My friends, once again this homily was written with Michael Maher in “my rear-view mirror,” so to speak.  His passing—his death, as one of you said to me, “makes me so very sad!”  Yes! And yet, we know that life and death are a reality for each of us…In my past bereavement work, I have often said to families, “Our heads understand that, but it just takes a while longer for our hearts to catch up.” So, this is where we find ourselves today. 

   As I began work on this homily—I started with the Scriptures, as I always do, and I sought out some added wisdom, especially, for the first reading from Samuel.  The story of David sparing Saul’s life is, Scripture scholar, Diane Bergan says, “a striking example of respect and forgiveness, of doing unto others what we would want them to do unto us,” as our brother Jesus teaches in today’s gospel from Luke. 

   Jesus’ examples of “turning the other cheek,” giving repeatedly, not only the top garment, but our inner garment too to those who would ask, spells out quite well the extent to which we must consider sharing with others.

   I think that Jesus always made the point of carrying the example to the extreme because he knew of our human tendency to give less than we are capable of giving.  The idea, I believe, in praying over Jesus’ message is to look for a balance in our lives that cares for ourselves, at least doesn’t leave us out, with enough left to do our share in raising others to a level of dignity that each person deserves. 

   Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians today, reminds us that we must not only model ourselves on the first human—Adam, but on the second human—Jesus.  In other words, we must remember that we are comprised, each of us, of both human and spiritual tendencies; and blending the two; we can come, more and more, to image our brother, Jesus, the Christ. 

   Diane Bergant writes more on this golden rule of, “doing unto others as we would have them do unto us” by saying that sometimes our culture encourages us toward an opposing rule, that of, “doing unto others before they do unto us.”  We all struggle within our lives—the body against the spirit, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves—it’s the journey each of us makes with our one, wonderful life. 

   These past two weeks, as our community has been “storming heaven” for Michael’s healing and through to his death on this past Wednesday, stories have been coming to me from all corners of this city and beyond about how people’s lives have been made better because of his “doing [for] others…”  He didn’t do any of it because he expected a return, but simply because that was who he was and perhaps that is the way, we can carry on—by emulating those actions we saw as good in him, in our own lives.  Our time has perhaps come to carry on for him. 

   Michael was an extremely gifted man—he excelled in archery, woodcarving, of which, Sophia, Feminine Face of God stands here in testament.  He enjoyed cycling, kayaking, he was an educator, and in all these areas, he had a group of friends that he shared these pastimes with. He shared whenever asked and as another of you said, “The only time he said, ‘no’ was when he was already, otherwise occupied.” 

   So my friends, with regard to how we respond to our world and the people we encounter and associate with, as baptized followers of Jesus; we are always called to take the high road, never acting out of the human tendency “to do first” before it is “done to us,” but most assuredly, to do unto others as we would expect and want them to do unto us.  Anything less is simply, not Christian, nor in the footsteps of our brother, Jesus, nor we might add, our brother Michael. 

   And as I stated earlier, this means keeping ourselves as part of the equation—it is never good or right to allow ourselves to be abused with the notion that this example of “turning the other cheek” is what Jesus wants us to do.  Balance, always balance, respects the fact that our God loves me as well as all others.  An alternative way to speak about the golden rule is to say, “Love your enemies, and love yourself.”  It’s a package!

  In conclusion then, I started today with some reflection on our brother and friend, Michael Maher—one who will be missed by us all because of the ways he touched the world that we all share.  Sometimes after a loved one has died, there is the tendency to make more of them in death than they were in life.  None of my sharing here today was to say that Michael was perfect—he had his faults as we all do, but I can say, in all honesty, that he never stopped trying to be his best—to stop caring about others and helping in the ways that he could.  If that can be said of any of us after we are gone, we would, I believe, have succeeded in our one, wonderful life. Each of us as Paul basically says to us in today’s 2^nd reading are of earth and of heaven—Michael is now of heaven. —Amen? Amen!

