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Every Human Person is Special — Funeral Homily for Lynda Sykora, 58

March 6, 2023

By Chinnappan Pelavendran

On behalf of St. John the Baptist parish and I, I want to extend our sympathy to the family, her husband Roger, and children Rachel, Alex, and Hannah. Also, I extend our sympathy to the friends of Lynda. She will be missed by many for a very long time. We are pleased that she no longer has to suffer. I had the privilege of Anointing Lynda before she died. When I asked how she was, she said she was well. She was very calm and eager to receive Jesus. She was at peace.

Lynda grew up in Alabama and moved to Cooks Valley in 1994. She and Roger have been members of St. John the Baptist Catholic church since they were married in 1995. Lynda worked on the farm, was a great cook, and enjoyed gardening, flowers, and canning. She was also a 9-1-1 dispatcher for a while. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Attending her kids’ sporting events was a happy time for her.

Our readings this morning give us great consolation. In our first reading, we were told the Lord will wipe away tears from every cheek. We know that everything we do makes sense only if it is leading us to peace in God. We know there are many distractions and temptations in life, all pretending to offer us peace and happiness, but none of them do because we know that we will find this peace and happiness only in God. When we find our peace in God, we become friends of God, when we live with God’s love in our hearts, then we have peace. That is why our first reading said the Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek. When we hope in the Lord for salvation, how blessed we are.

There is a truth that is good for us to reflect on at the time of death. The truth is that:

Every human person is special.
Everyone is unique.
Nobody ever takes anybody else’s place.

It is very clear in the gospel reading that being blessed does not always mean being materially blessed. The beatitudes which Jesus offers us are a sign of contradiction to the world’s understanding of happiness and joy. How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution?

Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God’s word and Spirit. Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and spiritual oppression. God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world.

We are gathered here today to remember Lynda and pray for her. Let us also pray for Roger and their children during this difficult time. Let us also pray that we also will find peace in God.

May her Soul Rest in Peace.

Posted in Funeral Homilies, Homily, Human Dignity | Leave a Comment »

Encounter Him & Return

March 4, 2023

2nd Sunday of Lent
Fr. Victor Feltes

What a grace for Peter, James, and John to see the Transfiguration of Jesus. Can you imagine? It was like a preview of the glory we all hope to share in heaven. Jesus shared other special times with Peter, James, and John. Earlier in the gospel, we read that Jesus only allowed Peter, James, and John to be with Him in the house of a synagogue official whose daughter he raised from the dead. These three apostles were also with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Before the Transfiguration, Jesus told His disciples that He must suffer greatly, be rejected by the elders, the chief priest, and the scribes, be killed, and be raised from the dead in three days. They did not want to believe Him because they thought they could protect Him. Jesus responded, “Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God does but as human beings.” The disciples had to learn that Jesus was not an earthly king, as they were expecting. They needed the special graces from Jesus so they could continue to follow Him and believe in Him. During the Transfiguration, God the Father said, “Listen to Him.” He revealed His glory to the disciples in order to strengthen them for the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Let us review the events of Jesus’ Passion and Death, Peter denied Jesus three times. James, like the rest of the disciples, ran away. John was the only one who continued to follow Jesus during His Passion and Death on the Cross. He stayed with the women who followed Jesus. After the Resurrection and Pentecost, Peter, James, and John became great witnesses to Jesus. Peter became the first pope and was later martyred. James was killed by King Herod for witnessing Jesus. John wrote the fourth gospel in the bible, the Gospel of St. John.

How many times in your life have you let Jesus down or disappointed Him? We do this many times because we meet Jesus every day in our lives. The most intimate way we meet Jesus is when we receive Him in the Eucharist. It is the time when we are the closest to Jesus. We meet Jesus in the readings from the Bible as they touch our hearts. The Bible is not just about reading the life of Jesus, it is also about listening to His words. He is speaking to us about our lives. We meet Jesus in a very special way in all the sacraments.

Baptism makes us sons and daughters of God and heirs of heaven. Confirmation makes us the temples of the Holy Spirit. By the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God brings us, sinners, back to the path of holiness. By receiving the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick in Faith, we are spiritually, and, if God wills it, physically, healed but most importantly our sins are forgiven. The Sacrament of Marriage unites a man and a woman together for life according to His laws. In the Eucharist, we receive Christ’s Soul and Divinity into our body. With Holy Orders, a man becomes a Priest, an altar of Christ, and by the Power of the Holy Spirit, offers the Sacrifice of the Mass and serves as a shepherd of Jesus’ sheep.

We can share experiences like those of Peter, James, and John when we spend some extra time with Jesus in prayer during Lent. Maybe, we may want to fast for one day, taking only water, thus releasing spiritual energy, which in turn, can lift our thoughts to a higher level.

Posted in Homily, Repentance, Sunday Homilies, The Apostles, Transfiguration | Leave a Comment »

Our Mountaintops & Valleys

March 4, 2023

2nd Sunday of Lent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Jesus went up a mountain to preach his Sermon on the Mount. Later, after feeding more than five thousand people using five loaves and two fish, he withdrew up a mountain alone for prayerful solitude. Today, Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up a high mountain by themselves to witness his Transfiguration. So why mountains? What is it about mountain heights which make them the preferred setting for so many biblical events?

