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Becoming Like God — Trinity Sunday—Year C

June 11, 2013

We become like what we worship. Whatever we value most, whatever we serve as our highest good, is the object of our worship. Whatever it is, the object of our worship forms the kind of people we become. When we worship money, we become greedy. When we worship sex, we become lustful. When we worship power, we become corrupt. When we worship sports, we become fanatical. When we worship appearances, we become vain. When we worship self, we become selfish. But when we worship God, we become godlike. We are called to worship the Holy Trinity, and become like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The three persons of the Trinity share the same divine attributes. Each one is all-knowing, all-good, all-powerful, but each is a distinct person who knows, loves, and acts. We came to know that the one true God of the Old Testament was not a solitary oneness through the words and example of Jesus Christ. For example, Jesus accepts others’ worship, something only God can rightly do. While Jesus declares that he and God the Father are one, Jesus also prays to his heavenly Father as another person. The Holy Trinity shares the divine nature and consists of three persons.

The Trinity exists as a loving communion of persons. Each one loves and gives the gift of self to the others. This love overflows the Trinity, leading to the creation of everything in the heavens and the earth. We were not made because God had need of us, but because love likes to share and delights in others’ joy. We are called to worship the Trinity, but we are also called to become like the Trinity. To be at home in heaven, we must enter into the loving communion with persons; human, angelic, and divine. Holiness is not a solitary project. No one becomes a saint without others.  Even a secluded hermit must be connected to the wider communion of believers, through loving concern, prayer, and the sacraments. Without this connection to others, the hermit will not become a saint.

How does God intend to make you a saint? Look around at the people in your everyday life. It is through your loving communion with these that the Holy Trinity wants to make you similar to himself. I challenge you to consider how to know, love and serve them more and thereby become a more perfect image of God.

Nos convertimos en lo que adoramos. Lo que más valoramos, lo servimos como nuestro supremo bien, es el objeto de nuestra adoración. Sea lo que sea, el objeto de nuestra adoración constituye el tipo de personas nos convertimos. Cuando adoramos dinero, nos convertimos codiciosos. Cuando adoramos sexo, nos convertimos lujurioso. Cuando adoramos poder, nos convertimos corruptos. Cuando adoramos a los deportes, nos convertimos en fanáticos. Cuando adoramos a las apariencias, nos convertimos vano. Cuando adoramos a uno mismo, nos convertimos egoístas. Pero cuando adoramos a Dios, llegamos a ser divino. Estamos llamados a adorar a la Santísima Trinidad, y llegamos a ser como el Padre, el Hijo y el Espíritu Santo.

Las tres personas de la Trinidad comparten los mismos atributos divinos. Cada uno lo sabe todo, es todo bueno, y es todopoderoso, pero cada uno es una persona distinta que conoce, ama y actúa. Llegamos a saber que el único y verdadero Dios del Antiguo Testamento no era una unidad solitaria a través de las palabras y el ejemplo de Jesucristo. Por ejemplo, Jesús acepta la adoración de los demás, algo que sólo Dios puede hacer justamente. Mientras que Jesús declara que él y Dios el Padre son uno, Jesús tambien ora a su Padre celestial como otra persona. La Santísima Trinidad comparte la naturaleza divina y consiste en tres personas.

La Trinidad existe como una amorosa comunión de las personas. Cada uno ama y se da el don de sí mismo a nosotros. Este amor se desborda la Trinidad y conduce a la creación de todo en los cielos y la tierra. No fuimos hechos por Dios porque tenía necesidad de nosotros, sino porque el amor le gusta compartir y disfruta de la alegría de los demás. Estamos llamados a adorar a la Trinidad, pero también estamos llamados a ser como la Trinidad. Para estar en casa en el cielo, necessitamos entrar aqui en la amorosa comunión con las personas, humano, angélica y divina. Su santidad no es un proyecto solitario. Nadie se convierte en un santo sin otras personas. Incluso un ermitaño recluido debe estar conectado a la comunión de los creyentes en general, a través del amor, la oración y los sacramentos. Sin esta conexión con los demás, el ermitaño no se convierta en un santo.

¿Cómo Dios te haga un santo? Mire a las personas en su vida cotidiana. Es a través de la comunión amorosa con estos que la Santísima Trinidad quiere hacerte similar a sí mismo. Te reto a que considere cómo conocer, amar y servir a ellos más y por lo tanto convertirse en una imagen más perfecta de Dios.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Holy Trinity, Homily, Spanish Homilies, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

The Pentecost Project — Pentecost—Year C

May 18, 2013

Before Pentecost was a Christian celebration, it was an ancient Jewish observance. In the Old Covenant, in the Law of Moses, God commanded his people to bring some of the first grain harvested from their fields to Jerusalem be sacrificed as a burnt offering. This is the reason why Jews from so many distant countries were gathered in Jerusalem on this fiftieth day after Passover. Each Pentecost, the world’s first fruits were gathered and consecrated to the Lord. On one unique Pentecost, the Pentecost seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, Jews from every land were gathered by the Holy Spirit, and consecrated to God the Father, through Jesus Christ. By the end of Old Testament era, God had scattered the seeds of his chosen people across the world. On this Pentecost, the first fruits of his harvest are brought into his barn, the Church.

Pentecost can be seen as the beginning of the end of God’s project of salvation because we are now living in the world’s final era. And yet, Pentecost can also be seen as the start of a new divine project that will perdure forever. At the Tower of Babel, mankind endeavors to build a city reaching all the way to heaven. In other words, they attempt to become as gods while rejecting God. The Lord knows that this recurring human tendency leads to self-destruction, for both individuals and societies, so he thwarts their project by confusing their language. On Pentecost, God undoes Babel by allowing all peoples to understand the Apostles’ words, uniting and ennobling them. On this day, God begins in earnest to build up the Church, a new great city in communion with God that reaches all the way to heaven. Though heaven and earth pass away, this city of God, the Church, shall continue forever.

Why did the Holy Spirit come down in the form of fire? God the Holy Spirit, like the angels, is pure spirit and has no physical body. To be seen by human beings they must assume an appearance. Why did the Holy Spirit appear in the likeness of flames? Consider a different question: How many matches does it take to burn down a forest? The fire from just one small match is enough. As the small fire spreads, while remaining itself, it transforms everything around it. The holy fire that descended on Pentecost did not harm or destroy like natural fire would. The apostles may have been alarmed to see flames sailing towards their heads, but they were not burnt. The fire of the Holy Spirit is like the fire of the burning bush that Moses beheld in Exodus. Divine fire does not consume, but glorifies its hosts. Jesus once declared, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49) On Pentecost, a fire is lit in Jerusalem that spreads and transforms the world. This fire is the Holy Spirit at work.

All of salvation history was a preparation for Jesus Christ and Pentecost. Now we live in the last age of the world, the age of the Church, the city of God which shall last forever. Each of us is called to play an active part in this project of the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost, just as important as the gift of tongues given to the apostles was the Holy Spirit’s gift of fearless joy. Even after they had seen Jesus resurrected, the apostles timidly hid behind locked doors “for fear of the Jews.” But the reception of the Holy Spirit gave them a happy courage that allowed them to talk about Jesus in public to anyone who would listen. We have received the Holy Spirit also. Then why are we so timid? Why are we shy to introduce others to Jesus, our friend?  Why are we hesitant to welcome others to the Church, our community?  It seems that the Holy Spirit declines to act with power within us until we give him our free consent. Like he waited upon Mary’s response at the Annunciation, so the Holy Spirit awaits our invitation. Open yourself to the Holy Spirit’s will.  Ask him to give you new, powerful gifts. Give him permission to utilize you in the great project of salvation. And then, let us watch what he does through us.

