Homily for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Numbers 11.25-29 Psalm 19 James 5.1-6 Mark 9.38-48
If we really took what Jesus says literally, then this church would be filled with people without hands, without feet, without eyes, and with millstones tied around their necks. Because the fact is that we all sin, we sin with our hands, stealing what belongs to others; we sin with our feet, walking away from an unjust situation without doing anything; we sin with our eyes, looking to see how we can use another person for our own pleasure; and we lead other people to sin by the way we live and act. Not one is immune from sin. And yet, we don’t take Jesus at his word, we don’t practice self-mutilation in order to get rid of those parts of our bodies that sin. And thank goodness we don’t. Because it really wouldn’t do any good. If we cut off a hand because it is causing us to sin, then we will very easily find another way to sin. Besides, it’s not really the foot or the hand or the eye that causes us to sin. Sin is a choice, a decision of the mind and the will; our limbs and organs do not act on their own. A hand does not cause us to steal; a deliberate choice of the will causes us to steal, our fallen human nature causes us to steal, our disordered priorities and habits cause us to steal. Self-mutilation is a pointless, ineffective solution to the problem of sin. So why does Jesus suggest it?
It seems to me that Jesus is trying to get us to get to the heart of what really causes sin and, on the other hand, what causes us to do good. Sin comes from us, not from God. The goal of a Christian life is to sin less and to become holy. In other words, the goal of a Christian life is to become less human and more like God. Of course, we’ll never get there in this life. But we can make progress. We can train ourselves through prayer, discipline, and hard work to become more and more open to God’s grace working in us. We can learn how to sin less and do more good, with God’s help. As soon as we rely too much on our own hands and eyes and feet to do the work of the gospel, then we will fail. It is only through God’s grace that we can be like Christ, it is not through any part of our fallen humanity.
So don’t cut off your hand or your foot or pluck out your eye – at least not literally. They may be instruments of sin, but they can also be instruments of grace. Instead, cut off your dependence on your humanity, your own effort, to do good. If we rely instead on God, he will use those same parts of our body to see injustice and work to end it, to serve others with our hands, our feet, and our hearts, to cooperate with him in building his kingdom.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Competing with Reality TV
Homily for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Wisdom 2.12, 17-20 Psalm 54 James 3.16-4.3 Mark 9.30-37
Over the past several years, there has been a definite trend in the kind of shows that occupy primetime television: you might call this the era of reality TV. And while there are some exceptions, most of reality TV boils down to one thing: competition. From Survivor to America’s Got Talent, from Dancing with the Stars to Iron Chef, from The Biggest Loser to America’s Next Top Model. We have become obsessed with watching regular, every-day people compete against one another on national television – and it’s even better when we get to vote for who we want to win. And who knows, someday we might be there – singing on American Idol or traveling across the world on The Amazing Race or in the boardroom on The Apprentice. And if we’re not there, in front of the cameras, at least we get to watch – we get to live vicariously through the televised contests of both celebrities and regular Americans. It’s entertainment at its best. And a lot of it is all about competition – deciding who is the greatest.
Some things never change. Even the disciples had that argument. They tried to hide it from Jesus, but he knew what their conversations were about, he knew that they were arguing among themselves over which one of them was the greatest, the favorite, the most likely to succeed. So what’s this all about? Why the obsession with putting ourselves up against one another? It seems that underneath all our comparing and competing is a need to be loved and accepted. Acceptance is so hard to come by that we feel like we need to look a certain way or be accomplished at a certain talent or win some kind of award, or else we’re just mediocre – and who wants to be mediocre? And then, if we can’t find success and acceptance by our own performance, we get so obsessed with watching other people perform that our lives become meaningful based on their success. How many people’s moods will change based on who wins the Governor’s Cup? Once again, it’s all about competition – who is the greatest.
Now this isn’t to say that competition is bad. But the danger of an obsession with competition is that when everyone is so determined to be first, then more often than not, God ends up being last. When we spend all our time either competing or watching other people compete, there is very little room left for God. Which is why Jesus tells the disciples, and us, that we should be like servants and children. If we really want to be great and first, then we must humble ourselves and become the last and the least. Healthy, fun competition is good – it makes us stronger, better people, it calls us to live up to high standards, it makes us determined and passionate. But in the end, the winners and losers are all the same – they are all loved equally by God, they are all given the same opportunities for grace and love, they are all offered the same gift of heaven. Some choose to accept God’s gifts, and others ignore him. It is that choice that divides the world. But in the competition for our souls, there is only one winner – God himself. The rest of us are simply his children, equally loved and equally redeemed by Christ. And I would much rather be a child of God than the next American Idol.
Wisdom 2.12, 17-20 Psalm 54 James 3.16-4.3 Mark 9.30-37
Over the past several years, there has been a definite trend in the kind of shows that occupy primetime television: you might call this the era of reality TV. And while there are some exceptions, most of reality TV boils down to one thing: competition. From Survivor to America’s Got Talent, from Dancing with the Stars to Iron Chef, from The Biggest Loser to America’s Next Top Model. We have become obsessed with watching regular, every-day people compete against one another on national television – and it’s even better when we get to vote for who we want to win. And who knows, someday we might be there – singing on American Idol or traveling across the world on The Amazing Race or in the boardroom on The Apprentice. And if we’re not there, in front of the cameras, at least we get to watch – we get to live vicariously through the televised contests of both celebrities and regular Americans. It’s entertainment at its best. And a lot of it is all about competition – deciding who is the greatest.
Some things never change. Even the disciples had that argument. They tried to hide it from Jesus, but he knew what their conversations were about, he knew that they were arguing among themselves over which one of them was the greatest, the favorite, the most likely to succeed. So what’s this all about? Why the obsession with putting ourselves up against one another? It seems that underneath all our comparing and competing is a need to be loved and accepted. Acceptance is so hard to come by that we feel like we need to look a certain way or be accomplished at a certain talent or win some kind of award, or else we’re just mediocre – and who wants to be mediocre? And then, if we can’t find success and acceptance by our own performance, we get so obsessed with watching other people perform that our lives become meaningful based on their success. How many people’s moods will change based on who wins the Governor’s Cup? Once again, it’s all about competition – who is the greatest.