Three themes occur to me: First, mountains remove people from the ordinary. They are remote places removed from everyday life. Second, mountains offer a greater perspective. A mountaintop can allow someone to see for many miles. And third, mountains elevate us. Mountaintops are not only literally higher but symbolically closer to heaven as well. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to the top of Mount Tabor to give them an extraordinary experience, to give them a deeper vision into himself, and to give them strength for their trials ahead.

The Mass prefaces celebrating Jesus’ Transfiguration say:

“After he had told the disciples of his coming Death, on the holy mountain he manifested to them his glory, to show, even by the testimony of the law and the prophets, that the Passion leads to the glory of the Resurrection.”

“He revealed his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses… that the scandal of the Cross might be removed from the hearts of his disciples.”

The disciples had not imagined that the Jewish Messiah, God’s Holy Anointed One, would be gruesomely murdered. The Transfiguration helped prepare them to understand that Christ’s suffering was a part of God’s salvific plan. They also came to realize that Jesus’ teaching, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” would involve sufferings of their own. The apostles’ memories of beholding Christ’s miracles and glory and their ongoing relationship with their Risen and Ascended Lord strengthened them through their trials.

You and I will face trials as well. As St. Paul tells Timothy in today’s second reading: “Beloved: Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.” What have been the spiritual mountaintop experiences of consolation in your life? Remembering these moments gives us spiritual strength in hard times, and Jesus Christ walks alongside us through all our dark valleys.

Yesterday, I encountered the story of a man about my age named Mike. Not long ago, Mike was diagnosed with a cancer so advanced that he had back operation which removed one of his vertebrae. Mike is married and has two sons around middle school age. Though previously a somewhat lukewarm Christian, he began “searching for the understanding of the LOVE of Jesus.” Here is the amazing thing: Mike writes, “This last several months, with a few nudges from God, I have been overwhelmed with Jesus’ love. It’s been so powerful that the pain and uncertainty of the cancer have taken a back seat to it.” If he continues to carry this cross with Christ, no matter what happens, Mike is going to be OK.

Our spiritual mountaintop moments are extraordinary experiences that give us a greater perspective and draw us closer to God. But also remember the great consolation that Jesus Christ, our good and loving Lord, remains with us in our dark valleys as well.

Posted in Homily, Hope, Jesus Christ, Redemptive Suffering, Salvation History, Sunday Homilies, Transfiguration | Leave a Comment »

Lent with Jesus in the Desert

February 26, 2023

1st Sunday in Lent
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

Welcome to the season of Lent. Lent is a time to repent, a time to be reconciled, a time to say I am sorry, and a time to make our lives right with God. This is a time for us to remember what Christ went through for us. Christ came to live with us, to love us, and to serve us. Christ came to die for us because of everything we do wrong. Our forty days of Lent are a reminder of Jesus’ forty days spent in the desert before His public ministry. It is also a reminder of the life, passion, and death of Jesus Christ.

The first reading today describes the original temptation by the devil. Satan told them they would be like gods. He made them believe that they did not have to depend on God. We don’t like it when our freedom is limited and to be dependent on anyone. We don’t want to be responsible for the consequences of our choices.

In the second reading, St. Paul compares the old Adam with the new Adam, who is Jesus Christ. Adam did not resist temptation. He believed in the lie that the devil said that he could be like God. Jesus Christ came to save us from ourselves. Jesus did not give in to the temptations of the devil. The first Adam brought disobedience, sin, and death. The new Adam brought obedience, righteousness, and eternal life.

The temptations that Jesus faced in the desert are temptations found in our everyday lives. God has blessed some people with material resources, some with spiritual powers, some with political, and others with social powers. Use the powers and resources that God has given you for the greater honor and glory of God. Use this Lent to overcome the temptations that could harm you or others. Jesus performed miracles of healing and cast out devils to help people. Christ never used His gifts for Himself, only for others.

Jesus serves as a model for us in overcoming temptations by strengthening himself through prayer, fasting, penance, almsgiving, and speaking the word of God. By resisting temptations, we become more powerful soldiers for Christ. God does not allow us to be tempted beyond our power! During this Lent, let us try to be more prayerful, come to daily mass, receive the Sacrament of Penance, try reading some of the Bible, Pray the Rosary, and maybe bring a friend to church. By doing this, we will be able to overcome some of our sins.

Little changes in our lives can help us grow in holiness. The more time we spend with God, the closer we will be to God. Living the gospel of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness will make us better Christians. Lent is the time for the desert experience. We can set aside a place and time to be alone each day with God. We need time to distance ourselves from the many daily noises in our lives. We need time to hear God’s word and rediscover who we are before God. We need time, to say yes to God and no to Satan.

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Behold the Tree of Life

February 26, 2023

1st Sunday of Lent
By Fr. Victor Feltes

God grew many lovely, fruit-bearing trees in the Garden of Eden, but only two trees are mentioned by name. In the middle of the Garden the Lord God placed the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Tempted by the Devil, Eve ate from the forbidden tree and “gave some to her husband—who was with her—and he ate it.” If only Adam had been willing to confront the dragon-serpent and protect his bride, perhaps even to lay down his life for her! But the first man did not do this and the whole human family fell. (Let men called to lead and protect their families take note.)