Antes de Pentecostés era una fiesta cristiana, fue una celebración judía antigua. En el Antiguo Testamento, en la Ley de Moisés, Dios ordenó a su pueblo para llevar a algunos de los primeros granos cosechados de sus campos a Jerusalén ser sacrificado como ofrenda quemada. Esta es la razón Judios de muchos países lejanos se reunieron en Jerusalén en este quincuagésimo día después de la Pascua. Cada Pentecostés, las primicias del mundo se reunieron y se consagraron al Señor. Por un Pentecostés especial, siete semanas después de la resurrección de Jesús, Judios de todos los países se reunieron por el Espíritu Santo, y se consagraron a Dios Padre por medio de Jesucristo. Para el final de la época de del Antiguo Testamento, Dios había esparcido las semillas de su pueblo elegido a través del mundo. En este Pentecostés, los primeros frutos de su mies se llevan a su granero, la Iglesia.

Pentecostés se puede considerar como el comienzo del fin del proyecto de salvación de Dios porque estamos ahora viviendo en la época final del mundo. Y, sin embargo, Pentecostés se puede también ser visto como el comienzo de un nuevo divino proyecto que va a perdurar para siempre. A la Torre de Babel, la humanidad se esfuerza por construir una ciudad llegar al cielo. En otras palabras, ellos intentan convertirse en dioses mientras que rechazando a Dios. El Señor sabe que esta tendencia humana recurrente conduce a la auto-destrucción, tanto para los individuos y las sociedades. Por lo tanto, Dios frustra su proyecto a través de confundir su idioma. En Pentecostés, Dios deshace Babel a través de permitir que todos los pueblos a comprender las palabras de los apóstoles. Dios une a las gente y les ennoblece. En este día, Dios comienza en serio la edificación de la Iglesia, una nueva gran ciudad en comunión con Dios, que llega a todo el camino al cielo. Aunque el cielo y la tierra pueden pasar, esta ciudad de Dios, la Iglesia, continuará para siempre.

¿Por qué el Espíritu Santo descendió en forma de fuego? Dios el Espíritu Santo, como los ángeles, es espíritu puro y no tiene cuerpo físico. Para ser visto por los seres humanos deben asumir una apariencia. ¿Por qué el Espíritu Santo aparece en la imagen de las llamas? Considere una pregunta diferente: ¿Cuántas fósforos se necesitan para quemar un bosque? El fuego de un solo fósforo es suficiente. Como los pequeños fuego se extiende, sin dejar de ser ella misma, se transforma todo a su alrededor. El fuego sagrado que descendió en Pentecostés no dañar o destruir como el fuego natural. Los apóstoles pueden haber sentido la ansiedad a ver las llamas que vuelan hacia sus cabezas, pero no fueron quemados. El fuego del Espíritu Santo es como el fuego de la zarza ardiente que vio Moisés en Éxodo. Fuego divino no consume, pero glorifica a su moradas. Jesús una vez declaró: “Yo he venido a traer fuego sobre la tierra y ¡cuánto desearía que ya estuviera ardiendo!” (Lucas 12:49) En el día de Pentecostés, el fuego se enciende en Jerusalén, se extiende y transforma el mundo. Este fuego es el Espíritu Santo en el trabajo.

Toda la historia de la salvación fue una preparación para Cristo y Pentecostés. Ahora vivimos en la última época del mundo, la era de la Iglesia, la ciudad de Dios que durará para siempre. Cada uno de nosotros está llamado a desempeñar un papel activo en este proyecto delEspíritu Santo. En el día de Pentecostés, tan importante como el don de lenguas dadas a los apóstoles fue el don del Espíritu Santo de la alegría sin miedo. Aun después de que habían visto a Jesús resucitado, los apóstoles se escondían tímidamente detrás de puertas cerradas “por miedo de los Judios”. Sin embargo, la recepción delEspíritu Santo les dio un coraje feliz que les permitió hablar de Jesús en público a cualquier persona que escucharía. Hemos recibido el Espíritu Santo también. Entonces ¿por qué estamos tan tímido? ¿Por qué evitamos introducir a otros a Jesús, nuestro amigo? ¿Por qué estamos renuentes a dar la bienvenida a otros a nuestra Iglesia, nuestra comunidad? Parece que el Espíritu Santo se niega a actuar con el poder dentro de nosotros hasta que le demos nuestro consentimiento libre. Como él esperó a la respuesta de María en la Anunciación, del mismo modo el Espíritu Santo espera nuestra invitación. Ábrase a la voluntad delEspíritu Santo. Pídele que le dará nuevos, poderosos dones. Dará el Espíritu Santo permiso usarte más en su gran proyecto de salvación. Y luego, velemos lo que hace a través de nosotros.

Posted in Courage, Feast Day Homilies, Holy Spirit, Homily, Pentecost, Spanish Homilies, Sunday Homilies, Witness | 1 Comment »

Why Didn’t Jesus Stay? — The Ascension—Year C

May 11, 2013

Today, Jesus ascends with his human nature into heaven. He takes his seat at the right hand of the Father. There Jesus enjoys the greatest honor and intimacy with his Father and from heaven he reigns and intercedes for us. Yet I wonder on this Feast of the Ascension, “Why didn’t Jesus remain visibly with us, here on earth? Why not lead us as our king down here so that we could see and hear him?”

Some would argue that Jesus was limited by his humanity—that Jesus’ human nature prevented him from being at more than one place at a time. They would say that Jesus could preach today in Chicago or heal the sick in Rio de Janeiro, but he cannot do both simultaneously—reigning from heaven allows Jesus to be more present to every place and every person. However, Jesus is not limited in this way by his glorified human nature. Several saints have manifested the gift of bi-location during their lifetimes. Most recently and famously, St. Padre Pio was often at more than one place at the same time. Surely, if Jesus’ saints can possess this power then the Lord Jesus would as well. Furthermore, Jesus demonstrates that his humanity can be more than one place simultaneously through his Real Presence in the Eucharist. Though veiled under the appearances of bread and wine, the entire living person of Jesus (including his body and blood, soul and divinity) is truly present in the Eucharist.

So if Jesus can be physically present in as many places as he wishes, why is he not visibly reigning in millions of places in roles here on earth? For instance, why isn’t Jesus the pastor at every parish church and the bishop in every diocese? One major reason why Jesus rejects this approach is that he wants us to share in his work, his mission, and his glory. Jesus wants you and I to have a part in saving our family and friends and the world. Jesus prayed to his Father at the Last Supper, “As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world,” (John 17:18) and Jesus told his disciples after his resurrection, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). You and I are sent to do and continue the works that we have seen Jesus do. As Jesus once said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). It is not easy to live as Jesus Christ in the world, but this is our great vocation. For this reason, we must receive the force from on high. Pray for the deeper gifts that the Lord wants to give you through the Holy Spirit, whose coming in power we will celebrate next Sunday.