My friends, this Sunday’s homily comes out of my heart that is deeply saddened as I know many of your hearts are as well over our brother, Michael, who lies in wait in a coma in the hospital in Lacrosse—healing, we hope, but also grieving too over the fact that he may not be able to come back to us, as we have known him.  Time will tell; but for now, we hold onto hope because we simply don’t know. 

   Our Scriptures for this Sunday are, amazingly, about hope and trust.  The prophet Jeremiah gives us the following: [Those who turn away from God,] “are like a bush in the desert with no hope,” and, “blessed are those who put their trust in God, with God for their hope.” 

   The psalmist too, in Psalm 1 proclaims, “Happy are those who hope in God.”  And additionally, our brother in faith, Paul, in the 2^nd reading from Corinthians, says it again, “our hope is in Christ.” 

   Now Paul, of course, is speaking about the Resurrection of our brother Jesus and because of his rising to a new and inexplicably, wonderful life; we too have that assurance for ourselves, that one day, we will experience this new life.  And that is important on a very personal level as we contemplate the fragileness of human life as we know it, here and now. 

   Our gospel today from Luke takes all of this a step further as we read from the Beatitudes, “Blessed are you who are weeping…you will laugh.”

   Jeremiah seems to be comparing the human heart and the emotions contained within to “trusting in God,” saying that, “to trust in God,” is the best thing. I would say that “trust” in someone, God, or another, doesn’t come out of nowhere.  We come “to trust” because we have seen something else first and I would suggest that “something else” is “love” or at least, “caring.”  Love, as we know, is usually “paired” with the heart, as the source of this wonderful, human emotion, at its best.    Now, granted, the word, “love” has been misused throughout time and let us be clear, the love that I am speaking of here doesn’t stem from, as Jeremiah seems to suggest, “selfishness,” but from “a deep caring” for the other.

   The author of many spiritual books, Cynthia Bourgeault, has said that the “heart” is about, “seeing the Holy in all that is.”  This next week, we celebrate “Valentine’s Day” –a day even though, majorly commercialized, is intended, at its best, to be a day that we let those who we truly care about, know that they are truly loved. 

   I began this homily sharing my sadness over our brother Michael’s accident and one of you shared with me this past week that on the day that he was injured, he was about two kind acts, taking the food route for Home Delivered Meals as a substitute for another, and bringing meals to folks in need.  I think we all would agree, he was about “love” that day. 

   When speaking about “true love” –in its best sense, we talk about, “the heart being broken open.”  This is to say, that the center of emotional response really is, the heart.  We never talk about “the head” in this way.  

   In the best sense my friends, we want “hearts that can break open” because that means that, as Jesus asked, our hearts would be of “flesh” and not “stone.”  I believe we can all understand the meaning that Jesus intended—that the people,  and the world that we meet each day could, as Bourgeault said, be seen and treated as “Holy” –to be respected and cared for.   

This past week—a lovely piece came through my Face Book feed entitled, “We Are the World” –a musical rendition done by the Clarksville Elementary School children.  To see the answer to all that may be wrong with our world so simply and beautifully put by children, is to “break open the hearts” of those who listen to it –causing us all to realize that, if we have the will, we can make this world good for all. 

   Love can be illusive –we may not always know if we are acting out of love, but as Jesus said, “We will know by our actions” –anything that brings good and not bad, is surely, at its base, about love.

  I always think of Tevye’s question to his wife, Golda in Fiddler on the Roof: “Do you love me?” Golda goes through a series of tasks that she has done for him for 25 years; cleaning his house, preparing his food, giving him children and so on.  He persists, “But Golda, do you love me?” To which she finally says—that basically, doing all that, “I guess I do!”

   Jesus, in many ways and in many places talked about love and its good affects in our lives, and how in fact we would know it when we saw it.  He talked about it in common terms so that people would be very clear on what love was.  He used parables –stories about peoples’ everyday lives –that of the Good Shepherd, the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal and so on—each and all, stories of love.   

