First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A
St. Mark Church, Fallston
November 28, 2010
Advent Hope: A Lesson from the Sunflowers
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
THE MEDICAL REPORT
A priest friend of mine was told by his doctor that his PSA had increased rapidly over the past year and a half and that the doctor was concerned that it could be cancer.
He needed to have 12 biopsies taken as soon as possible for the doctor was, quote, “very concerned.”
Soon after the biopsies, my friend was going to meet with the doctor to get the results, but he would not let me go with him. He said that it was something he needed to do alone, that is was just between him and God.
From the time of the doctor’s concern two weeks before, to that afternoon he was going in to GBMC for the results, he told me that his only desire was to do God’s will and that he wanted to be able to accept whatever the news was to be.
Not only that, he didn’t want to feel any differently, hearing whether it was cancer or it wasn’t cancer, only that he was embracing God’s will for himself.
THE REVELATION OF THE SUNFLOWERS
I learned later that on the way down to the medical center for the report, he was drawn to stop at the sunflower fields on Jarrettsville Pike and Hess Road across from the Royal Farms Service Station, a site many of us have witnessed.
The gorgeous acres and acres of bright yellow sunflowers he had enjoyed looking at over the summer whenever he passed, had all turned a deep autumn brown and as if in unison were all now drooping. It clearly looked like the end for them.
He believed that what he saw in the dramatic change of flowers was a sign of hope for him, that, though the golden blooms were gone, the hundreds of seeds in each flower would give rise to a crop of a hundred or thousand fold.
After his brief reflection in the sunflower fields, he resumed on his drive to receive the news, now believing deeply that it really didn’t matter what it was, that God had revealed that he would be okay either way.
READY FOR THE SECOND COMING
In today’s Gospel Jesus makes two things are very clear: First, we simply do not know when the Lord will come for us, but we do know that it will be as unexpected and surprising as a thief in the night.
Second, it won’t happen to all of us at the same time for Jesus says, “Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.”
He then goes on to challenge his listeners and us with these words, “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Indeed we don’t know the hour or the day.
What I see in my friend’s way of dealing with the pathology report is that, while lots of things are important in life, only one thing really matters and that is God’s love for me and my love of God, expressed in wanting to do God’s will.
APPLICATION
Life is an Advent: an Advent of constantly waiting to become, an Advent to complete, an Advent to change, an Advent to begin the next phase, an Advent to turn the next corner.
But for us who await the coming of the Lord, we live in hope and wait in joyful expectation.
Every moment we live, with all the imperfections we see so blatantly in ourselves, with all the frustrations at work and all the pain within our family, every moment is pregnant with God’s trying to show us his love for us.
What it takes is prayerful listening to the situations in our lives and awaiting the manifestation of God’s will for us.
CONCLUSION
Jesus assures us that, “Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand.”
Each present moment is an opportunity to seize and in which to act.
Don’t let the trappings of Christmas preparations catch us unawares to the deeper question of meeting Christ in the day-to-day challenges in our lives and doing God’s will.
Be attentive for the signs and seeing them in as simple a thing as a field of sunflowers, and to embrace God’s will and thus find Christ our joy.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Weekly HOMILY for November 25, 2010: A Prayer for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day, Cycle C
November 25, 2010
Terranuova Hermitage
November 25, 2010
A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
BY (REV. MSGR.) NICHOLAS P. AMATO
This morning, I want to do something a bit different.
This year I want to give a meditative homily for this Thanksgiving Day. I want to guide us in a reflective prayer, a meditation of thanks to God.
And so, I ask us to relax and sit up straight, with our back against the backrest of our seat. Let’s close our eyes if we want, but no snoozing or snoring allowed!
Let’s be aware of God and God’s presence. Let’s be aware of ourselves resting with God.
And now, let’s just be at peace and center ourselves on the Lord. The Lord is with us right now.
Saint Paul begins today’s second reading in this way: “We keep thanking God for all of you and we remember you in our prayers.”