Hoy, Jesús asciende con su naturaleza humana al cielo. Jesús se sentó a la derecha del Padre. Allí Jesús disfruta del mayor honor y la intimidad con su Padre y él reina e intercede por nosotros desde el cielo. Sin embargo, me pregunto en esta fiesta de la Ascensión: “¿Por qué Jesús no permanecen visiblemente con nosotros, aquí en la tierra? ¿Por qué no quedarse aquí como nuestro rey para que nosotros pudiéramos verlo y escucharlo?”

Algunos podrían argumentar que Jesús estaba limitado por su humanidad-que la naturaleza humana de Jesús no poder estar en más de un lugar al mismo tiempo. Dirían que Jesús pudo predicar hoy en Chicago o curar a los enfermos en Río de Janeiro, pero lo no puede hacer ambas cosas al mismo tiempo—reinante desde el cielo permite que Jesús sea más presente a todo lugar y persona. Sin embargo, Jesús no se limita de esta manera por su naturaleza humana glorificada. Varios santos han manifestado el don de la bilocación durante sus vidas. Más recientemente y famosamente, San Padre Pio fue visto a menudo en más de un lugar al mismo tiempo. Seguramente, si los santos de Jesús pueden poseer este poder, entonces el Señor Jesús lo haría también. De hecho, Jesús demuestra que su humanidad puede haber más de un lugar al mismo tiempo a través de su presencia real en la Eucaristía. Aunque velado bajo las especies del pan y del vino, toda de la persona viva de Jesús (incluyendo su cuerpo y sangre, alma y divinidad) está realmente presente en la Eucaristía.

Si Jesús puede estar presente físicamente en tantos lugares como él desea, ¿por qué Jesús no reinando visiblemente en millones de funciones aquí en la tierra? Por ejemplo, ¿por qué Jesús no es el pastor en cada parroquia y el obispo en cada diócesis? Una gran razón Jesús rechazado este método es que él quiere que compartamos en su trabajo, su misión y su gloria. Jesús quiere que ustedes y yo tener una parte en salvando a nuestras familias, y nuestros amigos, y nuestro mundo. Jesús oró a su Padre en la Última Cena: “Como tú me enviaste al mundo, yo los envío también al mundo,” (Juan 17:18) y Jesús dijo a sus discípulos después de su resurrección: “Como el Padre me envió a mí, así yo los envío a ustedes,” (Juan 20:21). Ustedes y yo estamos envió a hacer y continuar los trabajos que hemos visto hacer a Jesús. Como Jesús dijo una vez: “Ciertamente les aseguro que el que cree en mí las obras que yo hago también él las hará, y aun las hará mayores, porque yo vuelvo al Padre,” (Juan 14:12). No es fácil vivir como Jesús Cristo en el mundo, pero este es nuestro gran vocación. Por esta razón, debemos recibir la fuerza de lo alto. Ore por los dones más profundos que el Señor Jesús quiere darte a través delEspíritu Santo, cuya venida en el poder vamos a celebrar el próximo domingo.

Posted in Ascension, Christian Perfection, Feast Day Homilies, Homily, Human Nature, Jesus Christ, Spanish Homilies, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Who’s What? — 6th Sunday of Easter—Year C

May 5, 2013

In the verse preceding today’s second reading, an angel tells Saint John, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” Therefore, the city of God that John next describes is the Church, the bride of Christ, in her holy glory. The city has twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The city’s foundation stones are inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles.

But didn’t Jesus say, “I am the gate; if any one enters by me, he will be saved…” (John 10:9)? And didn’t Saint Paul say, “…No one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11)? Then why do the gates and foundation stones bear the names of God’s people and the apostles? Who is the foundation and gate—Jesus or his people?

Like so many theological concepts in Catholicism, the answer is “both/and.” The Lord works through us, with us, and in us to lead people to himself, to his church, and to heaven. The Trinity dwells in us and calls us to participate in the great project of saving the world. As Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” And Jesus adds, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” The apostles knew that they were working hand in hand with the Holy Spirit. Responding to an important doctrinal question, the apostles declare in the first reading, “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities…”

Recently, I have been more intentional about asking the Holy Spirit in the morning to guide my day. After asking him to help me be his instrument and a blessing to other people, I have experienced some amazing encounters and opportunities in my ministry. I urge you to try the same thing. God gives us the privilege of participating in his great work of blessing, love, and salvation. Make yourself available to the Trinity dwelling within you.

En el versículo anterior a la segunda lectura de hoy, un ángel dice a San Juan: “Ven acá. Yo te mostraré la novia, la esposa del Cordero.” Por lo tanto, la ciudad de Dios que Juan describe próxima es la Iglesia, la esposa de Cristo, en su santa gloria. La ciudad tiene doce puertas con los nombres de los doce tribus de Israel. Las piedras de los cimientos de la ciudad están inscritos los nombres de los doce apóstoles.

¿Pero no dijo Jesús: “Yo soy la puerta; si alguno entra por mí, será salvo…” (Juan 10:9)? ¿Y no San Pablo dice: “…Nadie puede poner otro fundamento que el que ya está puesto, el cual es Jesucristo.” (1 Corintios 3:11)? ¿Por qué entonces las puertas y cimientos tienen los nombres de le gente del Señor y sus apóstoles? ¿Quién es el fundamento y la puerta-Jesús o su pueblo?

Como tantas ideas teológicas en el catolicismo, la respuesta es “ambos”. El Señor obra por medio de nosotros, con nosotros y en nosotros para llevar a la gente a sí mismo, a su iglesia, y al cielo. La Trinidad habita en nosotros y nos llama a participar en el gran proyecto de salvar al mundo. Jesús dice a sus discípulos: “El que me ama, cumplirá mi palabra y mi Padre lo amará y vendremos a él y haremos en él nuestra morada.” Y Jesús añade: “El Consolador, el Espíritu Santo que mi Padre les enviará en mi nombre, les enseñará todas las cosas y les recordará todo cuanto Yo les he dicho.”Los apóstoles sabían que estaban trabajando de la mano con el Espíritu Santo. En respuesta a una pregunta importante doctrinal, los apóstoles declaran en la primera lectura de hoy: “Es la decisión del Espíritu Santo y nosotros, no colocar el imponeros más cargas que estas necesidades…”

Recientemente, he estado más intencional en pedirle al Espíritu Santo que guía mi día. Después de pedirle que me ayude a ser su instrumento y una bendición para otras personas, he tenido algunos encuentros increíbles y oportunidades en mi ministerio. Ustedes pueden hacerlo tambien. Dios nos da el privilegio de participar en su gran obra de bendición, amor y salvación. Hacerte disponible para la Trinidad que habita en tu interior.

Posted in Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, Homily, Renewal, Spanish Homilies, Sunday Homilies | 1 Comment »

Remade for Love — 5th Sunday of Easter—Year C

April 27, 2013

Today, Jesus gives us his new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” What a challenge this is! Consider how Jesus loved us: he lived and died for us! Loving people like Jesus does is not an easy commandment to keep, yet we must keep it. As Saint Paul preached, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

It is not easy to love as Christ loves, but the Lord assists those who seek to please and serve him. God matures us in love through our ordinary, daily lives. And God perfects us in love through our hard times. We have no lack of opportunities: daily life gives us countless chances to love as Jesus would. And wherever we are too weak to grow or change ourselves, the Lord permits us to experience difficulties in order to transform us. Like a doctor, he sometimes gives us bitter medicine to cure our illnesses.