   If we look closely at Jesus’ short life among us, we can only truly understand the meaning of his life through the “eyes of love.” Any other explanation really makes no sense.  Unfortunately, the standard belief for many, if not all of us growing up, was about a vengeful, heartless Father-figure who needed to be appeased for the failings of humankind.  Think of how much more wonderful it is to imagine a God who loves created life so much so as to send Jesus to basically show us how to live and to ultimately, bring us home. 

   So my friends, bringing us full circle, this week’s readings call us to hope and trust in a God who loves us immeasurably –who only wants good for us and not bad.  This same God, while not changing what life brings, necessarily, is always “walking with us,” giving us the strength and comfort that we need. 

   This past week, as we have prayed for one of our own, Michael, his daughter Becky has told me she has felt the strength of all of those prayers.  Again, we recall our loving God’s words today – “Blessed are you who are weeping.  You will laugh.”

   Friends, we are called today to trust and hope and love our God who has first trusted, hoped and loved us—in Jesus.  Jesus did his piece, “broke open” his heart for us and now we are asked to do the same for others.  Amen? Amen!

So my friends, we continue on in Ordinary Time, in these cold, somewhat dark days of winter, with Christmas and related feasts fully behind us.  We personally, always keep some outdoor lights on through the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple, and then, we too, have to move on in our Christian lives, answering some of the same questions that the prophet Isaiah is presented with in today’s first reading:  Whom shall I send?  Who will go for us?  Our God poses these questions to Isaiah and each of us and we should answer them along with Isaiah.  Hopefully, we can respond as he did in today’s first reading: “Here I am, send me!”

   So, why is it important that we see these questions as ours to answer along with Isaiah?  The simple answer my friends, is, that’s what we signed up for, or our godparents did at our baptisms—but then, we each, confirmed their “yeses” at our confirmations. 

   The word, “Christian” is not just a noun, as in a name, but a verb because it demands that we follow in our brother Jesus’ footsteps.  If we don’t at least attempt to face our world as he did, then we can’t claim the name, pure and simple. 

   Paul says as much in his letter to the Corinthians that action follows the name.  He admits that for a time he “persecuted the Church,” but, “God chose him anyway,” the Scriptures say, to be the best God knew he could be!  And Paul gives God, all the credit, “By God’s favor, I am what I am.” 

   And Paul, in effect, says one thing more in the above words.  He lets us know, reflecting on himself, that there isn’t an end to God’s love for each of us or God’s belief in each of us—in what we are capable of giving to our world.

   Our present time in our country and Church leaves many of us discouraged as we don’t see a tone, saying that collectively we truly care about each other.  There are loud cries for personal freedom, regardless of the freedoms of others, who also have needs. 

   The founders of this wonderful country of ours, in our beginning documents, were never intent on the “one” as much as the “all”–“We the people” –they wrote.

   And in our Church, something that Jesus never really instituted, but more so, showed, the right way to live, and never wanted us to categorize life as, dos and don’ts, black and white, but to see more broadly what was needed and taught that we should always, each of us, try and do, “the loving thing.” 

   I think many times, we all stop short of being our best, because it is easier, to do the minimum and I include myself in this.  We see this played out in the gospel message today.  If we see this selection as merely, Jesus performing a miracle—a great catch of fish, then we would be missing the true significance of the event. 

   Yes, there was a “great catch of fish”—but that was just to get his future followers’ attention.  What Jesus was really after, was, for lack of a better way of saying it, “catching” each of them, showing each of them and ultimately, all who would follow, ourselves included, how best to live our one, wonderful life. Whether in our country, or in our Church, it is always best, to live with all the others, besides ourselves, being considered.  To live arrogantly with only ourselves in mind was never what any of us was created for. 

   The huge catch of fish in today’s gospel should signal to us, what great things can happen when Jesus is in our lives.  The call to Isaiah—the call he first heard travels down through history –it was a call that came to Jesus—was heard by him and acted upon.  It is a call to us as well.  It is one that we too must respond to and say, “Here I am, send me!”