Creator God, we cannot thank you enough. No matter how often we pray or how expressive our words are, we can never match in our prayer what you have done for us.
We thank you, dear God, for the world around us – for things great, like the oceans and mountains, and for things small, like the pumpkins and mums. We thank you for human life – for babies and children, for teens and young adults, for older adults and seniors, and for persons of all colors and cultures.
Paul continues: “We are constantly mindful before our God of the way you are proving your faith, laboring in love and showing constancy in hope.”
We thank you, gracious God, for the richness of our faith and the strength this gives us in troubling times. We thank you for the energy of hope that empowers us to keep on the journey.
We thank you, almighty One, for the power of love that inspires us. We thank you for your divine presence even when we may not feel it.
Again, Paul says: “We know, too, beloved of God, how you were chosen.”
We thank you, loving God, for the blessings of my self, the person who is I – for calling, creating and choosing me into this world. We thank you for protecting me from unknown dangers and for not protecting me when a challenge is needed.
We thank you, God, for salvation – for the mystery of your infinite love and for opening up to me an eternity of life. We thank you for family and friends and relationships – for intimacy and love, for mutual understanding and shared burdens, for secrets kept in love and sorrows shared in silence.
Paul goes on: “Our preaching of the gospel proved not a mere matter of words but one of power.”
We thank you, almighty God, for the power of miracles – for the mysterious ways our pains can be transformed into gains. We thank you for the life that springs up unexpectedly each day.
We thank you, God, for those enlightening bursts of insight and inspiration. We thank you for the eternal wisdom of your truth that guides our minds and softens our hearts.
And finally, Paul states: “Our preaching of the gospel was carried on in the Holy Spirit, out of complete conviction.”
We thank you, dear God, for Jesus Christ – the One who is your Son and our brother. We thank you for him who lived and died and lives again and in whom we have the hope of seeing you.
We thank you, God, for the Holy Spirit – for the energy, courage, peace and comfort of your Spirit. And we thank you for giving us each day so that we in return can give you praise and thanks now and forever. Amen!
Readings: Sirach 50.22-24
I Thessalonians 1.1-5
Mark 5.18-20
November 25, 2010
Terranuova Hermitage
November 25, 2010
A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
BY (REV. MSGR.) NICHOLAS P. AMATO
This morning, I want to do something a bit different.
This year I want to give a meditative homily for this Thanksgiving Day. I want to guide us in a reflective prayer, a meditation of thanks to God.
And so, I ask us to relax and sit up straight, with our back against the backrest of our seat. Let’s close our eyes if we want, but no snoozing or snoring allowed!
Let’s be aware of God and God’s presence. Let’s be aware of ourselves resting with God.
And now, let’s just be at peace and center ourselves on the Lord. The Lord is with us right now.
Saint Paul begins today’s second reading in this way: “We keep thanking God for all of you and we remember you in our prayers.”
Creator God, we cannot thank you enough. No matter how often we pray or how expressive our words are, we can never match in our prayer what you have done for us.
We thank you, dear God, for the world around us – for things great, like the oceans and mountains, and for things small, like the pumpkins and mums. We thank you for human life – for babies and children, for teens and young adults, for older adults and seniors, and for persons of all colors and cultures.
Paul continues: “We are constantly mindful before our God of the way you are proving your faith, laboring in love and showing constancy in hope.”
We thank you, gracious God, for the richness of our faith and the strength this gives us in troubling times. We thank you for the energy of hope that empowers us to keep on the journey.
We thank you, almighty One, for the power of love that inspires us. We thank you for your divine presence even when we may not feel it.
Again, Paul says: “We know, too, beloved of God, how you were chosen.”
We thank you, loving God, for the blessings of my self, the person who is I – for calling, creating and choosing me into this world. We thank you for protecting me from unknown dangers and for not protecting me when a challenge is needed.
We thank you, God, for salvation – for the mystery of your infinite love and for opening up to me an eternity of life. We thank you for family and friends and relationships – for intimacy and love, for mutual understanding and shared burdens, for secrets kept in love and sorrows shared in silence.
