6th Sunday of Easter, Cycle A
St. Mark, Fallston
May 29, 2011
Jesus and the Overcoming of Loneliness
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
LONELINESS STUDY
Two years ago, the University of Chicago released the results of a study on loneliness, which found that about 25% of the American population frequently feels lonely. It also found that loneliness is increasing.
Among the factors causing the increase are our longer life spans, more years spent in widowhood, and the rising number of single-person households.
One particular finding is that we Americans tend to feel lonely on special occasions, occasions when being together is the social norm, like Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, etc. Feelings of loneliness are more frequent at these times.
The study says that loneliness has more to do with the quality rather than the quantity of relationships.
Studies of college students show that incoming freshmen are particularly lonely during the first quarter of school. Interestingly, this is true even though they have roommates and are surrounded by other people.
Again, the finding is that it is not the number but the quality of relationships that determines whether we feel isolated or lonely.
“I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS”
In today’s gospel, Jesus addresses this human reality of our loneliness.
He knows that he is about to suffer and die and leave the Apostles. He senses their anxiety about being left alone, without him. And so, Jesus says, “I will not leave you orphans. You will realize that I am in my Father (demonstrate) and you are in me (demonstrate) and I in you (demonstrate).”
Jesus promises to be with us through his Spirit, the Holy Spirit. In this way, he addresses very directly our feelings of isolation, abandonment and loneliness.
Furthermore, Jesus makes his presence through the Spirit concrete in two ways for us. They are: (1) Sacraments, and (2) Community.
1. THROUGH SACRAMENTS
First of all, our sacraments are visible, earthly, even physical ways for Jesus to be in direct contact with us through his Spirit and while the Spirit is unseen, its effects, its impact is very visible.
For example, we have the physical experience of Jesus’ presence through the water of Baptism that we feel as we are sprinkled. We also have a physical experience of the Holy Spirit through the imposition of hands pressed on the crowns of our heads and the anointing with oil at Confirmation.
And then, here at Mass, the Eucharist is the supreme tangible, physical experience of God’s presence. In the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest places his hands over the bread and wine.
And in the name of all of us he invokes the words: “Let your Spirit come upon these gifts so that they may become for us the body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.” The unseen Spirit enlivens and effects – through our experience of faith – the physical presence of Jesus in the now sacred bread and wine.
The result is that when we eat the consecrated bread and drink the consecrated wine, that same life-giving Spirit enters us and becomes one with us and we physically experience Jesus becoming one with us.
Thus we are drawn up into the life of God and God within us – all through the Eucharist. As Jesus says today, “you live in me and I live in you.”
2. THROUGH COMMUNITY
The second way that Jesus remains with us is through community. He says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst.”
Oftentimes we are tempted to go it alone or “slug it out” in life, to think that we do not or should not need others.
It is very important not to fall into this temptation. This path easily leads to isolation and loneliness.
Perhaps this is why God’s entire action throughout the Bible is always directed to us as a people, a community.
Jesus draws the first disciples together as a community and makes this his primary way to be with us. Remember he doesn’t appear after the Resurrection to individuals!
When we join with other persons of faith, either here at Mass or in the service of others, we are energized. And this happens because we are drawn out of ourselves – out of our aloneness or loneliness – and into relationship.
A key part of being in community is to reach out to those who may be alone or lonely – a struggling single parent, a grieving widowed neighbor, an elderly parishioner in a nursing home.
The idea is that we are empowered by Jesus’ presence here in the community and then we reach out to draw others into that same abiding presence.
CONCLUSION
So, Jesus touches a troublesome, maybe even a threatening human feeling today – loneliness.
He assures us: “I am in my Father (demonstrate) and you are in me (demonstrate) and I in you (demonstrate).”
And then he does this for us through sacrament and community – a great message!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Weekly HOMILY for May 22, 2011: We Know Whose Baby This Is!
5th Sunday of Easter, Cycle A
Our Lady of Grace
(Sister Mary Therese’s Farewell Mass)
May 21, 2011
We Know Whose Baby This Is!
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
NEW BABY
When a new baby is born and family members gather to celebrate the event, it is amusing to watch how everyone tries to analyze the infant’s genealogy from its physical characteristics.
“He has Grandpa Carl’s jaw.” “She has Aunt Mae’s eyes.” “He has his father’s ears.” “She has her mother’s nose.” “He’s the spitting image of Carl when he was a child.”
We like to see characteristics that identify someone as a member of the family. It’s a way of claiming someone new as one of our own. Or to put it another way, we like to see family members in the physical features of a newborn.
WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE?
As Christians, we accept the fact of God’s existence, but as human beings we are very curious about God’s identity and characteristics. What is God really like, we wonder.
Images of God are as numerous as our human imagination allows. Artists throughout history have depicted God in a multitude of forms – anything from a concrete image of a grandfatherly old man to the more abstract concept of “the Force.”
These and all images of God are important because they have consequences. For example, an image of God as vindictive can lead us to be vindictive or harsh or even warlike.
An image of God as judgmental can lead us to feel distant from God or afraid of God or inappropriately guilty. So, how we image God and see God’s traits and characteristics is very important.
GOD LOOKS LIKE JESUS
In today’s gospel, we see the very human and curious Philip.
Philip asks Jesus, “Show us the Father” – “Show us God.” Jesus responds by presenting himself as a mirror of God.
He says, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” And again, “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.”
To put it simply, Jesus is the self-revelation of God. We believe that if we look at him, we see God’s self-manifestation – who God is, what God looks like.
Saint John in his gospel calls Jesus the Word of God – God’s self-expression. We accept Jesus as the Son of God.
In his very being, his concerns, his thoughts, and his actions, Jesus reflects the mind and heart of God. And so, similar to our looking at a baby and seeing the parents or grandparents in the baby’s features, we can look at Jesus and see his Father, God himself.
MYSTERY AND KNOWLEDGE
No question, we believe that God is mystery, that God is beyond our human ability to know and understand completely.
But by looking at Jesus, we believe that we can learn and know a great deal about God. The characteristics w see in him, we can attribute to God.
When we hear Jesus saying, “Let those among you who are without sin cast the first stone,” we know that God is patient and forgiving. When we see Jesus mingling with tax collectors and other so-called sinners, we know that God is absolutely inclusive and outreaching.
When we hear Jesus talking about the shepherd seeking out the one lost sheep, we know that God values each one of us personally. And when we hear Jesus saying “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, that you do for me,” we know that God is especially compassionate and empathetic for anyone in any kind of need.
CONCLUSION
Read the gospels with an eye on Jesus and you can see God in action.
In the words of Jesus, hear God speaking
In the concerns of Jesus, see God’s concerns
In the gestures of Jesus, see the gestures of God.
Your curiosity – and fears – about God can be laid to rest – like Phillip’s in today’s gospel – the more you look at and come to understand Jesus.
Our Lady of Grace
(Sister Mary Therese’s Farewell Mass)
May 21, 2011
We Know Whose Baby This Is!
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
NEW BABY
When a new baby is born and family members gather to celebrate the event, it is amusing to watch how everyone tries to analyze the infant’s genealogy from its physical characteristics.
“He has Grandpa Carl’s jaw.” “She has Aunt Mae’s eyes.” “He has his father’s ears.” “She has her mother’s nose.” “He’s the spitting image of Carl when he was a child.”
We like to see characteristics that identify someone as a member of the family. It’s a way of claiming someone new as one of our own. Or to put it another way, we like to see family members in the physical features of a newborn.
WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE?
As Christians, we accept the fact of God’s existence, but as human beings we are very curious about God’s identity and characteristics. What is God really like, we wonder.
Images of God are as numerous as our human imagination allows. Artists throughout history have depicted God in a multitude of forms – anything from a concrete image of a grandfatherly old man to the more abstract concept of “the Force.”
These and all images of God are important because they have consequences. For example, an image of God as vindictive can lead us to be vindictive or harsh or even warlike.
An image of God as judgmental can lead us to feel distant from God or afraid of God or inappropriately guilty. So, how we image God and see God’s traits and characteristics is very important.
GOD LOOKS LIKE JESUS
In today’s gospel, we see the very human and curious Philip.
Philip asks Jesus, “Show us the Father” – “Show us God.” Jesus responds by presenting himself as a mirror of God.
He says, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” And again, “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.”
To put it simply, Jesus is the self-revelation of God. We believe that if we look at him, we see God’s self-manifestation – who God is, what God looks like.
Saint John in his gospel calls Jesus the Word of God – God’s self-expression. We accept Jesus as the Son of God.
In his very being, his concerns, his thoughts, and his actions, Jesus reflects the mind and heart of God. And so, similar to our looking at a baby and seeing the parents or grandparents in the baby’s features, we can look at Jesus and see his Father, God himself.
MYSTERY AND KNOWLEDGE
No question, we believe that God is mystery, that God is beyond our human ability to know and understand completely.