   Jesus our human brother knows only too well, the fears that we too walk with.  In today’s gospel he answers those fears— “Do not be afraid.”  Additionally, the gospel today telling of the great catch of fish lets us know that the only way that all the “fish” could be brought in was if they all worked together, sharing their boats, their strength, and their expertise.   None of us manages in this life trying to go it alone either. It has been said, time and again, that the reason COVID and its restraints on our personal freedoms is not over, is because we are not working as a nation to make that so!

  We need each other for hope, for mutual support, for added strength when ours runs low.  At present, we are all praying collectively for the welfare and healing of one of our own—Michael Maher.

   There are many ways to bring “the fish” home and that is why we are all so wonderfully, but differently made.  Our Church, beginning with Pope Francis, is asking us all, to be, “fishers” of all humankind, as we prepare for the 2023 Synod on Synodality. It will only be a success if everyone can be included—can be heard—women as well as men, poor as well as rich, heterosexuals as well as homosexuals, and so forth. There is room in the boat for all!  Jesus’ love incarnate was always about seeing the whole picture of how really big our God’s love is, for each of us, in all our diversity, called to serve and to bring each other home.  Amen? Amen!

Dear Friends,

Again, we won’t be meeting in person for Mass this coming Sunday, but hopefully, we can do so the first Sunday in February. We are challenged this week to trust that our God in Jesus walks with us every day as we attempt to live as Jesus did. Below you will find a listing of the readings for Sunday, accompanying prayers and a homily for your reflection. Please be in touch if I can help you in any way in the interim–aaorcc2008@gmail.com or 507-429-3616. Peace and love, Pastor Kathy

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Entrance Antiphon

Sing a new song to our God. Sing to God all the earth.  Truth and beauty surrounds God—God lives in holiness and glory.

Let Us Pray

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, the love you offer always exceeds the furthest expression of our human longing, for you are greater than the human heart.  Direct each thought, each effort of our life so that the limits of our faults and weaknesses may not obscure the vision of your glory or keep us from the peace you have promised. We ask this in Jesus’ wonderful name, with you our Creator and the Spirit of us all—one God, living and loving us forever and ever, Amen.

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Readings:

• Jeremiah 1: 4-5, 17-19
• 1 Corinthians 12: 31–13: 13
• Luke 4: 21-30

Homily:

My friends, today’s readings from the prophets, Jeremiah, Paul, and Jesus come to me and perhaps you at a very significant time. Many of us Catholics have been invited by Pope Francis to share with the local church, our thoughts, concerns and more as we all, “journey together”—which by the way is the definition of “synodality,” toward the 2023 Synod on Synodality. 

   In the earlier years within the Church, historians and theologians tell us, there was more “inclusivity of voices,” i.e. the laity, in making decisions concerning the People of God.  But as the papacy’s power grew over time, the laity and their opinions were technically eliminated, or at least, not sought.  So, the coming Synod on Synodality, called for by Pope Francis is, as I understand it, intended to change this.  At face value, that all sounds good, and I will leave it there for now. 

   Another new piece of information that I would like to throw into the mix as we reflect on this Sunday’s Scriptures is an article written by Sister Linda Romney, Erie, Pennsylvania Benedictine in the Global Sisters’ Report.  The article addresses what communities of religious sisters would look like without patriarchy.  A very good question to reflect on as we all are being asked to “weigh in” for the Synod on Synodality.  This too, I will leave for now and focus on the message of the Scriptures and later, see if we can make some connections.

   In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear our God saying to the prophet that his connection to God started even before he was conceived!  Think about that!  And as you do, hopefully you can realize and believe that the same is true for each of us! Jesus, in fact, confirmed this again and again throughout his earthly life.  The rest of this reading is a call and a challenge to Jeremiah, [to] “brace yourself for action, stand up and tell [the people] what I command you.”  More on this in a bit. 

   The prophet Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, tells them and us, in no uncertain terms how we are to be in the world, following in our brother Jesus’ footsteps. I am sure you all recalled this beautiful treatise on love that many couples who marry each year choose as one of their readings. 