Paul goes on: “Our preaching of the gospel proved not a mere matter of words but one of power.”
We thank you, almighty God, for the power of miracles – for the mysterious ways our pains can be transformed into gains. We thank you for the life that springs up unexpectedly each day.
We thank you, God, for those enlightening bursts of insight and inspiration. We thank you for the eternal wisdom of your truth that guides our minds and softens our hearts.
And finally, Paul states: “Our preaching of the gospel was carried on in the Holy Spirit, out of complete conviction.”
We thank you, dear God, for Jesus Christ – the One who is your Son and our brother. We thank you for him who lived and died and lives again and in whom we have the hope of seeing you.
We thank you, God, for the Holy Spirit – for the energy, courage, peace and comfort of your Spirit. And we thank you for giving us each day so that we in return can give you praise and thanks now and forever. Amen!
Readings: Sirach 50.22-24
I Thessalonians 1.1-5
Mark 5.18-20
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Weekly HOMILY for November 21, 2010: A King? So what!
SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING, CYCLE C
ST. MARK PARISH, FALLSTON
NOVEMBER 21, 2010
A KING? SO WHAT!
(REV. MSGR.) NICHOLAS P. AMATO
IMAGES OF KINGS
For us Americans, the title King as applied to Jesus may seem rather foreign and even outdated.
My bet is that we associate the title “king” with historical figures like Henry VIII of England. History shows him as a self-indulgent and unprincipled ruler.
Or we might associate the title with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. He comes across as a ruler who accrues great wealth for himself while not advancing his country proportionately.
With these negative associations and images, we might well ask: why do we have the title Christ the King in our Catholic tradition? The answer lies in history.
When the title for Jesus was given him, it seemed like the best available word for capturing the truth of who Jesus is.
Now, if we look at today’s Scripture passages, it’s like opening a treasure chest regarding his identity and what his title king can mean for us.
WHO JESUS IS
Saint Paul in the second reading shares some of those powerful insights about Jesus.
First, he says that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” “In him all the fullness was pleased to dwell.”
This is to say that Jesus is not just a contrived projection of God, like and image on a screen. Nor is he like the image of a politician that a public relations firm would produce.
Instead, Jesus is the very face and presence of God among us. And if I want to know who God is and what God is like, all we have to do is look at Jesus.
Then, Paul says: “Through him all things were made.” “In him all things were created.”
What he’s getting at here is that Jesus is with the Father from the very beginning of time. Like the Father, Jesus is, always was, and always will be.
With the Father, the Son, who is Jesus on this earth, brings everyone and everything into being. And because of this fact, when the Son takes on our humanity, be becomes “the firstborn of all creation.”
Finally, Paul says: “In him all things hold together.” “He has made peace through the blood of his cross for all – for those on earth and those in heaven.”
Here he is saying that Jesus with the Father is the very ground (stamp feet) of our being. Without him, we would not be (flex knees), and with him, we are (stand tall.)
And, if that’s not enough, because our being gets us into tight spots with other persons’ being, Jesus is also a reconciler or peacemaker. Through him we are made one and at peace with God.
Yes, in and through Jesus we find fullness of life and salvation.
HOW JESUS RELATES
Very powerful insights of Paul into who precisely Jesus is I’d say!
It is for these reasons that our Catholic tradition has chosen the title King to describe Jesus’ identity and today’s gospel goes on to give us some insights into just how Jesus as king relates to you and me.
We see first that Jesus does not rule by sitting on a throne, but instead hangs from a cross.
This clearly shows us that he does not selfishly take life from us like some of the notorious kings of history. To the contrary, he gives his life, God’s life for us on the cross.
Then, we see that Jesus is by no means vengeful or hardened towards others. Again to the contrary, he remains sensitive, compassionate, and forgiving through his gruesome death.
To the one repentant thief who is crucified with him, he responds: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” And of those who were actually crucifying him, he prays: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
And finally, in all of this, we see that Jesus does not exclude. He does not shun or push away or refuse to have anything to do with those who are imperfect.