Now this isn’t to say that competition is bad. But the danger of an obsession with competition is that when everyone is so determined to be first, then more often than not, God ends up being last. When we spend all our time either competing or watching other people compete, there is very little room left for God. Which is why Jesus tells the disciples, and us, that we should be like servants and children. If we really want to be great and first, then we must humble ourselves and become the last and the least. Healthy, fun competition is good – it makes us stronger, better people, it calls us to live up to high standards, it makes us determined and passionate. But in the end, the winners and losers are all the same – they are all loved equally by God, they are all given the same opportunities for grace and love, they are all offered the same gift of heaven. Some choose to accept God’s gifts, and others ignore him. It is that choice that divides the world. But in the competition for our souls, there is only one winner – God himself. The rest of us are simply his children, equally loved and equally redeemed by Christ. And I would much rather be a child of God than the next American Idol.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
God vs. Satan
Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Isaiah 50.4c-9a Psalm 116 James 2.14-18 Mark 8.27-35
This weekend, we welcomed two Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to our parish for a mission appeal. The sisters shared the work of their order in serving the poor and the aged. Because of the mission appeal, this week's homily took an abbreviated form.
In many ways, life is all one big struggle; a struggle between good and evil, between right and wrong, between God and Satan. Whether its on the worldwide stage or within our own country or in the depths of our individual souls, there is a constant struggle in our lives between two diametrically opposed sides. The natural question becomes: who will win? Will good prevail, or will the powers of evil conquer? In our personal lives, its often some of both – sometimes we make positive, loving, moral choices; and other times we succumb to pride, greed, lust, or any number of other temptations that lead us to evil. Even St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, said things and did things that were both for God and against God, even to the point that today Jesus calls Peter Satan. But in the end, in the big picture, when human history has come to its completion and the world is at an end, who will win? Will the powers of good, the powers of God, prevail against pride and selfishness? Or will humanity have become so sinful and depraved that Satan will be able to claim an eternal victory? From an individual perspective, it sometimes seems like the sides are equally matched. But they’re not. Because the battle between good and evil that takes place in each of our own lives and in human history is a battle waged with imperfect people. But the ultimate battle between good and evil, between God and Satan, is a battle between the one, eternal God, creator of all, and one of God’s creatures who has lost his way. The ultimate battle between good and evil is really no contest at all – there can only be one outcome. Nothing – no one – not even Satan himself – is any match for the grace and goodness of God – the one being who is all-powerful, all-merciful, and all-loving. And so with Jesus we say, “Get behind us, Satan.” In the end, you will never win. You are no match for God almighty.
Isaiah 50.4c-9a Psalm 116 James 2.14-18 Mark 8.27-35
This weekend, we welcomed two Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to our parish for a mission appeal. The sisters shared the work of their order in serving the poor and the aged. Because of the mission appeal, this week's homily took an abbreviated form.
In many ways, life is all one big struggle; a struggle between good and evil, between right and wrong, between God and Satan. Whether its on the worldwide stage or within our own country or in the depths of our individual souls, there is a constant struggle in our lives between two diametrically opposed sides. The natural question becomes: who will win? Will good prevail, or will the powers of evil conquer? In our personal lives, its often some of both – sometimes we make positive, loving, moral choices; and other times we succumb to pride, greed, lust, or any number of other temptations that lead us to evil. Even St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, said things and did things that were both for God and against God, even to the point that today Jesus calls Peter Satan. But in the end, in the big picture, when human history has come to its completion and the world is at an end, who will win? Will the powers of good, the powers of God, prevail against pride and selfishness? Or will humanity have become so sinful and depraved that Satan will be able to claim an eternal victory? From an individual perspective, it sometimes seems like the sides are equally matched. But they’re not. Because the battle between good and evil that takes place in each of our own lives and in human history is a battle waged with imperfect people. But the ultimate battle between good and evil, between God and Satan, is a battle between the one, eternal God, creator of all, and one of God’s creatures who has lost his way. The ultimate battle between good and evil is really no contest at all – there can only be one outcome. Nothing – no one – not even Satan himself – is any match for the grace and goodness of God – the one being who is all-powerful, all-merciful, and all-loving. And so with Jesus we say, “Get behind us, Satan.” In the end, you will never win. You are no match for God almighty.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
A Lonely Death
Homily for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Isaiah 35.4-7a Psalm 146 James 2.1-5 Mark 7.31-37
About a year and a half ago, I was asked to say some prayers at a funeral home for an elderly woman who had died. As I found out, this woman did not have any immediate family; she had been in a health-care facility for several years and had seemingly lost touch with any family or friends she had once had. And she was poor – not just poor, but destitute. Toward the end of her life, she had no money or possessions of her own and had been declared a ward of the state, with the government paying for the minimal amount of comfort and care during her dying days. Somewhere in her files at the health care facility, there was a mention that this woman was Catholic. So, when she died, the funeral home handling her arrangements called and asked if I would do a brief prayer service at the funeral home before her simple burial in an unmarked plot. I was told that there were some distant relatives they were trying to contact who might be there, plus some of the nurses who had cared for her, and her state appointed guardian – but probably only a few people. In the end, no one showed up for her funeral – it was just me and the funeral director. So I said the prayers, blessed her body, and entrusted her to God’s care – in all respects, a Christian burial. But it was heart wrenching to imagine that anyone’s life could come to this. No family, no relationships, no money. Just a priest and a funeral director saying some prayers.
Hopefully stories like this should make us uncomfortable – how can we as a society, as a church, as individuals let something like this happen? Where is the human dignity, the respect for each person’s life, created in the image of God? But it is all too real and all too common, and too often we ignore the reality of the poor, the lonely, and the abandoned. St. James gives us one scenario in today’s second reading. If two people walk into a church, one visibly wealthy and one visibly poor, we are likely to treat them very differently. It seems that we are often naturally attracted to money or possessions – almost like being drawn to wealth by a magnet. Those who are rich want to be richer, and those who are poor want to be rich. And we think that the way to get there is to surround ourselves with people and things that make us look wealthier than we are. Or at the least, we judge people based on how much money they appear to have. Where is the human dignity in this, the respect for each person’s life, created equally in the image of God?