   And finally, the readings for this week conclude with a continuation of Luke’s gospel from last Sunday.  You will recall that the previous gospel ended with Jesus’ prophetic and challenging words, “Today, in your hearing, this Scripture passage is fulfilled.”    Today’s gospel then, begins with the above words with the hearers able to comment.  A novel idea, don’t you think?! 😊

   We find that his neighbors and friends, in his hometown of Nazareth seem to have two responses:  On the one hand, “they marveled” at his ability to preach and prophesy; but on the other, they seem to doubt— “Is this not the son of Joseph and Mary?” 

   These hometown folks seem to foreshadow the response of people throughout history to the present–rather than see a message, “as graced” and coming from the Spirit of our Loving God, we doubt and stay stuck in, “the way it has always been.  For Jesus, where there was no faith, he simply didn’t have the power to act, as all prophets before him and perhaps, after him. 

   So my friends, let’s take these Scriptures as a lens to address the issues I raised at the start of this homily:  First, the synod coming up in 2023. We are all invited through our pope, Francis to “journey together” these next two years, sharing our truth, as inspired by the Spirit—seemingly freely, about “what church is” for us now and perhaps what we would like it to be.  Many of us could probably mouth Jeremiah’s words in the first reading today about why we are reluctant to speak the truth we know, “to be from God.”  Simply put, “we are afraid,” that like Jesus, we will be abused, ridiculed, not believed—the comfort I feel [perhaps] in my present situation will be upset or whatever our concern may be. 

   And we see God’s response to the fearful Jeremiah and ultimately to us—our God says, “I am with you, do not doubt that! The priests and people will fight against you but will not overcome you!”  Additionally, our God says, and I paraphrase—do not be afraid of what the people will do to you if you speak, be afraid of what I will [think, feel] if you don’t! 

   Secondly, let us look briefly at Sister Linda Romney’s article in the Global Sisters Report.  The question she is basically asking communities of sisters to look at, is how their communities would function without patriarchy. 

   I think it is fair to say that many, if not most sisters in communities across this country and around the world don’t speak out against the bishops and pope because they fear the consequences.  The review of women religious conducted by Benedict XVI is still in the memories of many. 

   Like with Jeremiah, this fear is a high hurdle to get over.  It is at this point that these bodies of religious women should heed our God’s words to the prophet:  Really, you should fear more my response if you don’t speak out. Linda Romney is asking a “stellar” question for our time—one that I truly feel religious women can’t ignore.  Why do religious groups of women fail to speak out on issues that they know they should until the bishop says it is, okay?  And those not ordained, or part of a religious community are not left off the hook. Remember the words of our God to Jeremiah—Our God will not let us fail when we speak the truth that God gives us. 

   Paul then, tells us how we all should go about asking our questions—basically, with love.  And by, “love,” I mean, “tough love,” that has at its basis, what is good for all, across the board–beginning with the poor and disadvantaged, the abused and alone, the forgotten ones, the misunderstood, and we do this all in the memory of Jesus of Nazareth. 

   With regard to Linda Romney’s question of how religious life would be different without patriarchy, I wonder, often, why we do not see Church fathers, with perhaps Pope Francis as an exception, on some issues, speaking out in unison on any number of social-justice concerns.  If the men want to lead, then they should do that–otherwise, respectfully, get out of the way and let the women try—I don’t believe we would do a worse job!  But ideally, I would like to see our Church work together, women and men realizing that each group, in its individuals, is hearing from the loving Spirit of our God and has a piece to add.  And so, I would say, do gays and lesbians, trans and queer and so on…individuals. 

   Why does our Church leadership always “punish” rather than “listen” when a new idea is raised or acted upon?  Why do Church men feel they need to have the final word on everything—who gave them that power? And how arrogant of them to assume they should have the final word where communities of intelligent, capable, and holy women are concerned. Is it fear, on their part, about losing control? Perhaps. But if we are ever to have a Church, that truly, “journeys together,” women and all others considered as “different, unworthy, whatever it might be, must be included. 

   And friends, at the end of the day, these tough questions, raised by Sister Linda and all others who will submit their thoughts and concerns in preparation for this synod must be addressed and considered with the kind of love that Paul speaks of today in the second letter to the Corinthians. 