Then our Triune God said: “Behold! The man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil! What if he now also reaches out his hand to take fruit from the Tree of Life, and eats of it and lives forever?” For this reason, God banished our first parents from the Garden. This was not from divine jealousy, but from divine concern for us. Imagine everlasting human lives lived in unending sinfulness; that would be a hell on earth. “Through one man, sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men…” But God promised Adam and Eve a redeemer who would crush the serpent’s head and save us from sin and death.

In today’s Gospel, that Savior undergoes the Devil’s temptations not in a paradise but in a desert. The ancient tempter approaches Jesus and says, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread… If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down (from this temple rooftop)… All (the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence) I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” Jesus refuses each of these diabolical suggestions.

If the Christ conjures bread for himself when hungry, then how can he refuse to fill every hungry mouth? But what good would our filled stomachs be if we are never delivered from sin and death? And if the Christ demands that God his Father protect him from every harm, then how could he ever offer his life’s blood as our saving sacrifice? And if the Christ submits to our enemy’s rule over this world, then how could we ever be free? Jesus Christ understands his messianic mission and where it will lead him. It will lead him to the Cross.

Jesus calls himself the Bridegroom, and St. Paul calls him the second and final Adam. Unlike the first Adam, Jesus Christ the New Adam willingly and courageously lays down his life in battle with the Devil to save us, the Church, his Bride.

“[T]hrough one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.

[T]hrough the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.”

One beautiful Mass preface for Sundays in Ordinary Time praises God with these words: “[W]e know it belongs to your boundless glory, that you came to the aid of mortal beings with your divinity and even fashioned for us a remedy out of mortality itself, that the cause of our downfall might become the means of our salvation…”

St. Paul’s tells the Galatians, “Christ ransomed us from the curse… by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree…’” In the tree that is his Holy Cross, we now see the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life combined.

During this Lent, contemplate the crucifix. Meditate upon the crucifix to know goodness, to behold God’s love for us. And gaze upon the crucifix to know evil, to see our sins at work. And ever-faithfully eat the fruit from this Tree of Life, which is Jesus Christ himself given us at Holy Mass. As Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life… For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. …Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” God once said in the Garden: ‘You shall not eat of the Tree or even touch it, lest you die.’ But now Jesus invites us, provided we are well-prepared: “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body… given up for you.”

Posted in Adam and Eve, Homily, Jesus Christ, Marriage and Family, Passion, Salvation History, Satan, Sunday Homilies, Typology | 1 Comment »

The Loving Communion of Persons — The Larry Feltes & Shirley Conibear Wedding

February 19, 2023

By Fr. Victor Feltes

For the story of humanity, God began with a single couple, Adam and Eve; a single family, the family of Abraham; a single people, the twelve tribes of Jacob; a single nation, the nation of Israel; and ultimately a single Church, a Church for all peoples and lands, the Church of Jesus Christ. Notice the trend of God creating a wider and wider circle of relationship.

This growth is all detailed in the Bible. God began with two in the Garden of Eden, later a family of seventy journeyed into Egypt, generations later hundreds of thousands came out of Egypt in the Exodus, until there was up to millions at the birth of the Church. These events are all recounted through personal stories, about people such as Joseph, Moses, Jesus and Mary and his friends, the Apostles. This was necessary for God’s purpose. Perhaps an angel could be engaged by a long list of statistics and historical dates, But human persons require personal stories of personal experience to come to know God.

God desires us to know him better. In the time of Moses, God commanded his people to worship no other gods. In the time of the prophets, God clarified for his people that there are no other gods. But in the coming of Jesus, God revealed for all people that God is a communion of Persons. Our God is not a solitary oneness but a unity of three, an eternally loving and blessed Trinity.

So why did God create us? Did he need us to do something for him? Was he incomplete without us? No, we are not the result of necessity. God is complete in himself, but his fullness overflows. Love likes to share. Our creation, our existence, is a gratuitous gift. And God desires and delights that we would be in personal relationship with him and in close personal relationship with one another through him.

Larry and Shirley, you are about to enter a holy covenant together. In a moment, you will exchange vows to be married, and we are all here to support you. But hypothetically, could you both survive without marrying each other? Sure. Could you survive without music, or sweet foods, or sunsets? Of course! You marry today not by compulsion, nor from necessity, but freely and overflowing delight. You both desire to be a blessing to each other; to be the blessing that a wife can be to her husband and the blessing that a husband can be to his wife in this holy communion of persons. He desires for you to have holy joys in life, to support each other through the inevitable trials ahead, and to sanctify each other, to grow each other as saints for Heaven with God.

Larry and Shirley, you both know that wedding days are full of many memories, but from this homily I hope you will remember this: at quiet times in days ahead reflect and see how Jesus has walked with you, leading you to this moment. And as you go forward together in marriage, grow in love with him. You, like all of us here, are created in love, made for love, and called to more perfect love, together with our Lord.