To be poor does not just mean that you lack material goods. Being poor can also be a lack of basic human rights, a lack of love, a lack of faith, a lack of recognition by the society or the church. The US Bishops have put it very simply: “That so many people are poor in a nation as rich as ours is a social and moral scandal that we cannot ignore” (Economic Justice for All 16). And it’s not only far away, it’s people right here – in this very parish, in this very church today – people who struggle to eat, who struggle to pay their bills, who struggle to live a life worthy of human dignity. The gospel calls us to treat all people with love and respect, but to show a special love, a preferential option, for the poor. Catholic Charities USA has called for a campaign to reduce poverty in the United States by 50 percent by 2020. In the coming months we will talk about specific ways that we as a diocese and as a parish are working to spread hope and love in our communities. But it must all start in our hearts. It must start with an attitude that does not judge people based on appearance or possessions. It must start with a love that treats everyone the same. It must start with a faith that shows no partiality. Then, and only then, can we begin the hard work as individuals, as a church, and as a whole society to make sure that no one dies alone and destitute – with no family, no relationships, no money – with only a priest and a funeral director to send them forth into God’s kingdom. Or worse than that, with no one.
Isaiah 35.4-7a Psalm 146 James 2.1-5 Mark 7.31-37
About a year and a half ago, I was asked to say some prayers at a funeral home for an elderly woman who had died. As I found out, this woman did not have any immediate family; she had been in a health-care facility for several years and had seemingly lost touch with any family or friends she had once had. And she was poor – not just poor, but destitute. Toward the end of her life, she had no money or possessions of her own and had been declared a ward of the state, with the government paying for the minimal amount of comfort and care during her dying days. Somewhere in her files at the health care facility, there was a mention that this woman was Catholic. So, when she died, the funeral home handling her arrangements called and asked if I would do a brief prayer service at the funeral home before her simple burial in an unmarked plot. I was told that there were some distant relatives they were trying to contact who might be there, plus some of the nurses who had cared for her, and her state appointed guardian – but probably only a few people. In the end, no one showed up for her funeral – it was just me and the funeral director. So I said the prayers, blessed her body, and entrusted her to God’s care – in all respects, a Christian burial. But it was heart wrenching to imagine that anyone’s life could come to this. No family, no relationships, no money. Just a priest and a funeral director saying some prayers.
Hopefully stories like this should make us uncomfortable – how can we as a society, as a church, as individuals let something like this happen? Where is the human dignity, the respect for each person’s life, created in the image of God? But it is all too real and all too common, and too often we ignore the reality of the poor, the lonely, and the abandoned. St. James gives us one scenario in today’s second reading. If two people walk into a church, one visibly wealthy and one visibly poor, we are likely to treat them very differently. It seems that we are often naturally attracted to money or possessions – almost like being drawn to wealth by a magnet. Those who are rich want to be richer, and those who are poor want to be rich. And we think that the way to get there is to surround ourselves with people and things that make us look wealthier than we are. Or at the least, we judge people based on how much money they appear to have. Where is the human dignity in this, the respect for each person’s life, created equally in the image of God?
To be poor does not just mean that you lack material goods. Being poor can also be a lack of basic human rights, a lack of love, a lack of faith, a lack of recognition by the society or the church. The US Bishops have put it very simply: “That so many people are poor in a nation as rich as ours is a social and moral scandal that we cannot ignore” (Economic Justice for All 16). And it’s not only far away, it’s people right here – in this very parish, in this very church today – people who struggle to eat, who struggle to pay their bills, who struggle to live a life worthy of human dignity. The gospel calls us to treat all people with love and respect, but to show a special love, a preferential option, for the poor. Catholic Charities USA has called for a campaign to reduce poverty in the United States by 50 percent by 2020. In the coming months we will talk about specific ways that we as a diocese and as a parish are working to spread hope and love in our communities. But it must all start in our hearts. It must start with an attitude that does not judge people based on appearance or possessions. It must start with a love that treats everyone the same. It must start with a faith that shows no partiality. Then, and only then, can we begin the hard work as individuals, as a church, and as a whole society to make sure that no one dies alone and destitute – with no family, no relationships, no money – with only a priest and a funeral director to send them forth into God’s kingdom. Or worse than that, with no one.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Listening for the Voice of Christ in the Health Care Debate
Homily for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Joshua 24.1-2a, 15-17, 18b Psalm 34 Ephesians 5.21-32 John 6.60-69
If you’re anything like me, then your head is starting to hurt and your heart is getting heavy. Not perhaps because of any physical or medical problems, but because of a debate, a debate that has a very real impact on each one of us – the reform of health care in this country. Throughout the summer, but especially over the past few weeks, the health care debate has been heated, argumentative, and passionate – and for good reason, because any change affecting something as basic as health care impacts us all. The challenge – and what has made my head ache and my heart get heavy – has been sorting out fact from fiction, truth from lies, and determining not only what is best for any individual, but what is necessary for the common good. Now, I’m not here today to analyze the bills before Congress or to put before you a church-sponsored health care plan. But what we can do, together, is look at Scripture, look at our tradition, and look at basic human rights to set out some basic ethical principles for health care reform. And it all starts with today’s gospel.
For several weeks, we have been hearing about the Bread of Life in the Sunday gospels – the food and drink that Christ gives us, his very Body and Blood given in the Eucharist. These are hard sayings, the disciples say today. But Jesus points out that everything he has spoken to them is Spirit and life. If we want to live in the Spirit, then we need to listen to the words of Jesus. If we want to have life, and have it to the full, then we need to listen to the words of Jesus. If we want to know the truth, then we need to listen to the words of Jesus. He is the source of everything we have – he is the first and most important advisor we should go to whenever we have questions. And then, as we receive the Eucharist, as Christ’s words become flesh for us, we are given the responsibility of making Christ present in the world – not just here at church, but in our homes, in our schools and businesses, in our hospitals and nursing homes, and even to the halls of Congress. To live as a Eucharistic people, we must first listen to the words of Jesus, words that are Spirit and life, and then we must work to make Christ present through our words and actions.