   Paul lets us know that “Love never fails,” because true love, “is patient, kind, not jealous, proud or snobbish, rude or self-seeking—nor is it angry, nor does it hold a grudge.”  It “rejoices [though] in the truth, not in what is wrong.”  Additionally, “there are no limits on its trust, hope and power to endure.” 

   My friends, the love spoken of here is not a childish kind of love, but will take an adult, mature response every day of our lives.  If our so-called “love” is less than the above, then, as Paul says, we are just “a noisy gong.”  And finally, he warns us that, “our sight is imperfect now” and that only later will we, “see clearly,” but we are still expected to try and face our world with love.  Amen? Amen! 

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Prayers of the Faithful:

1. Loving God, be with all elected officials—instill within each one, the wisdom of your Spirit to always have the interests of those most needy among us at heart, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

2.  Loving God, give each of us health of body, mind, and spirit–especially those struggling with life—threatening illnesses—give each one your strength and  wonderful gift of peace, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

3.  O God, help us to be true followers of Jesus, willing to speak truth to power for those who most need our advocacy today, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

4. O God, help us to strive to be people of peace—help us to remember that Jesus has glorified our humanity by his presence in it and help us to treat all people and our world accordingly, we pray—     Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

5. For our community, All Are One, give us welcoming hearts to be open to all who come to us, and inspire us in new ways to reach out this year to those most in need of our ministry, we pray—     Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

6. Loving Jesus, be with all families who have lost loved ones this week, from COVID, from ignorance, and all other causes—give them your peace, that they may find their way through their grief, we pray—      Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

***Let us pray for your particular needs, you may say them out loud—then response

***Let us pray for the silent petitions on our hearts—pause, then response

Let Us Pray

Loving God, we thank you for your great love for us in sending us Jesus, our brother and friend. Help us to model our lives after his, selflessly giving to those in need, being people of truth, faith and trust in your word. Let our lives reflect mercy, goodness, and joy to all that we meet. Help us as a faith community to realize our responsibility to always be welcoming of all who come to our table—help us to be good listeners of other’s stories respecting their journeys to you even if the path they take is different from ours. Bless us, keep us, and hold us in your love—we ask all this of you, Creator, Savior, Spirit—one God, living and loving us forever and ever, Amen.

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Let Us Pray

Prayer of Communion

Loving God, may your Spirit within us increase our love and hold us in the joy of your kin-dom.  We ask this in Jesus’ name and with that same Spirit, One God, living and loving us forever and ever, Amen.

Dear Friends,

Find below my homily, mention of the readings for the day and accompanying prayers. I wish we could be together, but unfortunately, we will need to wait a bit yet until the COVID numbers are more under control. Please be safe and take good care of yourself–and for many of us, stay warm! Call, 507-429-3616 or email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com if I can help you in any way. Peace and love, Pastor Kathy

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Entrance Antiphon

Sing a new song to our God. Sing to God all the earth.  Truth and beauty surrounds God—God lives in holiness and glory.

Let Us Pray

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, the love you offer always exceeds the furthest expression of our human longing, for you are greater than the human heart.  Direct each thought, each effort of our life so that the limits of our faults and weaknesses may not obscure the vision of your glory or keep us from the peace you have promised. We ask this in Jesus’ wonderful name, with you our Creator and the Spirit of us all—one God, living and loving us, forever and ever, Amen.

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Readings:

• Nehemiah 8: 2-4, 5-6, 8-10
• 1 Corinthians 12: 12-30
• Luke 1: 1-4; 4:14-21

Homily:

My friends, this week, as I said in the bulletin, once again finds us apart physically and I believe, for this reason; we each have the responsibility to reach out to others in whatever ways that we can, especially to those who are more shut-in.  And as I write this, the realization floods in upon me that due to COVID, even this suggestion has its limitations.  Reach out though, just the same.   Phone calls and snail mail cards are a wonderful way to brighten another’s day. 