Posted in Holy Trinity, Homily, Marriage and Family, Salvation History, Wedding Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Forgiving Like The Lord

February 19, 2023

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

The call to holiness began in the Old Testament. God invites us to be holy as Jesus was holy. Holiness can be identified with the closeness of God. He wants us to be merciful, kind, and loving. He tells us that His law must lead us to a life where we discover God in all people, not just our friends. It is easy to love those who love us but Jesus asks us to do much more. As we are about to begin Lent, we are invited to forgive our enemies. Jesus is a shining example of love and forgiveness.

Jesus himself is a model in forgiving those who have hurt us. We see this in Jesus’ life. When Jesus and the apostles were in Gethsemane, soldiers came to arrest Him. Peter cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away, and He touched the ear and healed it. Jesus forgave and physically healed the one who came to arrest Him. This is not the only healing incident that takes place during Jesus’ Passion; Pilate and Herod had been enemies but become friends on the day of Jesus’ trial.

During His trial before the high priest, one of the officers slapped Jesus. Jesus calmly asked what he had said wrong. When Jesus was being crucified, he prayed for those who were nailing Him to the cross. Even then, Jesus was able to forgive them.

After Jesus’ resurrection, when Peter and the others were fishing, Jesus appeared on the shore of the sea of Galilee cooking fish. After they ate, three times Jesus asked Peter if He loved Him. Each time Peter said yes and each time Jesus asked him to look after His flock. Peter had denied Jesus three times at the high priest’s house, but Jesus forgave him. But Jesus loved Peter and later made him the head of the church. This was the beginning of the Catholic Church, as we know it today. Peter was the first Pope of the Catholic Church. The foundation of Catholic Church was established through the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

Everyone knows that forgiving is not easy. Forgiveness is freedom. Jesus gives his new law of love, grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and no retaliation. Jesus never took revenge, even when it cost him His life.

To be Holy as God is Holy is to love the offender. We must turn the other cheek, freely giving, and walking the extra mile. Jesus tells us that what makes Christians different is the grace with which they treat others, offering them loving kindness and mercy as god does for us. We are commanded to love our enemies as Jesus Loves us, with agape’ love, not because our enemies deserve our love, but because Jesus loves them so much. He died for them as He did for us.

We not only need to love our neighbors but also forgive whole-heartedly those who have hurt us. We need to pray for the spiritual and physical welfare of all people, not just our neighbors. Today’s readings challenge us to become holy as our God is holy by loving forgiving and blessing all others. As we are about to start our Lenten journey, let us remember the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

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Loving & Devout, Inside & Out

February 11, 2023

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Something Christians may not realize is that the Pharisees and scribes were admired in Israel. Many Jews looked up to them for their religiosity and learning in a culture which celebrated their shared religion. But Jesus criticized the scribes and Pharisees for caring more about outward appearances than the heart of true devotion. “All their works are performed to be seen,” Jesus said, “They preach but they do not practice. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” That is why Jesus told his own disciples: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Jesus wills us to be holy both outside and in.

He cites the ancient commandments: “You have heard that it was said… ‘Thou shall not kill,’ ‘Thou shall not commit adultery,’ ‘Thou shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.’’ But then, Jesus commands more. We may never have sworn a false oath, but do we secretly conceive lies? Jesus declares, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.” We may never have had an affair, but do we entertain lust after others in our minds? Jesus declares, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” And we may never have murdered anyone, but do we hold contempt for others in our hearts? Jesus declares, “Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Even the Ten Commandments themselves called for interior holiness. Acts of adultery or theft (forbidden by the 6th and 7th commandments) are usually preceded by coveting, by desiring what is not ours (which is against the 9th and 10th commandments).

Consider this: in Heaven, no one will be allowed to hate anyone, or to exploit anyone, or to lie to anyone. That is something beautiful for us to look forward to, but it is also a call to thorough conversion. Our secret sins matter and our hearts must be made pure. Jesus says that from within, from our “hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, [and] folly.” He teaches that “a good person produces good from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil from the treasury of an evil heart.” What is going on in our hearts is very important. So when temptation comes, let us as St. Paul said, “take every thought captive in obedience to Christ.”

The season of Lent is near. It begins on Ash Wednesday, the week after next. Catholics often take on external sacrifices and penances during Lent, and that is a good thing. But I suggest that for this Lent you would aim to conquer a habitual sin or secret vice with Christ. Which fault should be your focus? If you do not know that already, the Seven Deadly Sins may suggest it to you; they are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, are sloth. You may respond to each of these Deadly Sins by embracing the corresponding Lively Virtue.

For pride, there is humility.
For greed, generosity.
For lust, chastity.
For envy, gratitude.
For gluttony, temperance.
For anger, patience.
And for sloth, diligence.

Forming a personal resolution is key. Rather than just passively hoping things change, actively renounce what is evil in your life. Your will must be engaged. However, your weak human nature needs God’s strengthening grace. And God, respecting your freedom, waits for your consenting “Yes.”

