My friends, as we reflect on today’s readings from Deuteronomy, Paul to the Corinthians, the psalmist in #95, and Jesus’ words and actions from the Gospel of Mark, along with the state of our world at present, it seems that the almost, imploring words of our Loving God through the psalmist are most appropriate: “Oh that today you would hear God’s voice,” – “to harden not your hearts.” 

   I was, as I’m sure you were, appalled and sickened, reading about the new and previously untried form of execution used this past Thursday in the state of Alabama on a death-row inmate named Kenneth Smith.  Those involved with power to do the deed nearly promised that it would be “quick and painless,” but as we know, it was neither!  It would seem that we all are better than this from the U.S. Supreme Court, that refused the stay of this execution, on down.  The psalmist today implores us, “Harden not your hearts.” 

   In the Middle East, in the Gaza Territory, the United Nations stopped short of saying that what the Israelis are doing there is “genocide,” and thus the psalmist’s words again challenge the world, all of us, “to harden not our hearts.” For me, it is hard to fathom how the people of Israel, after the genocide their own people suffered at the hands of the Nazis cannot see that they are now doing the same. 

   Our own country has seemingly chosen “to harden our hearts,” through the actions and rhetoric of many in the halls of our Congress who choose vindictiveness and an unwillingness to work together for the good of all in our country, realizing that no one “gets everything they want,” but by working together, each opposing side can get “some of what they want.”  And this is to say nothing about simply, on the parts of some, acting like human beings toward each other.  When many in this country allow the voice of one individual who consistently, as another has said, “Goes low,” to speak for them, they have, “hardened their hearts!”

   The Scripture readings for today from Old and New Testaments, speak of “prophets coming,” and that they will speak, “with authority,” [the message that our Loving God wants us to hear and act upon].  Deuteronomy says that the prophet “will come from among your people.”  Now because we believe that the Spirit is “continually renewing the face of the earth,” we must believe that “prophets” are continually being called forth, now, in our time. 

   So, how will we know these prophets?  Jesus’ words are instructive here – “by their fruits!”  In my 50+ adult years, reflecting on what Jesus meant, I have been well-served by the wisdom that when the gifts of love, mercy, justice, peace, and other traits along this vein are present, God is there, and will give that prophet the words that God wants spoken.  And likewise, when vindictiveness, injustice, basically, a lack of love are present, God is not there!

   Overall, I would say, in addition to the other positive traits that should tell us that, “this is of God,” peace of heart and mind should be there too!  But let me be clear – this does not mean that the life of the prophet will necessarily be easy, even if they realize the gift of peace within.  We only need look to Jesus, Pope Francis, and all the committee members of the January 6^th Commission, as examples, who spoke “truth to power” to be sure of this.  John Lewis spoke prophetically of his work when among us, as, “good trouble,” which lets us know that for so long, what he had to say was not always accepted, which made it much harder.

   So my friends, when we reflect on trying to make a difference in our world, where so much seems to not be right, when people the world over seem to choose the basest reasons for how to respond to what, “life basically brings their way,” we must, simply must, realize that we are so much better than the evil we see, and rise above it! 

   I saw a news piece recently that was of a man who had experienced a great deal of adversity in his life and in the past had blamed others for the life he was now living, until he finally, one day, said to himself, “I am who I am because of the choices I have made, and I am now making other choices!” 

   The 2^nd reading today from Corinthians has Paul telling the people that basically, they can be closer to God if they are unmarried (Paul’s state) because they can then have more time, “to be with God” and more quickly respond to others, unencumbered by a spouse and family. As someone else has said, “While that may be true, being “unmarried” doesn’t guarantee that the “extra time” will be used to, “be with God,” or that such an individual will respond more quickly to the needs of others.”  I would suggest that here, we are being given a black and white response, and a very narrow view of how we can respond to our Loving God, and to our world—for God is present in all the “spouses and families” that Paul seems to think are getting, “in the way.” 

   When I think of the “Face of God” that I have seen in so many caregivers of spouses, friends, and family members, I know that our God had more in mind than that the only way to bring that relationship with the Source of All Being into play was to go it alone, unattached—there is a place for both!

   Giving Paul a bit of a break though, he was in a hurry to get folks on the right track, so to speak, as he and many other followers of what they called, Jesus’ “Way,” thought he was returning sooner rather than later, and must be ready. 