I have seen this happen in my own life. When I was little, it was painful to be teased by my peers, but this led to my practice of treating everyone kindly. When I was older, it hurt to discover that the first woman I fell in love with did not share my feelings, but this experience cured me of my cynicism about the beauty of romantic love. When I was newly ordained, my first assignments were challenging, but this made me a better priest. All these things displeased me at the time, but now I am grateful for their results.

Can you see how God has used the difficulties of your life to make you become more like Jesus Christ? Then do not lose heart when new difficulties come to you. Through all these things, our love is being made into the perfect likeness of Jesus Christ. God refuses to leave us as we are. Instead, as the One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

Hoy, Jesús nos da su mandamiento nuevo: “Que os améis los unos a los otros. Que, como yo os he amado, así os améis también vosotros los unos a los otros.” ¡Qué desafío es esto! Considere como Jesús nos ha amado: él vivió y murió por nosotros! Amar a las personas como Jesús no es un mandamiento fácil de mantener, sin embargo, deben mantenerlo. Como San Pablo predicó: “Es necesario que pasemos por muchas tribulaciones para entrar en el Reino de Dios.”

No es fácil amar como Cristo ama, pero el Señor ayuda a aquellos que tratan de agradar y servir a él. Dios nos madura en el amor a través de nuestras vidas cotidianas. Y Dios nos perfecciona en el amor a través de nuestros tiempos difíciles. No tenemos ninguna falta de oportunidades: la vida cotidiana nos da innumerables posibilidades de amar como Jesús lo haría. Y donde estemos demasiado débiles para crecer o cambiar nosotros mismos, el Señor nos permite experimentar dificultades para transformarnos. Él es como un médico, que a veces nos da la amarga medicina para curar nuestras enfermedades.

He visto que esto suceda en mi propia vida. Cuando era pequeña, era doloroso para ser objeto de burlas por mis compañeros, pero esto me llevó a la práctica de tratar a todos con amabilidad. Cuando fui mayor, me dolía al descubrir que la primera mujer que me enamoré no compartía los mismos sentimientos que yo tenia, pero esta experiencia me curó de mi cinismo acerca de la belleza del amor romántico. Después de mi ordenación, mis primeros trabajos fueron duros para mí, pero me hizo un mejor sacerdote. Todas estas cosas me disgustaron en su momento, pero ahora estoy agradecido por sus resultados.

¿Puedes de ver cómo Dios ha usado a las dificultades de tu vida para hacer más como Jesucristo? Entonces no perder el corazón cuando las nuevas dificultades vengan a ti. A través de todas estas cosas, nuestro amor se convirtió en la imagen perfecta del amor de Jesucristo. Dios se niega a dejarnos como somos. En cambio, como el que estaba sentado en el trono dijo: “Yo hago nuevas todas las cosas.”

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Love, Providence, Spanish Homilies, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Love Against Indifference — 5th Sunday of Lent—Year C

March 22, 2013

The scribes and Pharisees do not care about the woman caught in adultery. They do not care about her sin. If they actually cared about the adultery, the man she sinned with would be there too. They do not really care whether this woman gets punished or forgiven. They only want to trap Jesus. They want Jesus to say something against the Law of Moses that they can use to attack him. When it becomes clear that their scheme will not work, they leave Jesus and the woman. She has merely been their tool for a failed task.  Now she is left alone with Jesus.  Jesus neither denies the woman’s sin nor withholds his mercy. He says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on sin no more.”

Jesus does not deny the truth. What the woman has done is wrong and it needs to end. But Jesus encounters her with love. We need to be the same way with the persons in our lives. Sharing the truth without love is repulsive. Who can embrace the truth when served with a sour taste? On the other hand, loving someone without sharing important truths is an imperfect love. We each have the duty to share the truth seasoned with love.

Like many of you, I am very happy concerning our new Holy Father. Pope Francis is a pleasant gift. He is an interesting and refreshing character who seems very holy. He comes to us from Argentina and is the first pope from Latin America, where more than forty-one percent of world’s Catholics live. One of my hopes is that Pope Francis will renew the Catholic faith there and here. Sometimes Catholicism can be widely present but not deeply held. Many claim our Faith but neglect to live lives moved by it.

I am honored to come here to celebrate Mass for few or for many and I am happy to do it. But how many people do you know that are absent from Mass? Invite them lovingly to come to the Mass here in the special weeks ahead. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, which includes the reading of the Passion. And in two weeks is Easter Sunday, the most important of all Christian celebrations.

The scribes and Pharisees did not care about the sinning woman. Let’s be unlike them. Let us help the people in our lives with love, truth, and the invitation of Jesus Christ to the sacraments in his Church.

Posted in Catholic Church, Homily, Love, Sunday Homilies, Witness | Leave a Comment »

Abortion, Life, Truth, and Love

March 3, 2013

Yesterday, I received an encouraging note from a former teacher co-worker. She discovered, while rummaging through her folders of memories, that I had written a pro-life article in her college newspaper that had been a great encouragement to her. Reminded that we do not always realize the good our words can do for others, I have spent today posting my recent homilies and have included my September 12, 2002 pro-life opinion piece below:

Imagine you were asked on a biology quiz, “When does a human’s life-cycle begin?” Only one answer reflects the consensus of the world’s human embryologists: “At fertilization, or what is known as conception.” Through fertilization a new single-celled embryo is created which is genetically neither mother nor father, but offspring. The life-cycle of every human you and I know began at their conception. Here is our next question: when will we defend the human rights of new human life?

With their controversial Roe vs. Wade decision the Supreme Court decided not to recognize human life in the womb as a person. Their rulings have (effectively) legalized abortions at any time during pregnancy, even up to the last moment of delivery. The high court’s discovery of the (unprecedented) right to an abortion has brought horrific consequences.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that 1,186,039 abortions occurred in 1997. That works out to about 3,250 each day. (Comparatively, 2,872 people died in the Sept. 11th attacks.) According to the CDC, more than 30 million abortions have occurred in our country since the 1973 legalization. It is possible to count abortions, but there is no measurement for the suffering and injustice they inflict.

Today, the partially born are killed with their fully-formed arms and legs dangling outside of their mothers, while their heads remain inside. However, if one of these babies were to accidently fall out, the child would receive the full protection of the U.S. Constitution.

Is personhood decided by location? How can six inches mean the difference between “tissue extraction” and murder? Do we receive our humanity by exiting a birth canal, or are we something of precious value long before entering the outside world?

Americans’ heartfelt convictions, combined with faulty notions of tolerance, create conflicted views on abortion. In June 2000, the Los Angeles Times polled 2,071 Americans, “Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Abortion is murder.” 57% agreed while only 36% disagreed. Yet, among those who agreed, most believed a woman should still have the right to choose an abortion. When I was younger, I reflexively shared this view. I saw abortion as the killing of human beings, but I hesitated to “impose my beliefs on others.” Finally, I realized my position’s absurdity. Imagine someone saying, “I’m personally opposed to terrorism on moral grounds, but I still think it should be legal. I would never murder anyone, but if someone else chooses to, who am I to say they can’t?” There is a classic saying from Supreme Court Justice Holmes about the limits of freedom, “The right I have to swing my fist stops where your nose begins.” Personal rights cannot permit the harming of the innocent. The innocent unborn should be no exception.