Connect more to Jesus Christ this year. Encounter him in his sacraments. Beyond Sunday Mass, there is thirty-minute weekday Mass. When I began attending weekday Mass in college it drew me closer to Jesus and improved my life. Beyond celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation only once or twice a year, gain new graces with forgiveness through more frequent Confession. This gives us accountability and a truer perspective on ourselves. I do not believe that even monthly confession is too frequent for someone serious about growing in holiness. And beyond praying at church on Sundays, or before meals, or during times of urgent need, commit to times of daily personal prayer. For instance, gift or consecrate your day to Jesus in the morning. Ask him, your angel, and your favorite saints to aid you throughout the day. And do an Examination of Conscience in the evening asking the Holy Spirit to show you both your victories and defeats.

In conclusion, do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Do not read all these ideas and think, “I can’t do all of that,” and wind up doing nothing. Between now and Easter, commit to good steps to conquer a habitual sin or a secret vice with Christ. Jesus wills to help you be more loving and devout, inside and out.

Posted in Chrisitian Virtues, Christian Perfection, Homily, Sunday Homilies | 1 Comment »

Death & Resurrection — Funeral Homily for Judith “Judi” Schindler, 71

February 5, 2023

By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

The parish of St. Paul’s and I wish to extend our sincere sympathy to the family of Judith. It is always difficult to lose someone that we dearly love.

Believing in Jesus’ resurrection is the core of Christian belief. It is the basis of our Christian faith. There would not be Gospels without the resurrection. There would be no Christianity, Church, the Priesthood, or sacraments without the resurrection. There would be no hope without the resurrection.

We would not have the resurrection without the death of Jesus Christ. We don’t have flowers, fruits, or trees unless the seed is sown. The seed has to die in order to start a new plant. Therefore, St. Paul preached not only the resurrection but also the crucifixion of Christ.

St. Paul reminds us that death is not the end, it is only the beginning. Life is not over, it is only changed. In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus told us that He is preparing a place for us in heaven. Death is a doorway to a new life with God. Jesus accepted death and has given us the rewards of eternal life.

Our first reading today talks about the souls of the virtuous. That reading calms any fears about death for those who trust in God. What better place could we go after death than into the hands of God? What a beautiful way to describe God’s care for us. Do you remember when you were little and your parents held you in their arms? When we die, God will take us in His arms. We believe that God has taken Judith into His arms.

In today’s Gospel, we talked about the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Jesus came to earth to free us from our sins and grant us everlasting life with him in paradise. It is difficult to know how Jesus must have suffered during his passion and crucifixion. Even today, God brings good from the sufferings that people endure.

Judith and her husband, Norman were married on June 27th, 1970 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in New Auburn. They were inseparable. she was an independent woman. She was a Eucharistic minister and a CCD teacher and a lot of other things. She worked as the food director for the Chetek schools for 34 years. She and Norman raised two sons, Cory and Jeff. They enjoyed spending time with their family. She was close to her sister Suzanne. She will be missed by many.

We thank God for Judith. We are grateful that she was catholic. Let us place her in the hands of our Blessed Mother. She understands our pain and suffering. May our God grant Judith eternal rest in His heavenly kingdom. May Her Soul Rest in Peace, Amen.

Posted in Funeral Homilies, Homily, Last Things, Resurrection | Leave a Comment »

Be Holy Salt, Holy Light

February 5, 2023

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

St. Mother Teresa was born in Yugoslavia to Albanian parents. When she was young, she felt a calling to become a nun. One day, as a religious sister, she passed through India on a train and saw many poor people in the streets and gutters. She realized a call within a call. She later returned to India because she wanted to help the people.

She started a new order, the Missionaries of Charity. They worked with the sick and the poorest of the poor on the streets of India. She prayed, “Oh God, if I cannot help these people in their poverty and their suffering, let me at least die with them, close to them so that I can show them your love.” The Missionaries of Charity are now worldwide with many brothers and sisters, homes for children, the sick, destitute, and dying. She was the salt of the earth and the light of the world to many of the poor people in India and around the whole world.

In our first reading, the Lord God through His prophet Isaiah gives us examples of how we are to allow the light of God to shine through us. “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless: clothing the naked when you see them, not turning your back on your own. Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” (Isaiah 58:7,10) In the Old Testament, God had been telling His chosen people that he would send a light into the world to save His people and the gentiles.

St. Paul, in the second reading, tells us that our proclamation of faith will carry the Spirit and His power when we rely on the power and wisdom of God. God made St. Paul a light in this world for the gentiles. When St. Paul was teaching the Corinthians about the self–sacrifice of the crucified Jesus, and the suffering our savior endured, his message transformed the lives of the pagans. St. Paul’s experience teaches us that when we start doing good to others, even if it causes us suffering and death, we will become the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus outlines the role of Christians in this world–to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. As a symbol of purity, salt was a common ingredient in sacrifices offered to God by Jews and pagans. In the ancient world, salt was a preservative, used to prevent the spoilage of foods. Salt also flavors food when used as a seasoning and preservative. Light is something that is meant to be seen. A light or a lamp is a guide to clear the way. A traffic light also serves as a warning. Light from the sun gives us warmth and heat.