   Finally today friends, just a few words about Jesus’ actions with the demoniac from Capernaum in today’s gospel.  As exegetes have told us, we certainly see Jesus’ “authority” as he acted, seemingly without fear to help the poor man afflicted, by expelling the evil one from him. 

   As we reflect on this, most of us probably think that we never experience anything like this in our lives and could never do the same.  Here, I would suggest that whenever we see something evil in our world, and we try to do whatever we can—listen to a lonely friend, or stranger, make a call—write a letter to a power able to make some change—letting them know that “we are watching,” we have done so much, “to expel the demons.”  Sometimes “our words” at a particular time are what someone else needed to make a change in their lives.  Someone once said, “the weaknesses we see in others are openings for God to enter in,” and again, as Amanda Gorman said, “if we can be the light that is needed.  Amen? Amen! 

My friends, you probably noticed that this week’s readings have a sense of urgency about them.  Our God, in the 1^st reading from Jonah, is after him to get about what God is asking of him— “Get up…go!”

   In the 2^nd reading from 1^st Corinthians, we see this same urgency in an almost dire message from Paul, as he tells the people to put aside all the daily, routine, tasks of life, even relationships with people, and prepare themselves for God (Jesus’) return, which they believed would be very soon.  Given this notion, “that God was coming soon,” it stands to reason that the need “to be about it,” was there!

   This notion was then, but how about us now?  Do we have that same urgency, now, “to be our best selves”—whatever that means for each of us as we relate to ourselves, to others, to our world?  I find that over time, “being my best self,” and here, I mean, doing that extra bit, rather than just coasting along, can be a bit of a challenge. 

   Take for example that my annual physical is coming up next week, and so this week, I have been especially conscious of what I am eating so as to tip the scales at not too great a number! Then, afterward, I will probably go back to “coasting” a bit, not as concerned about my overall wellness as I am this week, knowing that my exam is upcoming. 

   So friends, whether it is about our spiritual, ethical decisions, day-to-day, with regard to relationships with others, and our world, or on a personal level with being our best physically for the welfare of our physical bodies, it would seem that the notion of “always being ready,” for God, or our personal physician, to come, who may want an accounting of our lives, might be the best way to go. And, if only life was so easy! If only the day-to-day “stuff” of living didn’t get in the way!

   Another good reason perhaps for the idea that we can’t be so, “black and white” about living and acting in our world, as if we only need to decide once, to be our best selves! In actuality, we realize that this action—to be our best, is a conscious, every day, needed action. 

   During this Year of Grace, Cycle B, we are looking at the Gospel of Mark—a man of few words.  In this week’s selection, he simply says, using Jesus’ words, “Change your hearts and minds and believe in the Good News.”  With Mark’s proclamations, I always want to say, “Is that it Mark—anything else to go with that?” –certainly Jesus said more to explain himself! Apparently not, or Mark didn’t consider it important because the rest of the reading goes on to let us know that Jesus then moves out to choose several of his would-be apostles.

   But upon further reflection, perhaps Mark’s lack of words, in letting us know, “just how” we do this, “changing of our hearts and minds,” and “believing in the Good News,” allows for our personal way of doing this, as each of us is an individual and God will “call us” out of our personal experience—maybe, “time” is our gift, maybe “writing” is our talent, maybe “culinary abilities,” maybe “speaking” is what we have to offer.  So, with this “frame of mind,” that God will call me to “do my part,” when, and as needed, we can always be ready! 

   The chosen response, from Psalm 25, for this liturgy, gives us a gentler approach to being who we are called to be: “Make me know your ways, O God,” the psalmist prays. In reflecting on this prayer, it came to me that “humility” would seem to be part of truly, “knowing God’s ways” –knowing “who” we are, and “what” we are capable of.” 

   All of this talk today about “being our best selves,” has an added layer, it seems to me, in a world that we all have allowed to become cruder, ruder, and without simple manners, and a certain, “graciousness” toward others in our lives.  All of this is evident in our daily news. 