And so we listen. First and foremost in a discussion on health care reform is the inherent value and dignity of all human life. The words of Christ are clear – all life is precious, it is a gift, and all human life is created in the image and likeness of God, from the moment of conception to a natural death. An ethical health care plan will respect the dignity of human life. Practically, this means that health care reform must not include mandated coverage for abortion, euthanasia, or other medical procedures that fail to uphold the sanctity of human life. Likewise, no health care reform plan should require anyone to pay for or fund the destruction of human life. Taxpayers’ money must not be used to fund abortion.
But a respect for life also calls for a plan that provides health care coverage for all people – health care is not a privilege for the few but a basic human right for all. To uphold the dignity of human life, made in the image of God, we are compelled as a society to provide health care that is comprehensive and affordable and that does not discriminate based on people’s state of health, place of employment, or where they live. Within that plan, there must be a special concern for the poor. Jesus spent more time in his ministry among the poor and the sick than any other group of people. Providing for the health care needs of the poor must be a priority – in fact, the poor should be our first priority. But there’s more. Our basic Christian values also call us to stand up for conscience protection, to maintain a variety of options in the choice and delivery of health care, and to do all this while restraining costs and distributing the cost equitably, while not denying health care to those who cannot afford it. And all of this is grounded in a basic respect for human life – all human life – a life given its very existence by God himself.
Health care is not just another political or public policy issue – it is a matter of basic human rights – and these same principles apply not just to health care, but to our entire common life as human beings. As the debates continue to swirl around us, we are called as followers of Christ to listen to Christ’s voice, first of all – a voice that fills us with Spirit and life. Then, strengthened and nourished by the Eucharist, we can become Christ’s voice in the debate – we can become a voice that speaks up for those who cannot speak for themselves, a voice that puts human life and dignity at the forefront of the discussion, a voice that longs for peace and hope and love, a voice that points to the common good and not just what benefits an individual or a certain interest group, a voice of reason, a voice of conviction. In the cacophony of voices that overwhelm the media, there is only one voice that speaks the truth – we must never forget that. And to whom else could we go? Our Lord Jesus Christ alone has the words of eternal life. Listen to him.
Joshua 24.1-2a, 15-17, 18b Psalm 34 Ephesians 5.21-32 John 6.60-69
If you’re anything like me, then your head is starting to hurt and your heart is getting heavy. Not perhaps because of any physical or medical problems, but because of a debate, a debate that has a very real impact on each one of us – the reform of health care in this country. Throughout the summer, but especially over the past few weeks, the health care debate has been heated, argumentative, and passionate – and for good reason, because any change affecting something as basic as health care impacts us all. The challenge – and what has made my head ache and my heart get heavy – has been sorting out fact from fiction, truth from lies, and determining not only what is best for any individual, but what is necessary for the common good. Now, I’m not here today to analyze the bills before Congress or to put before you a church-sponsored health care plan. But what we can do, together, is look at Scripture, look at our tradition, and look at basic human rights to set out some basic ethical principles for health care reform. And it all starts with today’s gospel.
For several weeks, we have been hearing about the Bread of Life in the Sunday gospels – the food and drink that Christ gives us, his very Body and Blood given in the Eucharist. These are hard sayings, the disciples say today. But Jesus points out that everything he has spoken to them is Spirit and life. If we want to live in the Spirit, then we need to listen to the words of Jesus. If we want to have life, and have it to the full, then we need to listen to the words of Jesus. If we want to know the truth, then we need to listen to the words of Jesus. He is the source of everything we have – he is the first and most important advisor we should go to whenever we have questions. And then, as we receive the Eucharist, as Christ’s words become flesh for us, we are given the responsibility of making Christ present in the world – not just here at church, but in our homes, in our schools and businesses, in our hospitals and nursing homes, and even to the halls of Congress. To live as a Eucharistic people, we must first listen to the words of Jesus, words that are Spirit and life, and then we must work to make Christ present through our words and actions.
And so we listen. First and foremost in a discussion on health care reform is the inherent value and dignity of all human life. The words of Christ are clear – all life is precious, it is a gift, and all human life is created in the image and likeness of God, from the moment of conception to a natural death. An ethical health care plan will respect the dignity of human life. Practically, this means that health care reform must not include mandated coverage for abortion, euthanasia, or other medical procedures that fail to uphold the sanctity of human life. Likewise, no health care reform plan should require anyone to pay for or fund the destruction of human life. Taxpayers’ money must not be used to fund abortion.
But a respect for life also calls for a plan that provides health care coverage for all people – health care is not a privilege for the few but a basic human right for all. To uphold the dignity of human life, made in the image of God, we are compelled as a society to provide health care that is comprehensive and affordable and that does not discriminate based on people’s state of health, place of employment, or where they live. Within that plan, there must be a special concern for the poor. Jesus spent more time in his ministry among the poor and the sick than any other group of people. Providing for the health care needs of the poor must be a priority – in fact, the poor should be our first priority. But there’s more. Our basic Christian values also call us to stand up for conscience protection, to maintain a variety of options in the choice and delivery of health care, and to do all this while restraining costs and distributing the cost equitably, while not denying health care to those who cannot afford it. And all of this is grounded in a basic respect for human life – all human life – a life given its very existence by God himself.
