the end times are near. When we look at starvation, wars and injustices around the world and in our own country; we may at times wonder if we will ever get it right. Therein lays our task as individual Christians. Jesus is constantly calling each of us to transition in our life through his blessed word in the Scriptures that we hear every week. We must not only hear the word with our ears, but let it sink into our hearts and then show its goodness—through the works of love, mercy, compassion, justice and peace in our personal lives.
I had the privilege a few years back to hear a presentation by Jim Bowey at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Jim is a photographer, and his presentation was on how the photographer communicates a message through his medium. He said that we communicate most and best as photographers, as people, through pictures or words, when we allow a communion to happen between those we encounter—when we let their story seep into our hearts. In reflection on my time with those passionate, ultra-conservative Catholic students, I realized that the way to make a difference with them will be by the way I am with them—trying to understand their concerns—witnessing to what I have come to, and showing them that I am not the errant, law-breaking feminist that they have been led to believe, but a faith-filled woman trying to answer God’s call in my life.

So, my friends, this week, as we ever so relentlessly move toward the end of our Church Year, anticipating the beautiful season of Advent, recalling that our brother Jesus is always with us, showing us the way, let us pray for each other that we might let his example of truth, goodness and justice for all seep into our hearts in order that our encounters with others might more regularly move from the surface to become empathic encounters, true communions with them, and through them, with our loving God.