   In the ever-increasing “busyness” in our lives, some of the “once-upon-a-time” courtesies and gratefulness for others, and what they do, seem to fall by the wayside.  This past week, our grandson Elliot had a school assignment to interview someone, and he chose me, asking a series of quite-pointed questions, and when we got to the one about, “what I thought was different in my growing up years, from how it is today,” I gave this answer, in a simpler form, basically saying that people seemed to be more respectful of others in an earlier time. 

   So friends, as we continue in this new year, perhaps setting some doable goals, attempting to be ready at all times for our God’s (Jesus’) call for each of us to do our parts, the words of a young poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, three years ago, at the inauguration of President Biden and Vice-President Harris are gentle, yet challenging enough for us today to do what we can to better our world. Profoundly poetic and wonderfully wise she said, “That even as we hurt, we hoped, that even as we tired, we tried, that we’ll forever be tied together, victorious.”

   My friends, Amanda’s words here speak to the sense that we as a country need to return to realizing that the good of our lives are about us, yes, but equally about all others—in other words we are in this together, for each other.  I was reminded too this past week of the virtue of humility that should be so a part of our actions in the world, as I watched a PBS Nova presentation on the building and deploying of the Webb telescope that was last year sent into space so far out that if it breaks down, we humans won’t be able to go and fix it as we did the Hubble.  So far, so good, and the pictures that it has been able to send back documenting light from billions of years ago, is nothing less than profound in the immensity of our smallness. 

   Yet friends, even though small, our God has trusted us with this planet, to protect and care for, it, and each other.  This is indeed our spiritual challenge to continue the work began so long ago by our brother, Jesus, with some, simple-fisher-folk that he asked to become, “fishers of people.”  Amanda Gorman, a prophet among many in our present and past, said it three years ago like this, and it is still true today, [our] “nation isn’t broken, but simply unfinished,” and this is true for our Church too…” there is always light,” she said— “if only we are brave enough to see it—if only we are brave enough to be it.”  Our challenge then, it would seem, is to be a light, as Jesus taught, and to bring that light to our world.  Amen? Amen!

My friends, as we leave the Crib in Bethlehem behind now, returning to Ordinary Time, our call as Jesus’ followers couldn’t be clearer as evidenced by today’s Scripture readings.  First of all, as I always remind us, Ordinary Time simply means “no big feasts,” but as far as challenge coming our way, there is plenty to go around!

   The first reading today from Samuel, shows us a young boy, by the same name, who at a very young age, was given back to God by his parents, to serve in the temple.  Such young ones were taught to be ever on the look-out for “the voice” of YHWH in their lives.  So when the long-awaited call from YHWH does come to Samuel, it seems that Eli, his master is a little slow on the up-take, as it takes 3x for him to realize that his young one is indeed being called. 

   It’s wonderful to think though that Samuel was taught to respond, “Here I am,” to a strange call in the night.  The Scripture tells us that because Samuel had never yet encountered, “the voice of YHWH,” the young boy responded to Eli, who did eventually realize that it was God who was calling Samuel.  It is equally wonderful, I think, that once Samuel knew that it was God who was calling him in the night, that he could respond, “I am listening.”  I wonder how many times our God calls us, and we fail to  listen, or respond. 

   Psalm 40, serving as today’s response, adds to the challenge of being present, “here I am,” and adds, “I come to do your will.”  We see too that as Samuel grew into manhood, his relationship with God grew too, as the Scripture says, “YHWH was with him.” It would seem then, that having a relationship with God is a two-way street—God calls, we respond, and God, “is-with-us.” 

   This apparent desire that God has to be in relationship with us is played out in today’s gospel as well. Would-be disciples, Andrew, and John, have apparently been coming “to know” Jesus, and are seeking to know him even better.  They literally follow him at a certain point, and in a very intimate way, ask him, “where are you staying?” 

   Jesus answers them in a likewise, very intimate way, “Come and see!” To me, it would seem, that if our God didn’t love us, or really care about us, this encounter with Jesus wouldn’t have happened—the would-be apostles, in their desire to know Jesus better, wouldn’t have run after him, wanting to know “where he lived,” and likewise, Jesus wouldn’t have responded, almost playfully, “Come and see.”  Truly, what we have here is a relational, heart-felt encounter—a desire to be, “one-with” the other. 

   In this encounter, Jesus also asks John and Andrew, “what are you looking for?” We can look at Jesus’ question to these would-be followers as a “heart question,” better phrased perhaps for our understanding, “what is it that is on your heart?” –what indeed are you searching for, looking to do? 