Health care is not just another political or public policy issue – it is a matter of basic human rights – and these same principles apply not just to health care, but to our entire common life as human beings. As the debates continue to swirl around us, we are called as followers of Christ to listen to Christ’s voice, first of all – a voice that fills us with Spirit and life. Then, strengthened and nourished by the Eucharist, we can become Christ’s voice in the debate – we can become a voice that speaks up for those who cannot speak for themselves, a voice that puts human life and dignity at the forefront of the discussion, a voice that longs for peace and hope and love, a voice that points to the common good and not just what benefits an individual or a certain interest group, a voice of reason, a voice of conviction. In the cacophony of voices that overwhelm the media, there is only one voice that speaks the truth – we must never forget that. And to whom else could we go? Our Lord Jesus Christ alone has the words of eternal life. Listen to him.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
State of the Parish, Part II: Parish Life and Ministries
Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
1 Kings 19.4-8 Psalm 34 Ephesians 4.30-5.2 John 6.41-51
For several weeks here in August, the gospel is taken from what is called the “Bread of Life Discourse” of John’s Gospel. During each of these weeks, Jesus reminds us that he is the bread of life and that whoever eats this living bread will live forever. The Eucharist, the living bread and saving cup of Christ, is the most important thing we do as Christians; it is the most important part of our life as a parish. When we gather in this church as a community to celebrate the Eucharist, we become the Body of Christ for the world. And when we go forth from this church each week, we take Christ wherever we will go. But, of course, there is much more that we do as a parish – there are many more ways we live as the Body of Christ in the world. Last week, I shared an update on the facilities and capital construction projects that are coming up here in our parish. This week, in the second and final part of this year’s State of the Parish report, I’d like to give an update on the life and ministries of our parish that help us live out the Eucharist we celebrate.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is currently made up of 1,162 families comprising approximately 3,364 individuals – that’s an increase of about 20 families over the past year. Over the past fiscal year, from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, we celebrated 45 infant baptisms and 6 adults were either baptized or received into the full communion of the church. Forty-six young people celebrated their First Communion; 33 high schoolers received the sacrament of Confirmation. Nine couples got married here, and 17 people were buried from our parish. In looking at trends, our number of baptisms, first communions, and confirmations have remained steady. 2008 was an average year for weddings, but the current calendar year of 2009 has 19 weddings scheduled, the most since 1995. The only major change in statistics this past year was in funerals – we typically average between 25 and 30 funerals each year, so the 17 of this past year was a low number.
Of course, our parish community is much more than statistics. During this past year, we welcomed our first full-time Director of Liturgical Music Ministries who has helped to coordinate and expand our music ministries in the parish. We held the first annual Tent Event last fall, which was an astounding success, bringing over 900 people to an evening of fun and fellowship. In the spring, we launched the new Kingdom Builder’s Tuition Assistance program, which so far has brought new contributions of over $17,500 exclusively for tuition assistance for our school. We observed the Year of St. Paul in a variety of ways, including an ecumenical prayer service and monthly Soup and Soul Food gatherings. Our parish Youth Ministry hosted a 24-hour Food Fast for the entire deanery as well as many other programs. During last fall’s windstorm, our parish staff hosted a Light in the Dark dinner for parishioners and neighbors who were without power for several days. Our Faith Formation and Youth Ministry offices collaborated to host a Sports Life Camp at the beginning of the summer. In the area of Vocations, each week since last September, a family or individual has prayed with our Parish Vocations Cross; 17 young men were identified as possible candidates for the priesthood during a Called by Name program, and we hosted Archbishop Daniel at our parish for a vocations discernment evening. This past year was also the final implementation year for the Envision parish planning process. This three-year process for expanding and improving our parish ministries has especially focused on the areas of Adult Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Child Care, and Family Connections. In the coming weeks, we will celebrate the many accomplishments of the Envision process and have a chance to read about the many parish ministries that have seen growth over the past three years. And there certainly has been much growth.
But now is also the time to look forward to the future of our parish life and ministries. This coming year, there is one exciting new ministry program that we will be starting in the area of faith formation. We currently have a variety of faith formation programs available in our parish, for people from preschool through adulthood. Most of these programs have been operating independently, and they have done so well. But beginning this fall, all of our parish faith formation programs will be part of one unified structure called One Church, One Faith. This total parish faith formation program includes Sacramental Preparation for Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation; our high school youth group; RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults; a variety of adult faith formation programs, including the popular Soup and Soul Food series; and Faith First, our parish faith formation program for preschool through eighth grade. All One Church, One Faith programs will be held on Wednesday evenings – and no other parish activities, meetings, or athletic games or practices are scheduled for Wednesday evenings, so everyone can participate in the faith formation programs. And One Church, One Faith is for everyone – families whose children attend Catholic schools or public schools, young adults, married couples, single people, widows, divorced, young and old, and everywhere in between. Some of these programs will be held every Wednesday night – like Faith First, youth group, and RCIA. Other, large-group programs, will be held once a month. On the second Wednesday of every month, all of our Sacramental Preparation programs will meet – for parents of infants to be baptized, for second-graders and their parents for First Reconciliation and First Communion, and for high school students for Confirmation.
But the highlight of One Church, One Faith takes place on the first Wednesday of each month in what we are calling Week One. Each Week One will begin with a simple supper prepared by group within the parish. We will then divide into groups by age for a discussion or presentation on a common topic – so that elementary students might be in the school cafeteria doing a project, high school youth might be in the youth room with a panel discussion, and adults in Wagner Hall with a guest speaker – all on the same topic, one of the basic beliefs of our faith. At the end of the evening, everyone will gather together in the church for a closing prayer service. Child care will be available for young children, and each Week One program stands alone – you can come one month or every month throughout the school year.
What I find exciting about entire One Church, One Faith program – and especially Week One – is that it really shows what parish life and community is all about. We gather together as members of the Body of Christ – as a whole community – to share fellowship, to pray, and to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Because of the one faith we share, we are part of one Church – and this program helps us to live as members of that one Church. Booklets will be available in the coming weeks that explain the One Church, One Faith program and to give the schedule for the entire year – and I encourage you to make some aspect of our Wednesday night faith formation program a priority in your own lives in the coming year. Because it really is true: our parish is all about community, a community centered on Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, who calls us to follow him. The more we pray together, the more we learn about our faith, the more we grow in grace through the sacraments – the more and more we will become vessels of the Body of Christ in the world.
1 Kings 19.4-8 Psalm 34 Ephesians 4.30-5.2 John 6.41-51
For several weeks here in August, the gospel is taken from what is called the “Bread of Life Discourse” of John’s Gospel. During each of these weeks, Jesus reminds us that he is the bread of life and that whoever eats this living bread will live forever. The Eucharist, the living bread and saving cup of Christ, is the most important thing we do as Christians; it is the most important part of our life as a parish. When we gather in this church as a community to celebrate the Eucharist, we become the Body of Christ for the world. And when we go forth from this church each week, we take Christ wherever we will go. But, of course, there is much more that we do as a parish – there are many more ways we live as the Body of Christ in the world. Last week, I shared an update on the facilities and capital construction projects that are coming up here in our parish. This week, in the second and final part of this year’s State of the Parish report, I’d like to give an update on the life and ministries of our parish that help us live out the Eucharist we celebrate.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish is currently made up of 1,162 families comprising approximately 3,364 individuals – that’s an increase of about 20 families over the past year. Over the past fiscal year, from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, we celebrated 45 infant baptisms and 6 adults were either baptized or received into the full communion of the church. Forty-six young people celebrated their First Communion; 33 high schoolers received the sacrament of Confirmation. Nine couples got married here, and 17 people were buried from our parish. In looking at trends, our number of baptisms, first communions, and confirmations have remained steady. 2008 was an average year for weddings, but the current calendar year of 2009 has 19 weddings scheduled, the most since 1995. The only major change in statistics this past year was in funerals – we typically average between 25 and 30 funerals each year, so the 17 of this past year was a low number.