But what if a person is still unsure that the human life in the womb is “fully human”? How should we treat embryos and fetuses if uncertain of their humanity? For an answer, consider how we respond in other situations when we suspect human life might be present: We do not bury people who are doubtfully dead. We work frantically to rescue people from the rubble of collapsed buildings, even when there are no signs of life. If a deer hunter sees something moving through the bushes he must wait to shoot until he is positive it is a deer and not another human being. When in doubt, we assume there is life, because human life is precious. Conscience demands that we safeguard unborn life with our full protection and care.

Pro-lifers have no desire to see unhappily pregnant women abandoned out in the cold. There is no reason our society cannot love both mother and child. Local organizations, like the New Life Pregnancy Counseling Center (608-785-2377) and Catholic Charities (608-784-5323), extend helping hands and loving hearts. They offer free, confidential pregnancy testing and counseling. They assist mothers who lovingly choose adoption and support mothers who admirably choose to raise their own. These charities’ professional staffs and trained volunteers deeply care for women and their babies. They proclaim, by word and deed, that the choice to love is the greatest we can make.

In their 1857 Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court ruled black people were ‘not persons, but the mere property of their owners.’ In the 1930’s and 40’s the Nazis killed millions; Jews, Poles, and others they viewed as ‘less than human.’ During the 20th century, communist governments executed even more innocents they deemed counter-revolutionaries, justifying their deaths as being ‘best for society.’ Disturbingly, all these views are held against unborn life today. However, there is reason for hope. When minds and hearts unite in truth, history shows that falsehoods cannot long endure. Love’s future victory is certain, but the time-frame depends on us.

Posted in Politics, Social Justice | Leave a Comment »

Tempting Christ — 1st Sunday of Lent—Year C

March 3, 2013

Today’s Gospel from Luke is preceded by Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan. There, Jesus is revealed to be the Anointed One awaited by God’s people. The Anointed One is called the Messiah in Hebrew and the Christ in Greek. It was foretold that the “Anointed One” would have God as his Father in a unique and intimate way. This “Anointed One” was prophesied to come and be the savior, the champion, and the liberator of God’s people.

“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days…” Here, before the start of the public ministry of Jesus, in the silence and solitude of this desert retreat, the thoughts and prayers of Jesus were probably about his mission ahead. At this time the devil comes to tempt him. The devil wants to influence the kind of Christ that Jesus will be in hopes of derailing his mission from the start.

The devil says, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answers, “One does not live on bread alone.” What would be the evil in Jesus making this food? If he uses his power to meet his own needs, then the devil will ask “How can you refuse the needs of other people?” The devil wants Jesus to become an economic savior, a materialistic Messiah.

Jesus has compassion for our human condition–he knows it from his own first-hand experience. Jesus commands us to show his love to others by caring for their bodily needs. And when we do this it is Jesus acting through us. But if Jesus’ first mission had become to satisfy all material human needs, then Jesus would have been a Christ of bread alone, and we cannot live forever on bread alone. Making all of us wealthy wouldn’t be enough to make us holy, and so Jesus refuses the first temptation.

Then the devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and says, “I shall give to you all the power and glory…. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” And Jesus answers, “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” The devil offers Jesus an alternative to a life of obedience to his Father and in service to all. Jesus can become the world’s dictator whose own will must be done, if he would simply worship the devil.

This is the devil’s promise, but the devil is a liar. Making a deal with him gains nothing but loss, yet even if Jesus knew the devil would keep his word Jesus would have none of this. Jesus does not come to control us, but to invite us. He does not want to dominate us, but to persuade us to love. God seeks our loving response, and a response in love cannot be forced, so Jesus rejects the second temptation.

Then the devil takes Jesus to a high place and says, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for God will command his angels to guard you, and with their hands they will support you….” And Jesus answers, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

Here the devil argues that Jesus should expect to be protected from suffering and be preserved from death. But Jesus was sent and came to die and rise for us. Without these things how would we have been saved? Jesus trusted the Father’s will, even in suffering and death, and so Jesus refuses the third temptation.

God often works in ways that we wouldn’t imagine or choose for ourselves. We would wish that everything in life would be easy and painless. We wish our temptations and sorrows did not afflict us. But a doctor’s cure is given according to the disease he finds. After the Fall of mankind, God intends to save us through the difficulties and struggles of this life.

Our growth in holiness can be slow and our sufferings may be difficult. However, we should never despair. Our struggle has rewards and our suffering has purpose. We know this because of Jesus, who endured temptations just like us and for us.

El evangelio de hoy es precedido por el bautismo de Jesús en el Jordán. Allí, Jesús se revela como el Ungido esperado por el pueblo de Dios. El ungido es llamado el Mesías en hebreo y Cristo en griego. Fue predicho que “el ungido” sería tener a Dios como su Padre de una manera única e íntima. Este “Ungido” fue profetizado ser el salvador, el campeón, y el libertador del pueblo de Dios.

“Llenos del Espíritu Santo, Jesús volvió del Jordán y fue llevado por el Espíritu al desierto por cuarenta días…” Aquí antes del inicio del ministerio público de Jesús, en el silencio y la soledad de este retiro desierto, los pensamientos y las oraciones de Jesús fueron probablemente sobre su misión por delante. Entonces, el diablo viene a tentarle. El diablo quiere influir en el tipo de Cristo que Jesús va a ser, con la esperanza de desbaratar su misión desde el principio.

El diablo dice: “Si eres Hijo de Dios, di a esta piedra que se convierta en pan”. Y Jesús responde: “El hombre no vive solamente de pan”. ¿Cuál sería el mal en la fabricación de este alimento? Si Jesús usa su poder para satisfacer sus propias necesidades, entonces el diablo le preguntará “¿Cómo puedes negar las necesidades de otras personas?” El diablo quiere Jesús para convertirse en un salvador económico, un Mesías materialista.

Jesús tiene compasión por la condición humana y él lo sabe por su propia experiencia. Jesús nos manda a mostrar su amor a los demás por el cuidado de sus necesidades corporales. Y cuando hacemos esto, Jesús está actuando a través de nosotros. Pero si la primera misión de Jesús había sido la de satisfacer todas las necesidades materiales humanas, entonces Jesús habría sido un Cristo de pan solamente, y no podemos vivir para siempre en el pan solo. Haciendo todos nosotros ricos no sería suficiente para hacernos santos, y así Jesús rechaza la primera tentación.

Entonces el diablo muestra a Jesús todos los reinos del mundo y le dice: “Yo te daré todo el poder y la gloria …. Todo esto será tuyo, si me adoras. “Y Jesús responde:” Adorarás al Señor, tu Dios, ya él solo servirás “. El diablo ofrece a Jesús una alternativa a una vida de obediencia a su Padre y servicio de todos. Jesús puede convertirse en dictador del mundo, cuya propia voluntad se debe hacer.