   Each of us friends, in saying, “yes” to God, to Jesus, throughout our lives is answering with Samuel, “here I am, I am listening, and with the psalmist, “I come to do your will.”  And, as with John and Andrew, if we are listening, we will ask, with them, “where Jesus lives.”  And he, wanting to be in relationship with us will say, “Come and see!” 

   Whenever I speak about Ordinary Time in our Church Year, I remind us that this is not a time to coast, but really a time to settle in to the day-to-day challenges, to become our best selves, for ourselves and for others. 

   Earlier, I indicated that following Jesus’ ways will be about “trying to find him” in our everyday lives. Intellectually, in our heads, we know that we can’t find him physically, but, in and through our hearts, we should remember that we can find him in all the poor, the lonely-sad, the abused, and those who suffer in any way in our world, because it was for, such as these, that he originally came. 

   Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians today, “Glorify God in your body,” which is what we do when we look for Jesus in all who are suffering in our world, as he did in his. This is not to say that we can’t find our brother Jesus in the joyfulness of life, as he wants to share that with us too, but we must not forget “to look for him,” and “find him,” hopefully, in the suffering.  This is about truly being one-with our God in the only way we can in our limited, human existence. 

   We are beginning a new year of grace and new beginnings serve as times to be challenged once again to being and becoming our best selves, for ourselves and for others, “committing,” as it were, acts of justice, peace, mercy, and love.  In this good work, which isn’t always easy, I look to others to get some encouragement, –the following being examples:

• These words of Pope Francis are most helpful to me in this regard: “The Church is called to form consciences, not to replace them.”  His words are most instructive in light of our own national bishops seeming inability to say anything challenging to us with regard to any of the concerns in our world, wars in Ukraine, and the Middle East, poverty and homelessness in our world, lack of justice and equality for non-whites, women, the LGBTQ community and so on. 
• My family member and friend, Sister Gina Redig, who at 93 years of age is still, “active with,” her congregation’s Shalom Catalyst Group, who has her, “working on the abolition of the death penalty, nuclear disarmament in war weapons, climate crisis, human rights and more.”  She does much of this work through writing and phoning, and just listing it all here, makes me tired!  Sister Gina is indeed a little spark plug, and she challenges me to be my best!
• And if we need a “reality check” in what we can and can’t do, Sister Gina gives that too, “Healthwise, I am doing as well as I can, knowing I’m not the same as I was, and never will be again.”  And yet, she gives me, and I know others, great hope.  In her concluding words on her Christmas letter, she states simply, “We keep on keeping on, looking for and finding the good that is under everything.”
• A final wonderful challenge came to me this past week from Valerie Bertinelli, TV star in many areas, but probably most remembered for her role in the (1975-1984) sit-com, One Day at a Time.  Valerie was a guest on PBS’ Finding Your Roots.  She shared her struggles with physical appearance, as I believe is the case for many actresses, and stated that she has learned over the years that when hurtful comments are thrown at her, to just say, “That’s not meant for me,”—and basically ignore it, not giving it any power. 

   So friends, as we move into this New Year more with each passing day, may our hearts be filled with hope and anticipation as we strive, “to listen” to our God, through the world around us, the poor, the suffering, those without “voices,” as we likewise strive after what is right and good at the “heart” level—doing all that we can—to be our best selves, not only for us as individuals, but for all of our brothers and sisters in this world.  And know that the by-product of doing what is “right” is peace, for the most part. Anxiety, tension, and anger, likewise, are the by-products of what is evil or wrong. So, look for peace…

Amen? Amen!

Ok friends, here we are in the New Year, 2024!  Religiously, or maybe better, spiritually, we gather today on the final, official, last day of Christmastime, but the beginning of a time, “to shine our own personal lights” in a world that we probably would all agree holds a great deal of darkness, needing the “light” that we all have to bring.  Let’s leave that for a bit and look at the feast we have come to celebrate today. 

   Officially, Church-wise, we name this feast, “the Epiphany,” a Greek word meaning, “showing forth.”  In everyday language, most of us think of this feast as the coming of the “Three Kings.” 