Of course, our parish community is much more than statistics. During this past year, we welcomed our first full-time Director of Liturgical Music Ministries who has helped to coordinate and expand our music ministries in the parish. We held the first annual Tent Event last fall, which was an astounding success, bringing over 900 people to an evening of fun and fellowship. In the spring, we launched the new Kingdom Builder’s Tuition Assistance program, which so far has brought new contributions of over $17,500 exclusively for tuition assistance for our school. We observed the Year of St. Paul in a variety of ways, including an ecumenical prayer service and monthly Soup and Soul Food gatherings. Our parish Youth Ministry hosted a 24-hour Food Fast for the entire deanery as well as many other programs. During last fall’s windstorm, our parish staff hosted a Light in the Dark dinner for parishioners and neighbors who were without power for several days. Our Faith Formation and Youth Ministry offices collaborated to host a Sports Life Camp at the beginning of the summer. In the area of Vocations, each week since last September, a family or individual has prayed with our Parish Vocations Cross; 17 young men were identified as possible candidates for the priesthood during a Called by Name program, and we hosted Archbishop Daniel at our parish for a vocations discernment evening. This past year was also the final implementation year for the Envision parish planning process. This three-year process for expanding and improving our parish ministries has especially focused on the areas of Adult Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Child Care, and Family Connections. In the coming weeks, we will celebrate the many accomplishments of the Envision process and have a chance to read about the many parish ministries that have seen growth over the past three years. And there certainly has been much growth.
But now is also the time to look forward to the future of our parish life and ministries. This coming year, there is one exciting new ministry program that we will be starting in the area of faith formation. We currently have a variety of faith formation programs available in our parish, for people from preschool through adulthood. Most of these programs have been operating independently, and they have done so well. But beginning this fall, all of our parish faith formation programs will be part of one unified structure called One Church, One Faith. This total parish faith formation program includes Sacramental Preparation for Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation; our high school youth group; RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults; a variety of adult faith formation programs, including the popular Soup and Soul Food series; and Faith First, our parish faith formation program for preschool through eighth grade. All One Church, One Faith programs will be held on Wednesday evenings – and no other parish activities, meetings, or athletic games or practices are scheduled for Wednesday evenings, so everyone can participate in the faith formation programs. And One Church, One Faith is for everyone – families whose children attend Catholic schools or public schools, young adults, married couples, single people, widows, divorced, young and old, and everywhere in between. Some of these programs will be held every Wednesday night – like Faith First, youth group, and RCIA. Other, large-group programs, will be held once a month. On the second Wednesday of every month, all of our Sacramental Preparation programs will meet – for parents of infants to be baptized, for second-graders and their parents for First Reconciliation and First Communion, and for high school students for Confirmation.
But the highlight of One Church, One Faith takes place on the first Wednesday of each month in what we are calling Week One. Each Week One will begin with a simple supper prepared by group within the parish. We will then divide into groups by age for a discussion or presentation on a common topic – so that elementary students might be in the school cafeteria doing a project, high school youth might be in the youth room with a panel discussion, and adults in Wagner Hall with a guest speaker – all on the same topic, one of the basic beliefs of our faith. At the end of the evening, everyone will gather together in the church for a closing prayer service. Child care will be available for young children, and each Week One program stands alone – you can come one month or every month throughout the school year.
What I find exciting about entire One Church, One Faith program – and especially Week One – is that it really shows what parish life and community is all about. We gather together as members of the Body of Christ – as a whole community – to share fellowship, to pray, and to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Because of the one faith we share, we are part of one Church – and this program helps us to live as members of that one Church. Booklets will be available in the coming weeks that explain the One Church, One Faith program and to give the schedule for the entire year – and I encourage you to make some aspect of our Wednesday night faith formation program a priority in your own lives in the coming year. Because it really is true: our parish is all about community, a community centered on Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, who calls us to follow him. The more we pray together, the more we learn about our faith, the more we grow in grace through the sacraments – the more and more we will become vessels of the Body of Christ in the world.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
State of the Parish, Part I: Facilities and Capital Campaign Update
Homily for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Exodus 16.2-4, 12-15 Psalm 78 Ephesians 4.17, 20-24 John 6.24-35
Each year, I like to give an update on the life and ministries of the parish – something of a State of the Parish report. Most of the time, the report falls around the time of our patronal feast day, the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on June 27. But because of our parish-sponsored pilgrimage this past summer, the State of the Parish report has been left until now. And because there are so many exciting things and major projects going on in our parish, I am going to divide the report into two parts. This week, I’d like to give you an update on the Legacy for our Mission Capital Campaign and our capital projects, and next week I plan to give an update on our parish ministries and organizations. It is important for all of us to know the plan and vision of our parish, how we live as members of the Body of Christ in this particular local community. The community is the heart of our spiritual lives, and it always has been – from the community of Israelites who grumbled and complained to Moses about their lack of food to the crowd gathered around Jesus who wanted to know what they could do to accomplish the works of God. More on how we can build a loving, faithful, and prayerful community will come in next week’s update on our parish ministries. But first, the more practical, tangible update on our parish facilities.