Esta es la promesa del diablo, pero el diablo es un mentiroso. Haciendo un trato con él no gana nada sino pérdida, sin embargo, incluso si Jesús sabía que el diablo cumpliría su palabra de Jesús no quiso saber nada de esto. Jesús no viene a controlarnos, sino para invitarnos. Él no quiere que nos dominen, sino para persuadir al amor. Dios busca nuestra respuesta de amor y una respuesta en el amor no puede ser forzado, y así Jesús rechaza la tentación segundo.

Entonces el diablo lleva a Jesús a un lugar alto y le dice: “Si eres Hijo de Dios, arrójate desde aquí, porque Dios mandará a sus ángeles para que te guarden, y con sus manos te apoyan….” Y Jesús responde, “No tentarás al Señor, tu Dios.”

Aquí el diablo argumenta que Jesús debe esperar a ser protegido de el sufrimiento y ser preservado de la muerte. Pero Jesús fue enviado y vino a morir y resucitar por nosotros. Sin estas cosas, ¿cómo hemos sido salvados? Jesús confió la voluntad del Padre, incluso en el sufrimiento y la muerte, y así Jesús se niega la tercera tentación.

A menudo Dios obra de maneras que no nos imaginamos o elegir por nosotros mismos. Nos gustaría que todo en la vida iba a ser fácil y sin dolor. Queremos nuestras tentaciones y sufrimientos no nos afligen. Pero la curación de un médico se administra de acuerdo a la enfermedad que encuentra. Después de la caída del hombre, Dios quiere salvarnos a través de las dificultades y las luchas de esta vida.

Nuestro crecimiento en la santidad puede ser lento y nuestro sufrimiento puede ser difícil. Sin embargo, nunca debe desesperarse. Nuestra lucha tiene recompensas y nuestro sufrimiento tiene un propósito. Lo sabemos gracias a Jesús, que sufrió tentaciones como nosotros y por nosotros.

Posted in Consumerism, Homily, Humility, Jesus Christ, Love, Money, Politics, Redemptive Suffering, Satan, Spanish Homilies, Spiritual Warfare, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Mary’s Advice — 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year C

March 3, 2013

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the greatest woman who has ever lived. She is the mother of God, but also our mother, our sister, and our friend. Mary is so easy for us to love because she is so lovable and she loves us a lot. God loves Mary even more than we do and, like a man in love, he speaks about her throughout the Bible, from the beginning to the end.

In Genesis, God speaks of Mary when he says to the serpent-devil, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” And in the book of Revelation, ‘A great sign appears in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She gives birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations….’

In our first reading today, when the Lord professes his love for Mount Zion and the city of Jerusalem, he is speaking about the people symbolized by these places.  First among these is Mary, the virgin and bride, in whom God, the builder and bridegroom, rejoices.

Maybe you will be surprised to learn that, despite her great importance, Mary speaks on only four occasions in all the Scriptures. (Her husband, St. Joseph, utters no words at all, and so we imagine him as being a quiet man.) Mary speaks at the Annunciation, at the Visitation, upon the Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple, and at today’s Wedding Feast of Cana.

Mary’s words are few, but powerful. For instance, today we hear the profound last words that Mary speaks in the Bible. Mary says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” That’s good advice for Christians in every age. “Do whatever Jesus tells you.” This has essentially been Our Lady’s message to us at every Marian apparition throughout the centuries since then. Mary never tells us anything different from the Gospel’s message, but encourages, or gravely reminds us: “Do whatever he tells you.”

This is not only Mary’s message, but also the way she lived and lives her life. At the Annunciation, when Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to your word,” she was essentially saying, ‘Lord, I want to do whatever you say.’ When Mary gave the servants her instruction she did not know what Jesus was going to do, it seemed like he might do nothing, but she trusted in him. She trusted that whatever the Lord wished would truly be best.

Mary wants us to have this attitude our lives too; to trust in his care when unexpected problems arise; to trust him when we are burdened by carrying the heavy waters of our duty. Jesus’ plans may not be what we would prefer but they will always be the best. Jesus transformed Cana’s water into wine. Mary says, “Do whatever he tells you.” Listen to Mary and see what he transforms in your life.

La Santísima Virgen María es la mujer más grande que jamás haya vivido. Ella es la madre de Dios, sino también nuestra madre, nuestra hermana y nuestra amiga. María es tan fácil que nos encanta, porque es digno de ser amado y nos ama mucho. Dios ama a María incluso más que nosotros y, como un hombre enamorado, habla de ella a través de la Biblia, desde el principio hasta el final.

En el Génesis, Dios habla de María cuando le dice a la serpiente-demonio, “Y pondré enemistad entre ti y la mujer, y entre tu descendencia y la suya.” Y en el libro de Apocalipsis, ‘aparecia entonces en el cielo una figura prodigiosa: una mujer envuelta por el sol, con la luna bajo sus pies y con una corona de doce estrellas en la cabeza…. La mujer da a luz un hijo varón, destinado a gobernar todas las naciones….’

En nuestra primera lectura de hoy, cuando el Señor le declara su amor por el monte de Sión y la ciudad de Jerusalén, está hablando acerca de la gente simbolizados por estos lugares. La primera de ellas es María, la doncella y la esposa, en quien Dios se alegra.

Tal vez usted se sorprenderá al saber que, a pesar de su gran importancia, Mary habla en sólo cuatro ocasiones en todas las Escrituras. (Su esposo, San José, pronuncia ninguna palabra en absolute, y así nos imaginamos a José como un hombre tranquilo.) Ella habla en la Anunciación, en la Visitación, en el hallazgo del Niño Jesús en el Templo, y en la banquete de la boda de Caná de hoy.

Las palabras de María son pocas, pero poderosas. Por ejemplo, hoy oímos las palabras últimas María habla en la Biblia. María dice a los servían: “Hagan lo que Él les diga.” Es un buen consejo para los cristianos de todas las épocas. “Hagan lo que Jesús les diga.” Esto ha sido esencialmente el mensaje de Nuestra Señora a nosotros en cada aparición mariana a través de los siglos desde entonces. Ella nunca nos dice nada diferente que el mensaje del Evangelio, sino que alienta o gravemente nos recuerda: “Haced lo que Él os diga.”

Esto no es sólo María mensaje, sino también la forma en que vivió y vive su vida. En la Anunciación, cuando María dijo: ” Yo soy esclava del Señor, que Dios haga conmigo cono me has dicho,” fue básicamente diciendo: “Señor, quiero hacer lo que dice.” Cuando María dio a los criados su instrucción, María no sabía que Jesús iba a hacer, parecía como si fuera a hacer nada, pero ella confiaba en él. Confía en que cualquier cosa que el Señor ha querido realmente sería lo mejor.

María quiere que tengamos esta actitud en nuestra vida también, a confiar en el cuidado de Jesús cuando se producen problemas, confiar en Jesús cuando estamos agobiados por llevar las aguas pesadas de nuestros deberes. Los planes de Jesús no puede ser lo que nosotros preferiríamos, pero siempre será mejor. Jesús transformó el agua en vino de Caná. María dice, “Haced lo que Él os diga.” Escuche a María y ver lo que se transforma en su vida.

