Daily HOMILY for November 9, 2019: Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, Cycle C

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Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran

Mercy Ridge Hermitage

November 9, 2019

Another Kind of CPR

By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato 

 

 

Pope Francis

This afternoon I want to reflect a little bit on Pope Francis.

Our celebration of his cathedral church, Saint John Lateran in Rome, leads me to do this.  I thought it would be a good moment to reflect on some of the things that Pope Francis is saying.  

I have selected three ideas and we might remember them by the acronym CPR – which usually means cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.  CPR here means: Creative, Patient, and Respectful.

Theme 1: Be Creative 

So, first: Be Creative.

Pope Francis says: We need to “abandon the complacent attitude that says: ‘We have always done it this way.’  I invite everyone to be bold and creative in the task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods” of bringing the Gospel to people.

Francis knows that we are living in a different age.  For one thing, it is a more and more diverse and pluralistic culture.

So, we may have to re-think how we do certain things.  We have to ask: “How can we today, more effectively reach our youth and young adults and all people?”

We may have to change some of our mindsets and ways.  Here in my parish of Church of the Nativity we work hard at trying to be as creative as possible in reaching out to and welcoming “Timonium Tim” the individual who is not in church and no longer feeling part of it. 

And creative we are! It’s what drew me there and where I now make my home for a faith community.

Theme 2: Be Patient 

The second theme: Be Patient.

Pope Francis uses one of Jesus’ images in the Gospel.  He says: “An evangelizing community is always concerned with fruit because the Lord wants her to be fruitful.  

“It cares for the grain and does not grow impatient with the weeds.  The sower, when he sees weeds sprouting, does not grumble or overreact.  

“They find a way to let the word take flesh in a situation and bear fruit, however imperfect or incomplete.”  And Francis adds this:“the goal is not to make enemies, but to see God’s word accepted.”  

So the Pope does not want us to exclude or label people in a negative way if they do not fully accept the message.  This is why I have felt that the term “Cafeteria Catholic” is simply a bad, inappropriate expression.

Some call others this name if they do not accept one or another teaching of the Church.  They call them “Cafeteria Catholics.”

I think we have to admit that we are all Cafeteria Christians of a sort.  None of us lives the Gospel perfectly and, after all, the living out of it is the final test of following the Jesus.

If we are Cafeteria Christians, then automatically we are Cafeteria Catholics. So then this expression is useless and even harmful.

Pope Francis calls us to include everyone who seeks God (1) in Jesus and (2) through the Church, regardless of their imperfections.  We are to be patient with one another.

Theme 3: Be Respectful

And then the third theme: Be Respectful.

Pope Francis says: “Instead of seeming to impose new obligations, [we] should appear as people who wish to share their joy.  It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but by ‘attraction.’”   

So Francis wants us to show what a good thing our faith is and how much it can bring to human life.  When he speaks of not proselytizing, he means that we are not to try to force our faith upon others as the only way to avoid hell.

Instead, Pope Francis wants us to attract others by sharing our story, who we are, and by listening to who others are, to their story and the truth of their lives.  He understands that we live in a secular age.

In this age, some people feel that they have an option to live their lives without religion or without an expressed faith.  Pope Francis understands that the best way to draw others to faith in this age is to be respectful, no matter what, no matter how distant spiritually they may seem from us.

Conclusion

So, CPR – Be Creative, Patient, and Respectful.

That is something of the approach that Pope Francis seems to be lifting up.  He invites us to pray and discern what we need to do to embrace this.

Like the other CPR, this CPR can bring us back to life, new and greater life in Christ!

HOMILY for November 24, 2019: Solemnity of Christ the King, Cycle C

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Solemnity of Christ the King, Cycle C

Mercy Ridge Hermitage

November 24, 2019

 

A King and Yet Not a King

(Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato

 

A King?

“Above him there was an inscription that read, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’”

Our Church has picked up on this title “King” and created this day in honor of Christ, as King. For us, in a leading democratic country that elects its presidents, this may seem like an odd way to honor Christ.

But, if we look closely at today’s Gospel, we get some wonderful insights into what it means for Jesus Christ, to be a king. This means something very different than it has meant for Henry VIII of England or Salman of Saudi Arabia.

And Yet Not a King!

First, we see that Jesus does not rule from a throne, but hangs on a cross.  This conveys that Jesus does not selfishly take life from us like some of the notorious rulers of history have done.

Instead, he gives his life for us on the cross.  And he gives God’s life to us.

Then, we see that Jesus knows the value of silence. He remains silent in the face of ridicule and mockery. 

He doesn’t strike back verbally. His silence shows his goodness and peace, and creates the space for others to calm down. 

Then, connected with that, Jesus does not grow hardened, much less, vengeful. Instead, he remains compassionate and forgiving.

To the one repentant thief who is crucified with him, he responds: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” For those who actually are crucifying him, he prays: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  

And finally, in all of this, we see that Jesus is not excluding. He does not shun or push away or refuse to have anything to do with those who are imperfect or unacceptable.

Instead, Jesus remains welcoming and inclusive. This is his consistent way of drawing others to God and we see this all throughout the Gospels.      

Conclusion

So,this title “King” helps us to see Jesus as a leader or ruler in an entirely different way.

He leads by example, by spiritual power, not by coercive power. The conclusions for us as individuals and for us as an institutional Church are obvious. 

He has empowered us to be like him, to foster his kingdom, to be sons and daughters of God. 