But by looking at Jesus, we believe that we can learn and know a great deal about God. The characteristics w see in him, we can attribute to God.
When we hear Jesus saying, “Let those among you who are without sin cast the first stone,” we know that God is patient and forgiving. When we see Jesus mingling with tax collectors and other so-called sinners, we know that God is absolutely inclusive and outreaching.
When we hear Jesus talking about the shepherd seeking out the one lost sheep, we know that God values each one of us personally. And when we hear Jesus saying “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, that you do for me,” we know that God is especially compassionate and empathetic for anyone in any kind of need.
CONCLUSION
Read the gospels with an eye on Jesus and you can see God in action.
In the words of Jesus, hear God speaking
In the concerns of Jesus, see God’s concerns
In the gestures of Jesus, see the gestures of God.
Your curiosity – and fears – about God can be laid to rest – like Phillip’s in today’s gospel – the more you look at and come to understand Jesus.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Weekly HOMILY for May 15, 2011: Scripture and Tradition: Two Trustworthy Guides
4th Sunday of Easter, Cycle A
May 15, 2011
Terranuova Hermitage
Scripture and Tradition: Two Trustworthy Guides
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
One of the well-known names in our American history is the famous Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Holmes was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1902 to 1932. He is rated as an excellent justice, but on a personal level, he had a reputation for being absent-minded.
For example, one day Holmes was on a train out of Washington. He was completely engrossed in studying a case that the Court was hearing.
The conductor came down the aisle and asked for his ticket. Holmes searched the pockets of coat and trousers, but could not find it.
The conductor said, “Don’t be concerned, Mr. Justice Holmes. When you return to Washington, you can send us the ticket at your convenience.”
Holmes shook his head and said, “Thank you, my good man, but the problem is not whether I’ll pay the fare. The problem is: where am I going?”
DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE
That anecdote helps us to appreciate the question implied in today’s gospel.
The question is: where are we going? Jesus uses the image of a shepherd and sheep.
The idea is that Jesus wants us to see him as our shepherd and to follow the direction and guidance he offers us. Where do we find this direction and guidance?
We Catholic Christians believe that there are two sources for this. And these are: the Bible and Tradition.
SOURCE 1: THE BIBLE
First, the Bible is the primary place for finding our direction.
The Bible or the Scripture is God speaking directly to us. It is something like God writing a letter to us.
God is telling us about who he is and who we are. For example, we are told that in some way God is Creator and Savior and Holy Spirit living within us.
And besides telling us who God is, the Bible also tells us what God intends us to be like. For example, we are told that to be like God, we need to become persons of compassion and justice.
Now because of all that the Scripture tells us, it is to be the foundation of our faith and life. This is why whenever we celebrate a sacrament, like the Eucharist, we always begin with Scripture.
It is also why reading some verses from the Scripture, especially from one of the gospels, is a good part of personal, private prayer at home or wherever. In all of us, the Bible forms our faith and forms us as persons.
It gives us direction. It tells us where we should be going.
SOURCE 2: TRADITION
That takes us to the second source for getting direction from the Good Shepherd, and this is Tradition.
Here Tradition is with a capital T and not a small t. Tradition with a small t means customs, maybe like having a family barbecue on Memorial Day.
But Tradition with a capital T refers to our Catholic Christian Tradition. This refers to what we can learn about God and about living life from the experience of Christians and from the teaching of the Church down through the centuries.
The idea is that the Bible does not provide all the answers. It is our primary source of direction, but often it is fairly general and does not give specifics.
We also need the Tradition of the Church to give these specifics. For example, the Bible clearly forbids killing, the taking of the life of a person.
Our Church Tradition or teaching tells us that ending the life of a fetus is forbidden by this commandment. In a similar way, that same Tradition spells out principles for a just war that tell us when war may or may not be just and moral.
So, the Bible gives the general commandment or direction. The Tradition of the Church in a sense supplements the Bible and makes it specific to certain issues.
CONCLUSION
So, (1) Scripture or the Bible and (2) Tradition with a capital T – these are the two sources for allowing Jesus, the Good Shepherd to give us direction and tell us where we should be going.
May 15, 2011
Terranuova Hermitage
Scripture and Tradition: Two Trustworthy Guides
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
One of the well-known names in our American history is the famous Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Holmes was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1902 to 1932. He is rated as an excellent justice, but on a personal level, he had a reputation for being absent-minded.
For example, one day Holmes was on a train out of Washington. He was completely engrossed in studying a case that the Court was hearing.