We need to be the salt of the earth. What does this mean? Salt is the symbol of purity, Christians must be an example of purity in speech, conduct, and in thought. Salt is a cleansing and healing agent, the Christian must have a cleansing influence on life and society, defeating corruption, fighting against injustice, and making it easier for others to avoid sin. We need to preserve the religious faith, Christian values, and world principles that Jesus has given us.

We need to be the light of the world. What does this mean? Christians are to receive the light of Christ and radiate it to everyone as love, Mercy, forgiveness, and respect for all. Our duty is to show and illuminate the love of Christ.

Posted in Homily, Salt and Light, St. Mother Teresa, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Three Imperfections in the Life of Saint Paul

February 4, 2023

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

The oldest known depiction of St. Paul the Apostle, a fresco from the Catacomb of Saint Thekla in Rome dated to the 300’s A.D.

St. Paul is one of history’s greatest saints. Today I would like to talk about his vision, his preaching, and his early church communities. But what I would like show you (for your benefit) is that his vision, his preaching, and his early Church communities were not as perfect as you probably imagine.

First of all, St. Paul had vision problems. I do not mean anything was wrong with his inspired Christian insights, but that his physical ability to see was limited. When he beheld the glorified and risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, an intense light shone from the sky around him. Paul got up from the ground and opened his eyes but he could not see anything. After three days, our Lord sent a Christian named Ananias to prayerfully lay his hands upon him. “Immediately, things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight.” Yet issues with Paul’s vision seem to have lingered or later reemerged. While writing to the Christians of Galatia more than a decade after his conversion, St. Paul recalls, “You know that it was because of a physical illness that I originally preached the gospel to you.” He does not directly identify his malady, but he observes, “Indeed, I can testify to you that, if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.” And in closing this letter to the Galatians, Paul writes, “See with what large letters I am writing to you in my own hand!” These clues suggest that swapping-out his eyes for another pair would have improved Paul’s poor and ailing eyesight.

Another historical detail few notice about St. Paul is that his letters were apparently more impressive than his public speaking abilities. In his second letter to Corinth, St. Paul addresses criticisms about himself, noting “someone will say, ‘his letters are severe and forceful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is contemptible.’” Paul acknowledges in today’s second reading that he met the Corinthians and proclaimed the Gospel to them without “sublimity of words or of wisdom.” “I came to you,” he writes, “in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom…” By God’s grace, his preaching did bear fruit, but Paul’s writings came across as being more eloquent and powerful.

A third overlooked aspect of St. Paul’s life is that the Christian communities he led were far from perfect. People often think of the early Church as a golden age. We lament the Catholic Church’s present problems and idealize her past. Yet throughout his New Testament letters, St. Paul is constantly correcting the early Christians’ beliefs and behaviors. Consider the Church at Corinth. Paul admonishes those Corinthians for their pride, for their internal divisions, for their liturgical abuses, and for their toleration of “immorality of a kind not found even among pagans.” Early Christian communities had real issues, and St. Paul did not find it easy to pastor them.

So to recap, St. Paul’s health was not perfect, his human talents were not perfect, and his parishes were not perfect. And yet, neither his poor health, nor his uneven talents, nor the problems within the Church prevented St. Paul from faithfully bearing everlasting fruits. I wanted to highlight the weaknesses and imperfections of St. Paul and the early Christians to help us appreciate that our circumstances are not so different today. When Jesus Christ declares, “You are the salt of the earth,” and “You are the light of the world,” he really is talking about us too. Our Lord would do great and important things through you, and the good you are doing now does more good than you know. So carry your burdens, endure your trials, and keep the Faith like St. Paul did. As Jesus once said to console St. Paul in his struggles, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

Posted in Catholic Church, Chrisitian Virtues, Christian Perfection, Early Church, Homily, St. Paul, Sunday Homilies | 1 Comment »

Zephaniah & the Beatitudes Call to Conversion

January 29, 2023

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Fr. Victor Feltes

Jesus’ Beatitudes are words of consolation and hope but they are also a call to conversion. Our first reading today comes from the Old Testament prophet Zephaniah who proclaimed God’s words in the land of Judah. Zephaniah denounced his people’s unfaithfulness, warning them:

“Near is the great day of the Lord,
near and very swiftly coming…
A day of wrath is that day,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and desolation…
A day of trumpet blasts and battle cries
against fortified cities,
against lofty battlements…
Because they have sinned against the Lord.”

Less than one lifetime after Zephaniah preached, Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians and Judah’s earthly kingdom fell.

Zephaniah denounced those rich in material things, who hungered for feasts and comforts, who thirsted for wines and pleasures, who fashionably clothed themselves in unrighteousness. These proud rich would not be satisfied. Zephaniah said, “They will build houses, but not dwell in them. They will plant vineyards, but not drink their wine…. Their wealth shall be given to plunder and their houses to devastation…. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them.”

However, Zephaniah’s strongest condemnations denounced the idolatry among his people. Some worshipped idols in pagan temples, while some bowed down on roofs to worship stars, and some bowed down to the one true Lord God but would swear oaths by other gods. Zephaniah notes some said in their hearts, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.” They lacked faith, and hope, and love for him in their divided hearts. But with unclean hearts, they would not see God.

Today we hear Zephaniah say, “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth… seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.” Then Zephaniah announces that the Lord “will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord: the remnant of Israel. …They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.”