Two-and-a-half years ago, our launched our parish portion of the Legacy for Our Mission Capital Campaign. This campaign has been conducted in all 150 parishes of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. After deducting campaign expenses and one year’s worth of the United Catholic Appeal, all contributions to the campaign are split 50/50 between the parish and the Archdiocese. As of June 30, 2009, our parishioners have pledged $1,178,384 for the campaign and we had received $796,767 in cash toward those pledges, or 67% of the total pledged amount. Most pledges were scheduled to be paid over a three-year period, and we have one year left – so we are right on track. Here in our parish, we have had several smaller projects that have been funded by the Capital Campaign. Over the past two years, we have upgraded Wagner Hall, the church basement, and its kitchen; we have purchased new computers for the school and parish office; we have installed a new sound system here in church; the bells in our bell tower have been repaired; and, most recently, the skylights here in church that had been leaking for many years have been replaced. These projects have all been important and needed upgrades to our facilities. Now, however, we are ready to proceed with what has probably been the most anticipated construction project funded by the capital campaign.
In just a few weeks, construction will begin on the installation of a handicapped-accessible restroom on the main level of the church, upgrades to the church narthex or gathering area, and replacement of the interior and exterior doors at the three entrances to the church. Since our church was built in 1966, one of its main downfalls has been the lack of a restroom on this level or easy access to the restrooms in the basement. Right now, the only way to get to the restrooms is to go down the stairs off of the narthex or to use the outside ramp on the west side of the building. Having a restroom on this level is a convenience, certainly, but it is also a matter of hospitality and welcome. The new restroom will be completely handicapped-accessible and will be constructed in the area that is now the cry room. At the same time, we will be adding ventilation ducts to the narthex so that it can be air conditioned, which it is not now, and the doors between the narthex and the main part of the church will be replaced with glass doors. This will allow the entire narthex to be used by parents of young children if they need a place to walk with their child or take them when they are crying. But with these upgrades, people in the narthex will be able to participate more directly in the Mass. We will also be replacing all of the exterior doors at the three main entrances of the church. These doors are original to the building and have been in need of replacement for some time. The doors are not weather tight, so air and rain can come through them easily, and the locking mechanisms on many of the doors are difficult to use. They will be replaced with a similar style of door but ones which will help us save on heating and air-conditioning costs and will be more secure. But there's more.
While the construction in the narthex and at the entrances is being done, we will also be installing our new Baptismal Font here in the sanctuary. You may recall that almost a year ago we received an anonymous donation for the specific purpose on a new baptismal font. Our parishioner Ray Day designed the font, and our architect from Luckett and Farley took Ray’s design and made it build-able. The font will be located here in the sanctuary, in the same place as the current font, and will be in the shape of a cross made out of marble, some of which will come from pieces of the former communion rail. There will be an upper font for the baptism of infants and a lower font that can be used for the baptism of adults. There is also a designated area in the font to hold the Holy Oils that are used in various sacraments. Because of the size and shape of the font, we were going to need to rework some of the steps into the sanctuary and some of the flooring as well. So we decided to take this opportunity to redo the entire sanctuary floor. Some of the steps will be reconfigured, especially here by the ambo, to make walking around the ambo and font safer – you can already see the lines of the new steps marked on the floor. We will also be replacing the carpeting with a hardwood floor that will bring added durability and ease of care to the sanctuary as well as a more polished look to the area. The sanctuary upgrades and new flooring are being paid for by a portion of an estate that the parish received last year. Half of this estate was placed into our school endowment, and the rest was made available for future needs of the parish. Even after this project is completed, we will still have money left from this estate for future needs.
It is important to know that all of these projects are being funded by what we call designated gifts – the restroom, narthex, and doors are being paid for by the capital campaign, which asked for donations for these specific purposes. The baptismal font and sanctuary area are being paid for by a private donation and an estate. We are not using any of our regular operating funds or money from regular weekly collections for these projects – the money we receive on a weekly basis is used for our parish ministries and the regular, ongoing needs of our parish. Also, at a time when our economy is still trying to recover from a recession, we are blessed to be able to put money back into the economy, giving work to many people, including parishioners, whose businesses have been struggling in the recession. At the same time, through your generosity, we are able to award more need-based financial aid to school families this year than we ever have in the past, mainly through the success of the Kingdom Builders Tuition Assistance Program. Our St. Vincent de Paul Society, Soup Kitchens, and other Christian Service ministries continue to be active in reaching out to our community. And our ministries continue to flourish and to bring disciples to Christ. There is much good news to share about our parish ministries – but more on that next week.
In the church narthex and by the music area here at the front of the church, you can see drawings of both the baptismal font and the new restroom. Construction for both of these projects is scheduled to begin in the next few weeks. During the time of construction, we will continue to have our Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses here in the church, but all Masses during the week and other events scheduled for the church or Wagner Hall during the week will be moved to other locations – a full list of locations will be in the bulletin and on the parish website.
Finally, one announcement that is not related to any of our facilities or capital projects. A few months ago, I announced that Fr. Matthew Joy Choorapanthiyil would be living here at our parish priests’ residence three days a week while he served as part-time chaplain at Providence High School. The rest of the week, Fr. Matthew would be the administrator of three parishes in Perry County, Indiana. Since that announcement was made, we have been blessed to have a new priest move into our Archdiocese from New Hampshire in order to be closer to family. Archbishop Daniel has assigned this new priest to the three parishes in Perry County. So that means that Fr. Matthew has been freed up to be full-time chaplain at Providence High School with residence here at OLPH full time as well. He will be at Providence Monday through Friday each week. On the weekends, he will be helping out with Masses in parts of our deanery where priests have multiple parishes and also with the Indian Catholic community in Louisville. He will also occasionally be available to fill in for Masses here when I am away. Fr. Matthew will be moving in next week, and we look forward to welcoming him to our parish community.
Exodus 16.2-4, 12-15 Psalm 78 Ephesians 4.17, 20-24 John 6.24-35
Each year, I like to give an update on the life and ministries of the parish – something of a State of the Parish report. Most of the time, the report falls around the time of our patronal feast day, the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on June 27. But because of our parish-sponsored pilgrimage this past summer, the State of the Parish report has been left until now. And because there are so many exciting things and major projects going on in our parish, I am going to divide the report into two parts. This week, I’d like to give you an update on the Legacy for our Mission Capital Campaign and our capital projects, and next week I plan to give an update on our parish ministries and organizations. It is important for all of us to know the plan and vision of our parish, how we live as members of the Body of Christ in this particular local community. The community is the heart of our spiritual lives, and it always has been – from the community of Israelites who grumbled and complained to Moses about their lack of food to the crowd gathered around Jesus who wanted to know what they could do to accomplish the works of God. More on how we can build a loving, faithful, and prayerful community will come in next week’s update on our parish ministries. But first, the more practical, tangible update on our parish facilities.