   As the story goes, these “kings” were astrologers who watched the stars for what these heavenly bodies could tell them. It was thought that when a new, even grand star appeared, it would have an equally grand “manifestation” on earth.  Thus, when this new heavenly body appeared, the astrologers followed its “journey” to its destination, which we believe to be Bethlehem. 

   The Wise Men, as they were also known, were aware of ancient writings –Scriptures that foretold, “a child being born” one who would save the people… To start out on such a journey would require a great deal of faith, not knowing what they would find at its end, but it was a journey that they felt compelled to make.

   Now whether the visitation of the three astrologers, who were perhaps kings, who visited from a far land, and returned there to proclaim what they saw and experienced, happened as the holy book says or not, the idea that when we experience “light” in our lives—some might think of as a miracle, we are meant to share it with others. This idea is one that I feel we should hold onto.  That having been said, I have no problem believing that these Three Kings did arrive in history—that they did experience something wonderful and that they did return to their home country and share the “good news” with others. 

   Now we can get caught up in the fact that we never hear about these royal visitors again, or we can simply hold onto the truth that they did arrive, along with many others, over time, to confirm for Jesus’ parents that their baby truly was the gift from God that they believed him to be.  And if we only stay on the surface of the story, it is a good story! 

   But, as I always tell you, and Jesus our brother told all who followed him, always go deeper to find “the pearl” that the surface story only suggests. 

   The prophet Isaiah, in the 1^st reading today, foretells what the Epiphany really means: “Arise, shine, for your light has come!”  In the beginning of this homily, I make mention of the fact that there is much “darkness” in our world.  Isaiah continues: “though night still covers the earth, and darkness, the peoples, [remember], “your light has come!”  Going deeper friends, means that we don’t just “see the light,” but we allow it, to “show us the way,” to what we need to do. 

   The “manifestation” that the Three Kings should represent to us, is our call to “shine our [own, personal] lights” too, in our world, so in need of that light.  I am always saddened when I hear so-called religious people trying to unite the Incarnation of Jesus at Christmastime, with the Crucifixion, not even waiting till his death is remembered in the sequence of the Church Year, but in effect saying by this connection that the only reason for Jesus’ coming was to “save us from our sins!” 

   If we were to believe this fact, then what is our purpose in having a human experience? Do we honestly believe that our God put us here with so little expectation for us as to allow us to live for a while our “imperfect human existence,” and ultimately be “shamed for our imperfection, with Jesus “riding in on a white horse” to save us?  If that is the case my friends, then I feel that I don’t need such a God! 

   So here is perhaps a better story.  What I believe the Three Kings did when they returned home was to share the miracle they experienced in the face of a child and his poor parents—what that was exactly, we don’t know, but we do know that they wished to protect the baby by helping to keep him safe, so that he could, “grow in wisdom and grace” and do all that was expected of him. 

   Each of us too friends, as followers of our brother Jesus are expected to live as he did, showing us the way.  The psalmist today encourages the same, basically telling us that “we aren’t there yet,” if the poor, the lonely-sad, the homeless, and the abused are still among us. 

   Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians reminds us that, “all are welcome” in the family that our brother Jesus started, and as in all good families, the invitation, “to be part” comes with the expectation, “to do our part,” “to shine” and bring “light” to our world.

   Anna Quindlen, one of my favorite authors, in A Short Guide to a Happy Life, says it like this of the expectation of doing her part to make her world better, “I show up, I listen, I try to laugh.”

   The Three Kings, in the gospel from Matthew today spoke their truth, “We [saw] his star rising.”  And as the story goes, they followed the star, and when they found what the heavenly body represented on earth, they shared with others what they had found! 

   Martin Luther King Jr., in all his tireless work fighting against racism in our country said clearly, “Darkness cannot put out darkness, only light can do that!” These are profound words as we contemplate war in Ukraine and in the Middle East in this New Year. Another thought that came across my desk the other day comes from Charlie Munger, long-time business associate of billionaire, Warren Buffet, who said, “Stay away from all that is toxic!” –we Catholics used to call these “occasions of sin!”

   So my good friends, with a new year upon us, as we strive again, “to be our best selves,” shining our personal lights in the way that only we can do, don’t be easily discouraged by all that seems, at times, impossible to change, or fix, but keep your focus on one good thing, at a time, and believe that the good will win out. Amen? Amen!