In fulfillment of God’s word, in response to a Jewish revolt, the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem in 587 B.C. They tore down the city’s walls, systematically burned its palaces and houses, and destroyed the Jewish temple. Those Jews who had made war were either killed or deported far away to Babylon, along with everyone else their conquerors saw as a threat. Yet “they left in the land of Judah some of the poor who had nothing and at the same time gave them vineyards and farms.” Blessed were the meek, for they inherited the land.

Yet even before Judah was conquered and thousands of Jews were carried off to Babylonian exile, God promised them a future return to Jerusalem. The Lord foretells through the Prophet Zephaniah: “At that time I will bring you home, and at that time I will gather you.” Blessed would be those people who remembered to mourn the loss of God’s temple and holy city, for they would be consoled. Less than one lifetime after their departure, once that Babylonian empire had been conquered by a Persian empire, the Jews were allowed to return home.

The words of Jesus and Zephaniah and the stories of their people should give us pause today, for “near is the great day of the Lord” always. How are we using our great riches? Which desires do we feed? Do we mourn the evils that we see in the world? Unless we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will never be satisfied. We might not worship golden idols or swear by pagan gods, but idolatry still exists today. If our priorities (as reflected by our finances, Sunday sports or vacations, worldly desires or addictions, or any other things) usurp our Lord from his rightful throne in our hearts, then our hearts are not yet so pure as he wills them to be.

“Seek the Lord… seek justice, seek humility… do no wrong and speak no lies.” Practice mercy and pursue peace. Christ offers you his strengthening grace. Blessed are they who heed what Jesus tells us gains his Kingdom.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Culture, Homily, Last Judgment, Money, O.T. Figures, Repentance, Salvation History, Sermon on the Mount, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

Live the Beatitudes

January 29, 2023

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

Today I would like to share an incident about a brother priest of mine. He was transferred to a new parish. Some weeks after he arrived, he needed to take the bus to a nearby town. When he sat down, he realized that the driver had given him an extra two rupees (about 25¢). He thought to himself, “I better give it back, it would be wrong to keep it.” Then he thought, “Oh, it is only two rupees, such a small amount, it is a gift from God.” When his stop came, he hesitated at the door and handed the money back to the driver. The driver smiled and asked, “Are you the new priest in the village?” And the priest said, “Yes.” “Well, I have been thinking about going somewhere to pray. I wanted to see what you would do if I gave you extra change. You will see me at church on Sunday.” When the priest got off the bus, he closed his eyes and said, “Oh God, I almost sold you for a quarter.”

In that thirty minutes on the bus, that priest lived all seven of the Beatitudes. He was poor in spirit, not greedy. Blessed are they who mourn, he gained a new parishioner. He was meek and knew that the money was not his. He was righteous and he was satisfied. By giving the money back, he will receive mercy from God. His heart was clean, and he will see God. He was a peacemaker because he did not keep, what was not his.

Today’s readings explain our Christian goal of eternal happiness. They give us an outline for living like Christ. Jesus expected his disciples to live like Him. The Beatitudes present a positive way to live. The virtues we will receive from following the Beatitudes will lead to salvation for our souls.

Jesus teaches his disciples the blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution. In poverty, we recognize God’s reign; in hunger, His providence; in sorrow, true happiness; and in persecution, true joy. In other words, the blessed ones are those who are poor in spirit, compassionate, meek, merciful, and clean of heart. They are the peacemakers and those who are willing to be insulted and persecuted for their faith.

The Beatitudes are almost like a guideline for the Ten Commandments. The Beatitudes simply guide us to a righteous and loving way of life. By living the Beatitudes, we will find happiness with God because only God can satisfy the heart. We will become better individuals and better members of our church. To be a true Christian, we give first place to God.

We need to respond to the challenges of the Beatitudes in our daily life. Millions of people are starving, persecuted, and homeless, and lead hopeless lives. The Beatitudes challenge us to be compassionate people, even when this exposes us to ridicule and persecution. We can learn from Saint Mother Teresa who showed us how to accept the challenges of living the Beatitudes in the modern world. Let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy and the sick, we share the promises of the Beatitudes.

We need to choose wisely. The way of life is the way of Jesus that leads to eternal life. The challenge of the Beatitudes is this: Are you going to be happy in the world’s way, or in Christ’s way? If we choose the world’s way, we are seeking our blessings in the wrong place. The way of Jesus requires toil and suffering in working for the poor, the sick, and the hungry. The blessing of the Beatitudes is the possession of the Kingdom of God.

Posted in Christian Perfection, Homily, Sermon on the Mount, Sunday Homilies | Leave a Comment »

“Jesus Loves Me” — Funeral Homily for Mabel Klingbeil, 93

January 23, 2023

By Fr. Victor Feltes

Great love is powerfully expressed through great trials. When Mabel was only eleven years old, she experienced a shocking personal loss. Her ten-year-old sister Betty passed away from an appendicitis. And for the rest of Mabel’s life it seems she wanted to help make sure others were safe and well. Mabel would live to be the last-surviving member of the family of her birth. She served as a caregiver to her parents and her adult siblings as they passed on before her.