The conductor came down the aisle and asked for his ticket. Holmes searched the pockets of coat and trousers, but could not find it.
The conductor said, “Don’t be concerned, Mr. Justice Holmes. When you return to Washington, you can send us the ticket at your convenience.”
Holmes shook his head and said, “Thank you, my good man, but the problem is not whether I’ll pay the fare. The problem is: where am I going?”
DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE
That anecdote helps us to appreciate the question implied in today’s gospel.
The question is: where are we going? Jesus uses the image of a shepherd and sheep.
The idea is that Jesus wants us to see him as our shepherd and to follow the direction and guidance he offers us. Where do we find this direction and guidance?
We Catholic Christians believe that there are two sources for this. And these are: the Bible and Tradition.
SOURCE 1: THE BIBLE
First, the Bible is the primary place for finding our direction.
The Bible or the Scripture is God speaking directly to us. It is something like God writing a letter to us.
God is telling us about who he is and who we are. For example, we are told that in some way God is Creator and Savior and Holy Spirit living within us.
And besides telling us who God is, the Bible also tells us what God intends us to be like. For example, we are told that to be like God, we need to become persons of compassion and justice.
Now because of all that the Scripture tells us, it is to be the foundation of our faith and life. This is why whenever we celebrate a sacrament, like the Eucharist, we always begin with Scripture.
It is also why reading some verses from the Scripture, especially from one of the gospels, is a good part of personal, private prayer at home or wherever. In all of us, the Bible forms our faith and forms us as persons.
It gives us direction. It tells us where we should be going.
SOURCE 2: TRADITION
That takes us to the second source for getting direction from the Good Shepherd, and this is Tradition.
Here Tradition is with a capital T and not a small t. Tradition with a small t means customs, maybe like having a family barbecue on Memorial Day.
But Tradition with a capital T refers to our Catholic Christian Tradition. This refers to what we can learn about God and about living life from the experience of Christians and from the teaching of the Church down through the centuries.
The idea is that the Bible does not provide all the answers. It is our primary source of direction, but often it is fairly general and does not give specifics.
We also need the Tradition of the Church to give these specifics. For example, the Bible clearly forbids killing, the taking of the life of a person.
Our Church Tradition or teaching tells us that ending the life of a fetus is forbidden by this commandment. In a similar way, that same Tradition spells out principles for a just war that tell us when war may or may not be just and moral.
So, the Bible gives the general commandment or direction. The Tradition of the Church in a sense supplements the Bible and makes it specific to certain issues.
CONCLUSION
So, (1) Scripture or the Bible and (2) Tradition with a capital T – these are the two sources for allowing Jesus, the Good Shepherd to give us direction and tell us where we should be going.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Weekly HOMILY for May 8, 2011: Respect and Reverence in Ritual Make a Difference
3rd Sunday of Easter, Cycle A
Terranuova Hermitage
May 8, 2011
Respect and Reverence in Ritual Make a Difference
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
RESPECT
If we go to an Ironbirds game at Ripken Stadium or to an O’s game at Camden Yards, the game always begins with the Star Spangled Banner.
We stand for this, our National Anthem, and gaze at our flag. We are silent while this is sung or maybe we sing along.
During this, those in the military may salute the flag and others may place their hand over their heart. These actions express our respect for our country and for the principles upon which it was founded.
In a similar way, if we go to a restaurant, we abide by the rules of decorum.
In most restaurants here in Harford County, we are expected to dress casually, but neatly. In some restaurants, we men are expected to wear a jacket.
When we are at the beach, like Ocean City, the restaurants may even say that shoes and shirts are required. These rules and behaviors help us to respect one another and the decorum of the restaurant as a place to eat and even dine together.
REVERENCE
Today’s readings call us to something similar when we are here at Mass.
In our second reading, Saint Peter talks about reverence. He is saying that if we believe and pray, we should conduct ourselves with reverence.
So, when we are here in church to pray, to participate in Mass and receive the Eucharist, we are to conduct ourselves with reverence. Today’s gospel tells the story about the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus and Jesus joining them, even though they do not at first recognize him.
In the story, we see the three core dimensions of the Mass. First, there are these two disciples with Jesus, much like us gathered together here with Jesus as the center of attention.
Then, Jesus breaks open or explains the Scriptures to these two disciples. Here at Mass, the same thing happens as the Scriptures are proclaimed to us.
And finally, Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. We gather here at the altar with the priest taking the place of Jesus and doing the same thing.