My friends, Holy Family Sunday, referring mainly to Mary and Joseph and Jesus is a wonderful time to consider what “family” means to each of us—the families that we grew out of, and perhaps the families that we helped to establish and maintain as adults, and into the present.  And, from a certain viewpoint, to consider how each family is a “holy” family.

   The original “holy” family is a good example for all of us to follow in our own “holy” families.  We know from their actions that Mary and Joseph loved each other—always the best place to start when forming a family. 

   Now, you might be asking, how do I know that Mary and Joseph loved each other? –as the Scriptures don’t tell us that.  If we take the Christmas story at face value, and accept the fact that Joseph had nothing to do with the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb, then his action of taking her as his wife was indeed a loving thing to do. In the times that Joseph and Mary lived, a man in his position could either divorce a woman with child—not his own, make the “sin” known publicly, and open her up to the possibility of death by stoning, or he could do what Joseph did. It only makes sense that Joseph loved Mary before she “was found to be with child.” 

   Again, you may be wondering why I am spending time on this purely human component of whether this couple, that we have heard about all our lives in religious lore, loved each other or not, when the teaching authority of the Church never mentions this aspect either. 

    On Holy Family Sunday, as well as any time during our Church Year, really, it is most important, in my mind, at least, to remember, and never forget, that our loving God chose to become one-with-us, in our humanity, living life, as each of us does, attempting to be our own, “best selves.” 

   As we look around our own personal “world”—life, we might say, it is clear that most of us don’t accomplish that task as well as we might like to.  A further look around the world-at-large shows us the same.  So, having a model like Jesus to follow, in living to be our best selves is truly important.  Also, in moving into a loving relationship with another human being, Mary and Joseph are good models to follow. 

   We see from the gospel story today that this couple was faithful to the Jewish laws and precepts that they grew up believing in, by presenting Jesus at the temple, even though they were, “on the run” from Roman authorities—but to Mary and Joseph, this was an important action that they must do!  And the Spirit of their God worked through Simeon and Anna to confirm the truth of the miracle that had befallen them in Jesus.  So, we could say, with quite a bit of assurance, that Joseph and Mary were people of character, as well as a couple who loved each other. 

   And into the home that Joseph and Mary established, the baby, later child, Jesus, grew “in wisdom and grace” the Scriptures tell us.  Another aspect of their characters was the fact of the “faith” with which Mary and Joseph lived their lives.  Again, if we think about the story as given us in the Scriptures, only faith and trust in a Loving God makes it possible to believe such a thing.  And we only need to put ourselves into the story to see how we might have reacted to the tale that Mary told. “Love and faith can move mountains” our brother Jesus said during his public ministry, and it would seem that both had to be present, along with other strong character traits to make this “Holy Family” function as it did—to be able to eventually give Jesus to the world, a man of love who witnessed this example within the family he grew up in.

   Scripture also doesn’t mention whether our brother Jesus had siblings, but more than likely he did. In some exegesis on this topic that I once read, and the author I can’t remember at present, stated that we can’t find the answers to every question in Scripture because generally that which was understood wasn’t written down, only that which was different.  In other words, it would have been natural for more children to have followed Jesus’ birth for a loving couple such as Mary and Joseph, so it wasn’t written down. 

   The other chosen Scripture readings for this feast from Sirach and Paul to the Colossians, lay out more elements that make for good families to somewhat show us the way, in general terms.

   Sirach basically tells us that “respect for parents” should be part of a family; but also this must go both ways—respect for children coming from their parents as well. 

   Paul goes on to say to the Colossians that, [parents should not] “nag” their children.  He also addresses the original “relationship” between two people “committed to each other” that they would submit to each other [equally] and that they should “love each other.”

   So my friends, knowing that most of my brother priests would be addressing this “Holy Family Sunday” on a more ethereal level, I wanted to speak in a more human way about the purely, everyday lives that I believe Mary, Joseph and Jesus lived,  in what we might call, “the growing up years” for Jesus, as he more than likely came to terms about who he was and what was expected of him, a little at a time.  Again, we must remember that God, in Jesus chose to come into humanity as a human, to truly know our existence, and to show us how to live it well. If Jesus is to be emulated by us, than he would have needed to have lived the same life that we do.  And to me, that is a great love story!  And one that I can try to emulate!  Amen? Amen!