On the contrary, he remains welcoming and inclusive. This is his consistent way of drawing others to God.
CONCLUSION
Our Scripture readings are a treasure trove for knowing who Jesus Christ is as our King.
We see who he is and how he relates to us, and how different that is from the negative images of kings we have known.
This is the Jesus or the Christ the King whom we honor and in whom we believe as the liturgical year ends this Sunday.
The conclusions for our understanding of ourselves and for our behavior as individuals and as an institutional Church ought to be obvious: Jesus, Christ our King will serve as our model.
Amen? AMEN!
ST. MARK PARISH, FALLSTON
NOVEMBER 21, 2010
A KING? SO WHAT!
(REV. MSGR.) NICHOLAS P. AMATO
IMAGES OF KINGS
For us Americans, the title King as applied to Jesus may seem rather foreign and even outdated.
My bet is that we associate the title “king” with historical figures like Henry VIII of England. History shows him as a self-indulgent and unprincipled ruler.
Or we might associate the title with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. He comes across as a ruler who accrues great wealth for himself while not advancing his country proportionately.
With these negative associations and images, we might well ask: why do we have the title Christ the King in our Catholic tradition? The answer lies in history.
When the title for Jesus was given him, it seemed like the best available word for capturing the truth of who Jesus is.
Now, if we look at today’s Scripture passages, it’s like opening a treasure chest regarding his identity and what his title king can mean for us.
WHO JESUS IS
Saint Paul in the second reading shares some of those powerful insights about Jesus.
First, he says that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” “In him all the fullness was pleased to dwell.”
This is to say that Jesus is not just a contrived projection of God, like and image on a screen. Nor is he like the image of a politician that a public relations firm would produce.
Instead, Jesus is the very face and presence of God among us. And if I want to know who God is and what God is like, all we have to do is look at Jesus.
Then, Paul says: “Through him all things were made.” “In him all things were created.”
What he’s getting at here is that Jesus is with the Father from the very beginning of time. Like the Father, Jesus is, always was, and always will be.
With the Father, the Son, who is Jesus on this earth, brings everyone and everything into being. And because of this fact, when the Son takes on our humanity, be becomes “the firstborn of all creation.”
Finally, Paul says: “In him all things hold together.” “He has made peace through the blood of his cross for all – for those on earth and those in heaven.”
Here he is saying that Jesus with the Father is the very ground (stamp feet) of our being. Without him, we would not be (flex knees), and with him, we are (stand tall.)
And, if that’s not enough, because our being gets us into tight spots with other persons’ being, Jesus is also a reconciler or peacemaker. Through him we are made one and at peace with God.
Yes, in and through Jesus we find fullness of life and salvation.
HOW JESUS RELATES
Very powerful insights of Paul into who precisely Jesus is I’d say!
It is for these reasons that our Catholic tradition has chosen the title King to describe Jesus’ identity and today’s gospel goes on to give us some insights into just how Jesus as king relates to you and me.
We see first that Jesus does not rule by sitting on a throne, but instead hangs from a cross.
This clearly shows us that he does not selfishly take life from us like some of the notorious kings of history. To the contrary, he gives his life, God’s life for us on the cross.
Then, we see that Jesus is by no means vengeful or hardened towards others. Again to the contrary, he remains sensitive, compassionate, and forgiving through his gruesome death.
To the one repentant thief who is crucified with him, he responds: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” And of those who were actually crucifying him, he prays: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
And finally, in all of this, we see that Jesus does not exclude. He does not shun or push away or refuse to have anything to do with those who are imperfect.
On the contrary, he remains welcoming and inclusive. This is his consistent way of drawing others to God.
CONCLUSION
Our Scripture readings are a treasure trove for knowing who Jesus Christ is as our King.
We see who he is and how he relates to us, and how different that is from the negative images of kings we have known.
This is the Jesus or the Christ the King whom we honor and in whom we believe as the liturgical year ends this Sunday.