Two-and-a-half years ago, our launched our parish portion of the Legacy for Our Mission Capital Campaign. This campaign has been conducted in all 150 parishes of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. After deducting campaign expenses and one year’s worth of the United Catholic Appeal, all contributions to the campaign are split 50/50 between the parish and the Archdiocese. As of June 30, 2009, our parishioners have pledged $1,178,384 for the campaign and we had received $796,767 in cash toward those pledges, or 67% of the total pledged amount. Most pledges were scheduled to be paid over a three-year period, and we have one year left – so we are right on track. Here in our parish, we have had several smaller projects that have been funded by the Capital Campaign. Over the past two years, we have upgraded Wagner Hall, the church basement, and its kitchen; we have purchased new computers for the school and parish office; we have installed a new sound system here in church; the bells in our bell tower have been repaired; and, most recently, the skylights here in church that had been leaking for many years have been replaced. These projects have all been important and needed upgrades to our facilities. Now, however, we are ready to proceed with what has probably been the most anticipated construction project funded by the capital campaign.
In just a few weeks, construction will begin on the installation of a handicapped-accessible restroom on the main level of the church, upgrades to the church narthex or gathering area, and replacement of the interior and exterior doors at the three entrances to the church. Since our church was built in 1966, one of its main downfalls has been the lack of a restroom on this level or easy access to the restrooms in the basement. Right now, the only way to get to the restrooms is to go down the stairs off of the narthex or to use the outside ramp on the west side of the building. Having a restroom on this level is a convenience, certainly, but it is also a matter of hospitality and welcome. The new restroom will be completely handicapped-accessible and will be constructed in the area that is now the cry room. At the same time, we will be adding ventilation ducts to the narthex so that it can be air conditioned, which it is not now, and the doors between the narthex and the main part of the church will be replaced with glass doors. This will allow the entire narthex to be used by parents of young children if they need a place to walk with their child or take them when they are crying. But with these upgrades, people in the narthex will be able to participate more directly in the Mass. We will also be replacing all of the exterior doors at the three main entrances of the church. These doors are original to the building and have been in need of replacement for some time. The doors are not weather tight, so air and rain can come through them easily, and the locking mechanisms on many of the doors are difficult to use. They will be replaced with a similar style of door but ones which will help us save on heating and air-conditioning costs and will be more secure. But there's more.
While the construction in the narthex and at the entrances is being done, we will also be installing our new Baptismal Font here in the sanctuary. You may recall that almost a year ago we received an anonymous donation for the specific purpose on a new baptismal font. Our parishioner Ray Day designed the font, and our architect from Luckett and Farley took Ray’s design and made it build-able. The font will be located here in the sanctuary, in the same place as the current font, and will be in the shape of a cross made out of marble, some of which will come from pieces of the former communion rail. There will be an upper font for the baptism of infants and a lower font that can be used for the baptism of adults. There is also a designated area in the font to hold the Holy Oils that are used in various sacraments. Because of the size and shape of the font, we were going to need to rework some of the steps into the sanctuary and some of the flooring as well. So we decided to take this opportunity to redo the entire sanctuary floor. Some of the steps will be reconfigured, especially here by the ambo, to make walking around the ambo and font safer – you can already see the lines of the new steps marked on the floor. We will also be replacing the carpeting with a hardwood floor that will bring added durability and ease of care to the sanctuary as well as a more polished look to the area. The sanctuary upgrades and new flooring are being paid for by a portion of an estate that the parish received last year. Half of this estate was placed into our school endowment, and the rest was made available for future needs of the parish. Even after this project is completed, we will still have money left from this estate for future needs.
It is important to know that all of these projects are being funded by what we call designated gifts – the restroom, narthex, and doors are being paid for by the capital campaign, which asked for donations for these specific purposes. The baptismal font and sanctuary area are being paid for by a private donation and an estate. We are not using any of our regular operating funds or money from regular weekly collections for these projects – the money we receive on a weekly basis is used for our parish ministries and the regular, ongoing needs of our parish. Also, at a time when our economy is still trying to recover from a recession, we are blessed to be able to put money back into the economy, giving work to many people, including parishioners, whose businesses have been struggling in the recession. At the same time, through your generosity, we are able to award more need-based financial aid to school families this year than we ever have in the past, mainly through the success of the Kingdom Builders Tuition Assistance Program. Our St. Vincent de Paul Society, Soup Kitchens, and other Christian Service ministries continue to be active in reaching out to our community. And our ministries continue to flourish and to bring disciples to Christ. There is much good news to share about our parish ministries – but more on that next week.
In the church narthex and by the music area here at the front of the church, you can see drawings of both the baptismal font and the new restroom. Construction for both of these projects is scheduled to begin in the next few weeks. During the time of construction, we will continue to have our Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses here in the church, but all Masses during the week and other events scheduled for the church or Wagner Hall during the week will be moved to other locations – a full list of locations will be in the bulletin and on the parish website.
Finally, one announcement that is not related to any of our facilities or capital projects. A few months ago, I announced that Fr. Matthew Joy Choorapanthiyil would be living here at our parish priests’ residence three days a week while he served as part-time chaplain at Providence High School. The rest of the week, Fr. Matthew would be the administrator of three parishes in Perry County, Indiana. Since that announcement was made, we have been blessed to have a new priest move into our Archdiocese from New Hampshire in order to be closer to family. Archbishop Daniel has assigned this new priest to the three parishes in Perry County. So that means that Fr. Matthew has been freed up to be full-time chaplain at Providence High School with residence here at OLPH full time as well. He will be at Providence Monday through Friday each week. On the weekends, he will be helping out with Masses in parts of our deanery where priests have multiple parishes and also with the Indian Catholic community in Louisville. He will also occasionally be available to fill in for Masses here when I am away. Fr. Matthew will be moving in next week, and we look forward to welcoming him to our parish community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)