Posted in Blessed Virgin Mary, Christian Perfection, Spanish Homilies, Sunday Homilies, Trust, Wedding of Cana | Leave a Comment »

Prepare the Way — 2nd Sunday of Advent—Year C

March 3, 2013

The message of John the Baptist is “prepare the way of the Lord. Fill the valleys, lower the hills, straighten the roads, and smooth the paths.” What is he talking about? John is speaking like the heralds or messengers who, in ancient times, were sent ahead to announce to villagers how they were to prepare for the king’s arrival. They would gather everyone together and say, “Pay heed! Your king is coming to visit you soon, but this road on which he will come is full of potholes and has too many twists and turns. Smooth and straighten this road, otherwise when the king comes he will feel unwelcome.”

John the Baptist words are not only spoken to the past. He speaks to us today about the state our lives. Advent prepares not only for the coming of Christ at Christmas but for the coming of Jesus as our Lord and judge on the Last Day. There are sacred works for us to do in preparation.

Note that in the fifteenth year of Caesar Tiberius, the word of God did not come to the emperor in Rome. The word of God did not come to the governor or kings of the Holy Land. This word did not come to the chief priests in Jerusalem. This word came upon John in the wilderness, John the poor, John the stranger, John the seemingly insignificant. The word of God comes to little ones, like John and us. Popes, bishops and presidents do important things, but if we rely solely on them to prepare and advance the kingdom of God on earth we will be greatly disappointed. The Lord also will be disappointed, because he wants to do great things through us. We cooperate with the Lord in the Gospel cause.

What holy works does God want you to do? I do not know, but the Holy Spirit knows. He is always there with you; at home, at work, when you are praying. He has a word for you. The Lord wants to do great things through you. Listen, listen, and prepare their part of the way of the Lord in your life and those around you.

San Juan el Bautista dice, “Preparen el camino del Señor; rellenen los valles, rebajen las montañas, alanen los caminos!” Juan habla como antiguos heraldos y mensajeros que se enviaron por delante para anunciar a los aldeanos cómo debían prepararse para la llegada del rey. “Preparen el camino del Rey, para que cuando él venga, estará encantado con ustedes.”

Estas no son palabras dichas sólo para el pasado. Se hablan hoy a nosotros. Adviento prepara no sólo para la venida de Cristo en Navidad. Adviento prepara para la venida de Jesús como nuestro Señor y juez en el último día.  Hay obras sagradas para nosotros que hacer en preparación.

Observe que en el año décimo quinto del César Tibero, no vino la palabra de Dios al emperador en Roma. La palabra de Dios no vino al gobernador o reyes de la Tierra Santa. Esta palabra no vino a los sumos sacerdotes en Jerusalén. Esta palabra vino sobre Juan en el desierto; Juan el pobre, Juan el desconocido, Juan el aparentemente insignificante. La palabra de Dios vino a los pequeños, como Juan, y nosotros. Papas, obispos y presidentes hacen cosas importantes. Pero si dependemos exclusivamente de ellos para preparar y avanzar el reino de Dios en la tierra, vamos a estar decepcionado. El Señor también se sentirán decepcionados, porque quiere hacer grandes cosas a través de nosotros. Tenemos colaborar con el Señor en la causa del Evangelio.

¿Qué santas obras qué Dios desea que hagas? No sé, pero el Espíritu Santo sabe. Él siempre está allí con usted en su casa, en su trabajo, o cuando se está rezando. Él tiene una palabra para ti. El Señor quiere hacer grandes cosas a través de usted. Escucha, escucha, y preparar su parte del camino del Señor en la viva a su alrededor.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Holy Spirit, Homily, Spanish Homilies, St. John the Baptist, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Remain Within — 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year B

March 3, 2013

In our first reading, Joshua led the Hebrews into a new country. Joshua told the people: “Say here now whom you will serve.” (The Lord, or another god?) They had to make a choice. They had to do this many times again later, amid the temptations of their new home.

In our gospel we hear: “From that time many of his disciples withdrew and did not want to walk with him.” This is John, chapter six, verse sixty-six (interestingly: six, six, six.) Some disciples of Christ still leave him today. In the gospel, they left because of his teaching on the Eucharist. Today many leave to enjoy forbidden pleasures, leaving the God of true love. Other people become very rich and comfortable and think they do not need the creator of all these things.

We say: “Far from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for the Lord is our God.” But even if we approach the Lord every week here in the parish, we must remember that serving the Lord means more than saying the right things. Remember, Jesus said: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

What is that will? Jesus tells his bride, the Church. Christ loves the Church and gave himself for her to sanctify. In it, Jesus purifies us with the sacraments, the Scriptures and the teachings of the apostles.
Stay in it, and you will be one with him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: ‘A word of St. Joan of Arc to her judges sums up the faith of the holy doctors and the good sense of the believer: “About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know that they’re just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate the matter.”‘ Remain in her in this new country and you will be one with him. Say: “As for me, my family and I will serve the Lord.”

En nuestro primera lectura, Josué ha conducido a los hebreos en un nuevo país. Josué le dijo al pueblo: “Digan aquí y ahora a quién quieren servir. (El Señor, o un otro dios.) Tuvieron que hacer una elección. Que tenían que hacer esto muchas veces de nuevo más tarde, en medio de las tentaciones de sus nuevo hogar.

En nuestro evangelio escuchamos: “Desde entonces, muchos de sus discípulos se echaron para atrás y ya no querían andar con él.” Esto es Juan, capítulo seis, versículo sesenta y seis (interesante: seis, seis, seis.) Algunos discípulos de Cristo todavía le abandonan hoy. En el evangelio, se fueron porque de su enseñanza sobre la Eucaristía. Hoy en día muchos lo dejan para disfrutar pleasures prohibidos, abandonando al Dios del amor verdadero. Otras personas llegar a ser muy rico y cómodo, y no piensan que necesitan el creador de todas estas cosas.

Nosotros decimos: “Lejos de nosotros abandonar al Señor para servir a otros dioses, porque el Senor es nuestro Dios.” Pero, incluso si nos acercamos al Señor cada semana aquí en la parroquia, hay que recordar que servir al Señor significa mucho más que decir las cosas correctas. Recuerde, Jesús dijo: “No todo el que me dice: Señor, Señor, entrará en el reino de los cielos, sino el que hace la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos.”

¿Cuál es esa voluntad? Jesús le dice a su esposa, la Iglesia. Cristo ama a su Iglesia y se entregó por ella para santificarla. En ella, Jesús nos purifica con los sacramentos, las Escrituras, y las enseñanzas de los apóstoles. Permanece en ella, y tú serás uno con él. El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica dice: ‘Una palabra de Santa Juana de Arco a sus jueces resume la fe de los santos doctores y expresa el buen sentido del creyente: “De Jesucristo y de la Iglesia, me parece que es todo uno, y que no es necesario hacer una dificultad de ello.”’ Permanece en ella, en esto nuevo país, y tú serás uno con él. Digamos: “En cuanto a mí toca, mi familia y yo serviremos al Señor.”

Posted in Catholic Church, Christian Perfection, Homily, Joshua, Spanish Homilies, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

What Jesus is Like — 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year C

March 3, 2013

You may recognize today’s second reading from many weddings. This beautiful discourse on love from Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is often chosen by couples to be read at their ceremony. Ironically, Saint Paul wrote these words to the Christians at Corinth because they were not living together in love. However, these words gave to them, and give to us, a pattern to follow. This pattern for love is Jesus.

As Saint John has told us, “God is love.” Also, Jesus Christ is truly God. Therefore, whatever is true for love, is true about Jesus Christ. And likewise, knowing Christ gives us understanding into love.