   With the Christmas season past, you probably, like us, sent out greeting cards and received some in return, finding that your cards to others and theirs to you, “passed in the mail.”  Once received, you discovered that you learned of news and events that you weren’t aware of.  I have personally pulled out the cards where I learned of new things and resolved to send a follow-up note in the New Year. 

   With this in mind, today’s Scriptures have much to say about our personal relationship with our God and ultimately with each other in that regard, as one does lead, or should, to the other. 

   Ezra, the priest, and prophet in the setting for today’s first reading from Nehemiah, establishes for the Israelite people, just returned from exile, what their relationship with their God should be. 

   The people seem to be, “sad” and “fearful” with regard to their God, and Ezra says, “No,” this should not be your response.  “Today is holy,” basically because your God loves you, even though you may have failed to be your best in the past, God will always give you a second chance, as long as you are willing to try!  Ezra tells them and us that actually, rather than sadness and fear, your attitude should be one of “joy.”  He encourages us all to celebrate with “rich food and sweet drinks,’ remembering to send, “a portion” to those who have none.  And this seems to play into my opening remarks in how we should reach out to others, now.

    Ezra also does a wonderful thing with regard to the people in encouraging a balance in their attitude toward God.  When he stands before them to read the holy scroll, they stand, out of respect for the Word, which Ezra encourages and as he interprets the words, the people bow low and this seems to be related to their, “sadness and fear” over past failings. 

   And when you think about it, prior to the Second Vatican Council, for those of us alive then, we were taught to act in a similar way, “with fear and trembling” basically, and if we had a great love for God, it was “because He was willing to save us from our sins in Jesus,” a teaching, as you know, your pastor, along with noted theologians, has left behind. 

   The trouble with this theology was that it was hard to have a relationship with this mysterious God whose ways we found hard to wrap our minds, and less, our hearts around. 

   But Ezra and Nehemiah, who was said to be the “governor,” are clearly telling the people that this is not the case; but rather, “the joy” that their God feels over their return from exile and is a cause for celebration!

   Before leaving this first reading, I wanted to comment further on the fact that in hearing the “holy Word” read, the people stood and said, “Amen.”  I believe we all know and understand this word, “Amen” to mean, “So be it—I agree!” 

   Additionally, I believe it is important for each of us to have an open and relational commitment with our God in order that when we hear the holy Word read or a homily delivered, we have the opportunity to agree or disagree and that is why I present you each week with the word, “Amen” in the form of a question, so that you can respond, affirmatively, if you so choose, “Amen, so be it” and if you whole-heartedly agree, with an exclamation  point! 

   The Word, read and “broken open” through a homily is always meant, to move us to action and this action is always easier to do, as Ezra says through the strength we acquire in knowing the “joy” our God takes in each one of us. 

   And for this reason, that our God does indeed feel “joy” in each one of us, we must reject that older theology that Jesus, our brother came and in fact, was sent, primarily and solely, to save us from our sins.  Jesus came foremost, and simply, to show us how to live, how to spend our one, wonderful life, here, among our sisters and brothers. 

   Paul, in a continuation of his first letter to the Corinthians, “grows” this point.  He writes about how “the body is one,” and even though, we are “many” and different, we are still one—with no one being more important than another.  And he goes on saying that “we need” each other to be whole.  He makes his point through the simple discussion of human body parts—the eye, the ear, the hand—stating that no one of these parts can function without the others. Then he moves on to the spiritual plane stating that being part of this wonderful body of so many means that we must reach out to others who are sorrowing, who are rejoicing and stand by them with whatever life brings, because, yes, we are all one, and what affects one, affects all, ideally. 

   And then, today’s Scriptures conclude with the beautiful recounting of Jesus’ reading of Isaiah’s words, in his hometown synagogue of Nazareth proclaiming that indeed, “the Spirit of God was upon him!”

   And this same Spirit would assist him, going forward, “to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, release to prisoners and a year of favor from God.”  And just in case, his hometown acquaintances didn’t fully realize what this action meant—that he wasn’t just “reading” Isaiah’s words, but going forward, he would be “doing” what Isaiah proclaimed that the Messiah would do, and then Jesus commented on the Scriptures, which was his right to do—”sealing the deal,” as it were— “Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled!” 