HOMILY for November 17, 2019: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

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33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Mercy Ridge Hermitage

November 17, 2019

Being Ready NOW, for the Future

By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato 

 

Someday Is Now

Some years ago, I read a story about a man whose wife, Jan, had just died.

This man opened the bottom drawer of his wife’s bureau and pulled out a tissue-wrapped package. He unfolded it and showed his sister-in-law, his wife’s sister, a beautiful silk and lace slip.

He said, “Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, about eight years ago. She never wore it.

“She was saving it for a special occasion. I guess this is the occasion.”

He then placed the slip on the bed with the other clothes they would bring to the funeral home. Then he said to his sister-in-law, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion; every day is a special occasion.” 

Jan’s sister remembered these words. She kept thinking about all the things she herself had done without realizing they were special. 

The words of her brother-in-law began to have a real impact on her. She writes this: “I’m reading more and dusting less.  

“I’m sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.  

“We use our good dishes for every event, like after getting the sink unstopped. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter or luster to our lives.

“And every moment I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath…is a gift of God.”      

The Gospel and Now

This widowed man and his sister-in-law express the same point Jesus is making in today’s gospel.  

Jesus talks about a time when all kinds of threatening things will happen. But Jesus is not trying to get us to focus on that future end-time and to live with fear and gloom.  

Instead, he is trying to get us to focus on the present. And, he wants us to live with peace and hope.

In other words, yes, someday there will be an end-time. Someday we will pass on from this earth.

But Jesus wants us to be ready for that by being aware that today is special. He wants us to make the present moment special, to live today well, and that is the way to be ready for the future.

Making Now Special

I want to propose two ways to help us make the present moment, the now special. 

First, each day do something good for one person important in our life. Maybe it will be asking your husband or wife or close friend what their day was like and really meaning it. 

Maybe it will be a text message or phone call to our parents or children, just to let them know you are thinking about them. Maybe it will be writing a note or sending an email to a family member or friend with whom we have just lost contact. 

And second, each day spend some time with God. Reserve a few minutes maybe just to be quiet and aware of God’s presence. 

Pray some prayer that we know by heart or speak to God in our own words. Allow this quiet and maybe alone time to put us in touch with our need to slow down and be compassionate, even as our heavenly parent is compassionate with each of us.   

Conclusion

So, two ways to help us make today, the now special:

1.    each day do something good for one person important in our life;

2.    and each day spend some time with God.

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That’s what God wants us to do in the present moment. And that will also be the best way to prepare for the future.

HOMILY for November 10, 2019: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

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32^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Mercy Ridge Hermitage

November 10, 2019

Marriage in the Resurrection 

By Nicholas Amato 

A Strange Regulation 

In the Book of Deuteronomy, one of the first five books of the Bible, there is a rather strange regulation.

The rule stipulates what is to happen if a husband dies, leaving his wife widowed and with no children. The rule says that the deceased husband’s brother is to marry this woman.

Hopefully, they will have a child and this will be a way for the deceased husband to live on. In fact, it is the only way they could imagine that he would be able to live on after death.

Dispute over Resurrection 

Now to us that ancient rule sounds very strange and, in fact, the Jewish people seldom observed it.    

But, it forms the background to today’s Gospel. A group of the Jewish religious leaders are bothered by Jesus’ talk about resurrection.

They cannot accept this because it is not in the first five books of the Bible. So, they concoct an extreme example of a man who dies and, in succession, each of his six brothers marries his widow and each of them also dies.

And all of these brothers also die childless. So, these religious leaders ask Jesus who will be this woman’s husband in the resurrection.

They feel certain that this extreme scenario will discredit Jesus’ teaching. Well, Jesus doesn’t comment about the Old Testament rule, but he does teach some things about resurrection.

1.    Resurrection as Transformation 

Most importantly, Jesus says that resurrected life will not be just a continuation of this life.

For example, he says that in resurrected life people do not marry. Now let’s be clear that Jesus is not putting down marriage.

He actually lifts up the dignity of marriage on other occasions. Here Jesus is simply saying that resurrected life is very different from this life.

We will be transformed. We will have a transformed life in and with God and we can’t think about this just in terms of our human life experience. 

2.    Resurrection through Relationship 

And then, Jesus makes it clear that resurrection happens through our relationship with God.

Jesus says that God isthe God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. These great religious figures are dead, but Jesus uses the present tense in speaking of them – God istheir God right now. 

So, Jesus is saying that God’s relationship with them continues on. The idea is that God’s love for us and God’s relationship with us has no end.  

This means that we are to do whatever we can to live in this relationship – by coming to know Jesus more and more in the Gospels and by having Communion with Him through the Eucharist. So, this relationship with God that we have rightnowleads to resurrected life in the future.

3.    Resurrection through Respect 

And then the last thing that Jesus teaches here is a bit hidden, but it is still present.

Notice that Jesus completely ignores that ancient rule of a brother marrying his deceased brother’s widow. Jesus just ignores this and in doing that, he is teaching something. 

That ancient rule was very male-centered. It was focused only on the husband and hisbeing able to live on in some way through offspring.  

The rule showed no respect for the woman, the wife. It treated her more as an object.

By not even acknowledging this rule, Jesus is sending a message. We are to be respectful of all persons, including women.

This is a living out of our relationship with God who respects each person equally. Being respectful of women and of all persons rightnowopens us to resurrection in the future.

Conclusion

So that’s my take on this interesting, to say the least, interesting passage of Scripture.

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I hope it is helpful for all of you. Amen!