Jesus is patient, Jesus is helpful and does not envy; Jesus is not boastful nor conceited, not rude nor selfish, not irritable nor resentful; he does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. Jesus bears all things, hopes all things, preserves all things. Jesus endures forever.

Meditating on these words help us to know Jesus better. They can also serve as a list for ourselves. In which area do you need and want to improve the most? Choose one virtue and pray at this Mass for the help of God.

Never be afraid because your growth in holiness is slow. In today’s Gospel, the people of Nazareth, neighbors and acquaintances of Jesus, “were filled with wrath, and rose up, drove him out of the city and took him to a ledge of the mountain … to thrust him down. But passing through the midst of them, went away from there. You or I, in the situation of Jesus, could begin to hate these people. But Jesus’ love lasts forever.

Jesus can be patient and merciful towards people who hate him. Imagine the intense joy he has for people who want to serve and please him.

Usted podría reconocer la segunda lectura de hoy de muchas bodas.  Este discurso hermoso en el amor, de la primera carta de San Pablo a los Corintios, se elige a menudo por las parejas para ser leído en su ceremonia. Irónicamente, San Pablo escribió estas palabras a los cristianos de Corinto porque no estaban viviendo juntos en el amor. Sin embargo, estas palabras dio a ellos, y daran a nosotros, un modelo a seguir. Esto modelo del amor es Jesús.

Comosan Juan nos ha dicho: “Dios es amor”. Además, Jesucristo es verdaderamente Dios. Por lo tanto, todo lo que es verdadero para el amor, es verdad acerca de Jesucristo. Y de igual manera, sabiendo que Cristo nos da la comprensión en el amor.

Jesús es comprensivo, Jesús es servicial y no tiene envidia; Jesús no es presumido ni se envanece; no es grosero ni egoísta; no se irrita ni guarda rencor; no se alegra con la injusticia, sino que se goza con la verdad. Jesús disculpa sin límites, confía sin límites, espera sin límites, soporta sin límites. Jesús durara por siempre.

Meditando sobre estas palabras nos ayudan a conocer mejor a Jesús. También pueden servir como una lista para nosotros. ¿En qué área te necesito y quiero mejorar más? Elija una virtud y rezar en esta Misa por la ayuda de Dios.

Nunca tengas miedo porque su crecimiento en la santidad es lento. En el evangelio de hoy, la gente de Nazaret, los vecinos y los conocidos de Jesús, “se llenaron de ira, y levantándose, lo sacaron de la ciudad y lo llevaron hasta una saliente del monte…  para despeñarlo. Pero Él, pasando por en medio de ellos, se alejó de ahí”.  Usted o yo, en la situación de Jesús, podría comenzar a odiar a esta gente. Pero el amor de Jesús durara por siempre.

Jesús puede ser paciente y misericordioso hacia las personas que lo odian. Imaginen se la legría intensa que él tiene para las personas que quieren servirte y agradarte él.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Love, Spanish Homilies, St. Paul, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Lingering Before The Lord — Tuesday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time—Year I

July 26, 2011


During the Exodus, the Lord’s presence would descend in a cloud upon the desert tabernacle called the tent of meeting. All the children of Israel would worship at the mouth of their own tents while Moses and his young assistant Joshua went in before the Lord. After speaking with the Lord, Moses had to leave to tend to the responsibilities involved in leading God’s people. Joshua, however, remained behind to pray, give thanks, and intercede for others.

God was pleased with Moses for the time he could spend with Him, blessing Him with a radiant light. He was also pleased with Joshua for lingering after. He would later select Joshua to lead the people after Moses’ passing because he was a man like David, “a man after God’s own heart.” Sometimes we can’t come to Mass early or linger after because of the demands of home and work and that’s ok. But if you can and do spend extra time with the Lord, know that this pleases Him greatly and helps you yield a greater harvest for Him.

Posted in Christ the King Parish, Exodus, Homily, Joshua, Mass, Moses, Prayer, St. John the Baptist Parish, Weekday Homilies | 2 Comments »

Whom Her Heart Loves — July 22 – St. Mary Magdalene

July 23, 2011


Mary Magdalene in today’s gospel shares obvious parallels with the woman in the first reading from the Song of Songs. The woman in the Song of Songs rose to find him whom her heart loves. Mary Magdalene rose early in the morning and came to the tomb. The woman in the Song of Songs sought her beloved but did not find him. Mary Magdalene reported to the apostles, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” The watchmen came upon the woman in the Song of Songs. As Mary wept, she saw two angels in white. The woman in the Song of Songs asked, “Have you seen him whom my heart loves?” Mary said (unknowingly to Jesus), “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” The woman in the Song of Songs had hardly left the watchmen when she found him whom her heart loved. Jesus said Mary’s name; she turned and said to him, “My rabbi!” The woman in the Song of Songs goes on to say, “I took hold of him and would not let him go.” Jesus had to say to Mary Magdalene, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.”

So what is the reason behind this providential parallel between Mary Magdalene and the woman in the Song of Songs? I have heard it said that the Song of Songs is the book of the Bible on which the saints have written about most. Perhaps God gave us Mary’s example so that we would not interpret the Song of Songs merely as a description of the corporate love between Yahweh and the people of God, or between Jesus and His bride the Church, but so that we would also see in it the love affair between Him and every person individually.

Our faith is not based upon feelings alone. (Feelings are too fickle to be our foundation.) Yet, feelings of the heart are an important part of our relationship with God. As Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all you mind, with all your strength, and with all your soul.” We must love Him with the intellect of our minds, with the strength of our bodies, and with the will of our souls, but we must also love Him with the emotions of our hearts. Stir up your affections for Christ, pattern the emotions of Mary Magdalene, who showed true devotion to Him whom her heart loved.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Love, St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Mary Magdalene, Weekday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

The Desert Problem—Thursday, 16th Week in Ordinary Time—Year I

July 21, 2011

This morning I would like to talk with you about something I call “the Desert Problem.” We see it with the children of Israel during the Exodus. They had seen the ten plagues that were afflicted on their Egyptian oppressors. They had seen the Red Sea split before them. They heard God speak so powerfully and intensely with Moses at the mountain that they trembled. They accepted God’s covenant. They saw, they heard, but then they forgot. The Israelites seem to always be sinning in the desert and we can feel annoyance at them. However, we should not judge them harshly, for their story is our own. We also struggle with the desert problem.

We come to dry and difficult places in our own lives, too. When we face difficulties we too often forget what we have seen and heard and give in to depression, despair, and sin. The solution to the desert problem is the refreshing water of memory. When you are in a desert you need water, but you don’t need to dig a new well every time you need refreshment; you can go back to an old and reliable well. Before you come to your next desert, think of times in the past when you knew God was close, perhaps an intense consolation experienced in prayer, or a providential miracle you’ve witnessed in life. And when you enter your next desert (or if you find yourself in one now) recall these memories to mind and be refreshed in faith. ‘Blessed are your eyes, because they have seen, and your ears, because they have heard,’ but to remain faithful to God in the desert you must remember the great things of God you have seen and heard.

Posted in Christ the King Parish, Christian Perfection, Exodus, Faith, Homily, Human Nature, Supernatural Phenomena, Weekday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

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