The conclusions for our understanding of ourselves and for our behavior as individuals and as an institutional Church ought to be obvious: Jesus, Christ our King will serve as our model.
Amen? AMEN!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Weekly HOMILY for November 14, 2010: Father Nicholas did not preach this Sunday
Father Nicholas did not preach this Sunday
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Weekly HOMILY for November 7, 2010: What Is This Hunger for Eternal Life?
32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
November 7, 2010
St. Margaret Parish, Bel Air
What Is This Hunger for Eternal Life?
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
THE PYRAMIDS
A year ago last summer, I served as the priest chaplain for a large group of people visiting the Middle East.
On the ten-day trip we visited Egypt and saw the magnificent pyramids on the Giza Plateau near Cairo. These pyramids are made of huge blocks of stone and were built almost 4,000 years ago.
The highest pyramid in the world stands at more than 2,700 feet and is considered the largest man-made building in the world. Imagine, and built 4,000 years ago!
At the bottom of each pyramid, there is a burial chamber for the pharaoh for whom the pyramid was built.
Within the burial chamber, along with the mummy of the pharaoh, were placed food, drink, clothing, jewelry, and even the bodies of sacrificed slaves. All of this was to help the pharaoh in the after-life.
So ancients believed that the pharaoh would live on in some way after death. The pyramids are a very dramatic expression of that belief.
HUNGER FOR ETERNAL LIFE
Each of us has this desire for unending life embedded within us. It is part of who we are as human beings.
I would suggest that God plants this hunger in us at the moment of creation as a way of orienting us to one day being one with him forever. Or you might say that this hunger is evidence of the eternal life of God that we already share through the act of being created.
However we understand it, today Jesus responds to this hunger and tells us something more about it. In today’s readings, there are three messages that clarify this hunger for eternal life.
MESSAGE 1: DIFFERENT LIFE
First, Jesus reveals that life beyond this earth will be different from this life.
Picture a line that rises in elevation at the point of death
Some of the religious leaders in today’s gospel pose a ridiculous example to discredit Jesus’ teaching about resurrection. Jesus responds that life “in the age to come” or “resurrection” will be different from this.
It will not just be a continuation of this life so we cannot simply apply our experience of life now to our new life in the world to come.
Resurrection will be a new and transformed way of life, another level of being or living. It will be an experience where God is God and where we clearly and directly will be with God.
MESSAGE 2: ONGOING RELATIONSHIP
And that takes us to Jesus’ second message about resurrection, namely that this life beyond death will happen because of an ongoing relationship that we have right now.
Most of us have experienced the pain of losing a loved one. We know that at death, our love does not end.
We continue to love and because our loved one’s spirit lives on, the relationship is ongoing. Picture a straight line, with death as a demarcation, and continuance of the same straight line.
Well, Jesus’ message is that life beyond death is based on the nature of God who is pure love.
God’s love for us is absolute and complete and it is because of this love, because of who God is, we are sure that our relationship with God will continue beyond death.
That assurance is precisely why the brothers in today’s first reading are willing to die rather than violate their faith by eating pork.
They trust in God and in their ongoing relationship with this loving God. This love will strengthens us as well in times of trouble. It draws us to a new level of commitment in the here-and-now.
MESSAGE 3: PRESENT ENERGY
And this brings us to Jesus’ third message: that this hope of future resurrection offers us in every moment we live, new energy for living.
It energizes us to bring light where there is darkness, to bring love where there is dysfunction, and pardon where there is injury.
This is exactly what it does for Jesus. He is so one-with-the-Father and life beyond that he has energy even in the present moment as he dies on the cross.
He is able to say: (1)“Father, forgive them” and (2)“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
So too with us, the promise of future resurrection gives us a present energy for dealing with all the challenges, complexity and adversities of life.
CONCLUSION
At our Parish Mission this week – Monday and Tuesday at noon and at 7:30pm, and Wednesday at 7:30 – we’ll have the opportunity to (1) Develop our relationship with God through one-on-one encounters and (2) As the grace of divine presence flows to have it energize and animate us as believers.