    My friends, I hoped you have picked up the awesomeness of what our brother, Jesus did in today’s gospel.  Think of how he would have had to prepare to be able to walk into his hometown, realizing that many may not be able to accept what he would say, but to do it anyway, as the Spirit led him. 

   If we can hear these words with the “ear of our hearts,” then maybe we too can find the strength to speak and act with the power that Jesus did when we see wrongs perpetrated in our midst—whether in Church or State. 

   We may feel at times the same, “fear and sadness” that the people in Ezra’s time felt, but hopefully, in addition, we can remember the strength of the Spirit that led Jesus to act in his time, regardless of the consequences. 

   And when we don’t act “our best” in our present time, let us remember too, “the joy” that God felt for the Israelites, the same joy that God feels for each of us, knowing that this God will always give us another chance to “get it right!”  Jesus told us while among us that “the Spirit is continually renewing the face of the earth,” and that can happen through us if we allow her to do that work in us. 

   Sister Joan Chittister often encourages those she speaks to and in her writing, “to listen with the ear of our hearts,” because she has come to know that this type of listening moves us to action. 

  “Listening with the ear of our hearts” is what allows us to speak kindly to another, to show patience in the midst of upset, to try and see another point of view, to understand that others may be carrying a heavy load and are doing the best that they can.  This is what Paul is talking about today to the Corinthians.  The Mystical Body calls us to this kind of thinking, feeling and action.

   My friends, to follow Jesus, our brother, calls us to all that he did—lest his strength, his courage, his vision, his listening with the ear of his heart stop there; we too must step up and let his words be evident through us—that glad tidings are being brought to the poor, so many poor in so many ways, that the blind, who cannot see, in so many ways, now have sight, that those who are prisoners in body, mind and spirit have been set free and that truly these Scriptures are continuing to be fulfilled! Amen? Amen!

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Prayers of the Faithful:

Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

1. Loving God, be with all elected officials—instill within each one, the wisdom of your Spirit to always keep what is best for the people in mind. Help all world    leaders, to find the ways to peace, we pray—    Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

2. Loving God, give each of us health of body, mind and spirit–especially those struggling with life—threatening illnesses—give each one your strength and    wonderful gift of peace, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

3. O God, help us to see you in the elderly, the weak, the young, ourselves, and     treat all with the love and respect due them, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

4. O God, help us to strive to be people of peace—help us to remember that Jesus has glorified our humanity by his presence in it and help us to treat people and our world accordingly, we pray—    Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

5. For our community, All Are One, give us welcoming hearts to be open to all who come to us, and inspire us in new ways to reach out this year to those most in need of our ministry, we pray—     Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

6. Loving Jesus, be with all families who have lost loved ones this week—from COVID, from ignorance, and from all other causes, give them your peace, be with those our friends and relatives who are newly bereaved in this New Year, be with those remembering an anniversary of death at this time, to find their way through their grief, which we know, continues, we pray—Response: “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

***Let us pray for your particular needs—you may say their names out loud—

then response

***Let us pray for the silent petitions on our hearts—pause, then response

Let Us Pray

Loving God, we thank you for your great love for us in sending us Jesus, our brother and friend. Help us to model our lives after his, selflessly giving to those in need, being people of truth, faith, and trust in your word. Let our lives reflect mercy, goodness, and joy to all that we meet. Help us as a faith community to realize our responsibility to always be welcoming of all who come to our table—help us to be good listeners, using the “ear of our hearts” of other’s stories, respecting their journeys to you even if the path they take is different from ours. Give us the strength each day to do our part. Bless us, keep us, and hold us in your love—we ask all this of you, Creator, Savior, and Spirit—one God, who lives and loves us, forever and ever, Amen.

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Prayer of Communion

Loving God, may the love you give us constantly, increase our love and hold us in the joy of your kin-dom.  We ask this in Jesus’ name and with the Spirit, One God, living and loving us forever and ever, Amen.

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