The idea is that we need reverence for each dimension of our worship. We need to show reverence for: 1) the people gathered here, 2) for the Word of God, and 3) and for the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
FOR PEOPLE, WORD, AND SACRAMENT
So, reverence for those gathered here calls for a spirit of welcoming and hospitality.
It calls for appropriate dress, I suggest what we usually describe today as at least dress casual and maybe more if we are serving in a ministry here at Mass. It calls for sharing and talking at appropriate times, and being quiet or silent at other times so as to allow others to pray.
Reverence for the Word of God calls the lectors and deacon or priest to prepare and proclaim the Word just as best as we can.
It calls us to treat the Lectionary and the Book of the Gospels carefully as sacred books. And it calls all of us to listen attentively to the readings and try to discern how they apply to me right now in my life situation.
And then reverence for the Eucharist calls us to genuflect or at least to bow to the Lord’s presence in the tabernacle when we enter and then when we leave the church.
It calls us to respond consciously “Amen” – in other words, “Yes, I believe” – to the words “The Body of Christ” and “The Blood of Christ” as we receive Communion. It requires that we handle the consecrated bread and wine with special care and not just as ordinary food and drink.
CONCLUSION
So, I am saying that the celebration of Mass calls us to a certain attitude and behavior.
We are called to have reverence, to be aware of the presence of the sacred and to express this by our actions. This will open us to the risen Christ who is here and who comes to us in the liturgy.
Terranuova Hermitage
May 8, 2011
Respect and Reverence in Ritual Make a Difference
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
RESPECT
If we go to an Ironbirds game at Ripken Stadium or to an O’s game at Camden Yards, the game always begins with the Star Spangled Banner.
We stand for this, our National Anthem, and gaze at our flag. We are silent while this is sung or maybe we sing along.
During this, those in the military may salute the flag and others may place their hand over their heart. These actions express our respect for our country and for the principles upon which it was founded.
In a similar way, if we go to a restaurant, we abide by the rules of decorum.
In most restaurants here in Harford County, we are expected to dress casually, but neatly. In some restaurants, we men are expected to wear a jacket.
When we are at the beach, like Ocean City, the restaurants may even say that shoes and shirts are required. These rules and behaviors help us to respect one another and the decorum of the restaurant as a place to eat and even dine together.
REVERENCE
Today’s readings call us to something similar when we are here at Mass.
In our second reading, Saint Peter talks about reverence. He is saying that if we believe and pray, we should conduct ourselves with reverence.
So, when we are here in church to pray, to participate in Mass and receive the Eucharist, we are to conduct ourselves with reverence. Today’s gospel tells the story about the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus and Jesus joining them, even though they do not at first recognize him.
In the story, we see the three core dimensions of the Mass. First, there are these two disciples with Jesus, much like us gathered together here with Jesus as the center of attention.
Then, Jesus breaks open or explains the Scriptures to these two disciples. Here at Mass, the same thing happens as the Scriptures are proclaimed to us.
And finally, Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. We gather here at the altar with the priest taking the place of Jesus and doing the same thing.
The idea is that we need reverence for each dimension of our worship. We need to show reverence for: 1) the people gathered here, 2) for the Word of God, and 3) and for the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
FOR PEOPLE, WORD, AND SACRAMENT
So, reverence for those gathered here calls for a spirit of welcoming and hospitality.
It calls for appropriate dress, I suggest what we usually describe today as at least dress casual and maybe more if we are serving in a ministry here at Mass. It calls for sharing and talking at appropriate times, and being quiet or silent at other times so as to allow others to pray.
Reverence for the Word of God calls the lectors and deacon or priest to prepare and proclaim the Word just as best as we can.
It calls us to treat the Lectionary and the Book of the Gospels carefully as sacred books. And it calls all of us to listen attentively to the readings and try to discern how they apply to me right now in my life situation.
And then reverence for the Eucharist calls us to genuflect or at least to bow to the Lord’s presence in the tabernacle when we enter and then when we leave the church.
It calls us to respond consciously “Amen” – in other words, “Yes, I believe” – to the words “The Body of Christ” and “The Blood of Christ” as we receive Communion. It requires that we handle the consecrated bread and wine with special care and not just as ordinary food and drink.
CONCLUSION
So, I am saying that the celebration of Mass calls us to a certain attitude and behavior.
We are called to have reverence, to be aware of the presence of the sacred and to express this by our actions. This will open us to the risen Christ who is here and who comes to us in the liturgy.
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