She was married in this church to her husband George in 1958. They gave life to four sons together, including two, John and Tim, who passed away in infancy. After fourteen years of marriage, Mabel became a widow at age forty-three. She raised her two boys, Michael and George, on her own; doing her best to fill the role of two parents, for instance, taking them out to go fishing. Then, after her retirement, Mabel began raising children anew at age seventy-two. She cared for her grandkids, Katie and Sarah, concerned for both their bodies and souls, for instance often saying, “Remember to pray and brush your teeth!” How did Mabel say she liked raising children? “I had a ball.”

Kindly but firm, Mabel was not swayed by the increasingly straying views of popular culture. She has been a well-known St. Paul’s parishioner for many years volunteering at our school and singing in our church choir. She would take the girls with her up to the balcony for funerals. The other choir members and widowed school teachers were often recipients of Mabel’s care.

I remember Mabel telling me in her room at Dove nursing home, that she had been a teacher for a total of thirty-three years (seven years elsewhere and then twenty-six years here in Bloomer). She loved teaching her students and said she would still like to teach—if she were not ninety-three years old. I saw her Tuesday afternoons when I brought her our Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and she always received him with devotion.

Because of circumstances of her upbringing, Mabel had a hard time accepting God’s amazing love for us. She once remarked, “When I [was growing] up, I never knew that God loved me.” At times, she wondered, “How could Christ die just for me?” Yet Jesus Christ has powerfully revealed his great love for us, especially through his trials.

Why else would God become man in Jesus Christ if not from great concern that we would be safe and well? Jesus comes to us as a teacher in a visible life on earth thought to have numbered thirty-three years. Kindly but firm, he possesses and imparts truth in an errant world. He formed young disciples in his charge; sometimes he even took them fishing. He comes as our Good Shepherd, laying down his life for his sheep, desiring none of us to be lost.

Jesus worshiped at his Father’s house and offered himself in sacrifice on the Cross. Now he calls us to worship in his Church and receive the great gift of himself offered in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus, now risen, is the first-surviving member of his family. Raised from the dead, he lives forever to help us through this life into the next. He is the faithful, loving caregiver of his spouse and his brothers and sisters; that is, of his Church as a whole and each of us individually.

So you see, Jesus Christ forms faithful Christians to be more and more like himself, and shepherds them to be with him in paradise. “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?” Despite all these things, we can conquer overwhelmingly through him who loves us. Mabel, in her final recent trial, found comfort in this truth, as she often sang that sweet children’s song: “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.” Let us be faithful to Christ, so that together with Mabel we may “behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!”

Posted in Christian Perfection, Funeral Homilies, Homily, Jesus Christ, Love, Salvation History, Service | 1 Comment »

Barbershop Theology

January 21, 2023

3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

Today I have another story to share. A man went to a barbershop to have his haircut and his beard trimmed. They talked about many things, and then the barber said, “I do not believe that God exists. Look at all the sick people, suffering, and pain in the world. I can’t believe that a loving God Would allow this.” The customer thought about it, but did not say anything and left the shop. Once he was outside, he saw a man with long, dirty hair. He went back into the barbershop and said, “You know what? Barbers do not exist.” “How can you say that?” asked the barber. “I am here and I am a barber.” “No,” the customer answered, “Barbers do not exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair, like that man outside.” “However, barbers do exist, that is what happens when they do not come to me.” “Exactly,” said the customer, “That is the point! God also DOES exist! That is what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t ask Him for help.”

The first reading today tells us that the people of Israel were living in darkness. They were living under the control of Assyrians. Isaiah declares that God’s power is greater than the oppression they are living under. Jesus is the great light and will lead them into abundant joy. By His resurrection, He has assured us that darkness can never overcome us. The light that Isaiah is talking about is the light of God which scatters the darkness of ignorance and sin.

In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Corinthians that they must stop fighting among themselves, and to follow the humility and obedience of Jesus. They need to work together as followers of Christ. They need to keep their focus on Jesus Christ.

Our Gospel today tells us about the beginning of Jesus’ public life, after John the Baptist had been arrested. The good news that Jesus preaches is hope, peace, promise, truth, and salvation. Jesus is the messenger of good news. As Jesus began his public life, He gathered his disciples. He found Andrew, and his brother Simon (who is called Peter). Next, He found James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They left everything and followed Jesus to be His disciples. The story of the calling of the first disciples showed their unconditional response to Jesus. The calling of the disciples is the beginning of the church. These disciples were drawn to Jesus like a magnet. They left everything not knowing where all this would lead.

We need to appreciate our call to be Christ’s disciples. Christ came two thousand years ago to share the good news with all of his people. There are still many people who don’t know about Christ, we need to be Christ’s disciples now to preach and bring them to God. God sends us to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. Jesus traveled, teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing his people. We are asked to follow the example of love given to us by Jesus. We need to become the light of the world as Jesus. We need to receive the light of Christ and share it with everyone as love, forgiveness, and respect for all. If we want to improve our looks, we go to the barber. If we want to save our souls, we need to go to God.

Posted in Homily, Salvation, Sunday Homilies, Witness | Leave a Comment »