Big promises? Yes! But come see for yourself how big!
All Middle or High Schoolers, all young adults, adults or seniors of all faiths are welcome.
November 7, 2010
St. Margaret Parish, Bel Air
What Is This Hunger for Eternal Life?
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
THE PYRAMIDS
A year ago last summer, I served as the priest chaplain for a large group of people visiting the Middle East.
On the ten-day trip we visited Egypt and saw the magnificent pyramids on the Giza Plateau near Cairo. These pyramids are made of huge blocks of stone and were built almost 4,000 years ago.
The highest pyramid in the world stands at more than 2,700 feet and is considered the largest man-made building in the world. Imagine, and built 4,000 years ago!
At the bottom of each pyramid, there is a burial chamber for the pharaoh for whom the pyramid was built.
Within the burial chamber, along with the mummy of the pharaoh, were placed food, drink, clothing, jewelry, and even the bodies of sacrificed slaves. All of this was to help the pharaoh in the after-life.
So ancients believed that the pharaoh would live on in some way after death. The pyramids are a very dramatic expression of that belief.
HUNGER FOR ETERNAL LIFE
Each of us has this desire for unending life embedded within us. It is part of who we are as human beings.
I would suggest that God plants this hunger in us at the moment of creation as a way of orienting us to one day being one with him forever. Or you might say that this hunger is evidence of the eternal life of God that we already share through the act of being created.
However we understand it, today Jesus responds to this hunger and tells us something more about it. In today’s readings, there are three messages that clarify this hunger for eternal life.
MESSAGE 1: DIFFERENT LIFE
First, Jesus reveals that life beyond this earth will be different from this life.
Picture a line that rises in elevation at the point of death
Some of the religious leaders in today’s gospel pose a ridiculous example to discredit Jesus’ teaching about resurrection. Jesus responds that life “in the age to come” or “resurrection” will be different from this.
It will not just be a continuation of this life so we cannot simply apply our experience of life now to our new life in the world to come.
Resurrection will be a new and transformed way of life, another level of being or living. It will be an experience where God is God and where we clearly and directly will be with God.
MESSAGE 2: ONGOING RELATIONSHIP
And that takes us to Jesus’ second message about resurrection, namely that this life beyond death will happen because of an ongoing relationship that we have right now.
Most of us have experienced the pain of losing a loved one. We know that at death, our love does not end.
We continue to love and because our loved one’s spirit lives on, the relationship is ongoing. Picture a straight line, with death as a demarcation, and continuance of the same straight line.
Well, Jesus’ message is that life beyond death is based on the nature of God who is pure love.
God’s love for us is absolute and complete and it is because of this love, because of who God is, we are sure that our relationship with God will continue beyond death.
That assurance is precisely why the brothers in today’s first reading are willing to die rather than violate their faith by eating pork.
They trust in God and in their ongoing relationship with this loving God. This love will strengthens us as well in times of trouble. It draws us to a new level of commitment in the here-and-now.
MESSAGE 3: PRESENT ENERGY
And this brings us to Jesus’ third message: that this hope of future resurrection offers us in every moment we live, new energy for living.
It energizes us to bring light where there is darkness, to bring love where there is dysfunction, and pardon where there is injury.
This is exactly what it does for Jesus. He is so one-with-the-Father and life beyond that he has energy even in the present moment as he dies on the cross.
He is able to say: (1)“Father, forgive them” and (2)“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
So too with us, the promise of future resurrection gives us a present energy for dealing with all the challenges, complexity and adversities of life.
CONCLUSION
At our Parish Mission this week – Monday and Tuesday at noon and at 7:30pm, and Wednesday at 7:30 – we’ll have the opportunity to (1) Develop our relationship with God through one-on-one encounters and (2) As the grace of divine presence flows to have it energize and animate us as believers.
Big promises? Yes! But come see for yourself how big!
All Middle or High Schoolers, all young adults, adults or seniors of all faiths are welcome.
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