ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEDICATION OF SAINT PIUS X CATHOLIC CHURCH

27 FEBRUARY 2022

 

            When Jesus asks his disciples what others are saying about him, he is not surprised by their answers:  John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.  All these answers have a common denominator.  People expected the Messiah to be in the line of prophets who would speak God’s truth to his people.  However, Simon Peter gives the correct answer:  “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Simon Peter has not made a lucky guess.  Nor has he figured this out on his own.  As Jesus points out, it is his heavenly Father who has revealed this truth to him.  Jesus is not impressed with Peter because of any extraordinary intellectual abilities.  Nor is he impressed by any extraordinary holiness.  Peter has neither of these qualities.  When we read about Peter in the New Testament, it is clear that he often sticks his foot in his mouth.  The Scriptures also reveal the list of Peter’s sins.  He denies that Jesus should fulfill his mission as a suffering servant.  He takes his eyes off Jesus when he walks on the waters of the Sea of Galilee and sinks below the surface.  He falls asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus asks him to watch and pray with him.  Worst of all, he is consumed with fear and denies knowing Jesus three times.

Jesus is impressed with Peter’s profession of faith.  He has heard the Word of God.  He has also kept it close to his heart and pondered it.  He has come to believe that the promise God has made to his ancestors has been fulfilled in Jesus.  We assemble every Sunday in this church built of physical stones, because we are the spiritual stones built on the rock of Saint Peter’s profession of faith to do what Peter has done.  We listen to God.  We process our faith in his promise.  We become one body in the Eucharist.

The Prophet Ezekiel describes another sacred building built of physical stones.  He writes to his people while in captivity with them in Babylon.  They have lost their hope and have concluded that God has abandoned them. Their Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed by the invading Babylonians.  However, he sees himself standing on the Mount of Olives across the Kedron Valley looking at a reconstructed Temple.  Knowing that the Temple represents God’s presence and love for his people, he sees life giving water flowing out of the Temple, bringing life to everything it touches.  God’s love even brings life to the Dead Sea, demonstrating God’s creative ability to restore the newness of the Garden of Eden.

We are here in this church built by the incredible generosity of so many people for the honor and privilege of praising God.  We ask for Peter’s intercession to do what he did in the presence of Christ, the Messiah.  The Lord is truly present in the Sacramental life of the Church.  Despite Peter’s weaknesses and failings, he gradually learned to surrender himself to the life-giving waters of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We can commit ourselves to imitate the model of our patron, Pope Saint Pius X to renew all things in Christ.  We can allow his life-giving waters to flow through us and from us to make a difference in our world torn apart by sin, division, hatred, and war.

On Wednesday, we will be marked with the ashes that commit us to spend the next Forty Days seeking to renounce our own wills and our own ways of doing things.  These Forty Days of grace can unite us more closely to the Mission of Jesus Christ.  As we use the tools of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we can answer the question Jesus had posed to Peter:  “Who do you say that I am?”  Like Peter, we can respond to conform ourselves more closely to the One who has given himself for us out of love.

 

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

20 FEBRUARY 2022

 

            Saul had been anointed by Samuel as the first king of Israel.  Unfortunately, Saul became consumed with jealousy at the success of David, who had won the victory over Goliath, the Philistine.  The king was convinced that David was trying to overthrow him.  In today’s first reading, David proves conclusively that the king is wrong.  David demonstrates his respect for the Lord’s anointed one when he refuses to kill his enemy, even though the king is trying to kill him.  Saul refuses to listen and is killed in battle.  David succeeds him as king.  Despite David’s flaws and sins, he is remembered as Israel’s greatest king.

            Jesus is the descendent of David who has come to establish his Kingdom in our midst.  Unlike David, he has no flaws and no sins.  In establishing his kingdom, he calls his disciples to a more radical love.  In the new Israel, disciples must go beyond the commands of the Law of Moses to love their neighbors.  We must love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us.  In other words, Jesus commands us to love as he will love us by giving himself on the cross to show his love for us.

            The Lord is speaking directly to us.  In the past few years, we have suffered deep divisions in our families, in our parish, and even in our school.  With arguments over masking, vaccinations, and other issues, COVID has put us even more on edge.  Sadly, within our different communities, factions have evolved that have pitted us against each other as enemies.  Jesus tells us to be civil with one another in our differences.  We cannot vilify or take revenge on those with whom we disagree.  We cannot make fun of them.  We cannot make up nicknames that offend them.  We must intensify our efforts to love them, to do good to them, to bless them, and to pray for them.

            His words apply to us also as we renew our commitment to the Stewardship of Sacrificial Giving.  We can be tempted to attach strings to our gifts.  We can say that I give my gift only if the ones receiving do what I want.  Jesus assures us that generosity will be returned to us in ways that we can never imagine.

            Dan McDonough has come to believe in the Stewardship of Sacrificial Giving.  Please listen to his story, as you pray over your own decision to share a generous portion of your treasure.

 

Stewardship of Sacrificial Giving

Hi, my name is Dan McDonough and I have a question I’d like you ponder for a couple minutes. “Is it possible to out give God?” This summer I will be married to my wife Jody for 34 years. We have two boys, Matt and Sam. Although we have not been parishioners here for a long time, my parents have been here over 30 years and we’ve often come to church with them over that time. I learned about tithing at a very young age and got my first chance to tithe as a teenager. At 19, I had my first commission sales job. I remember praying to God way back then asking God to help me be successful in sales, because the more I sold the more I could give. That started me on a lifelong habit of sharing what I’ve been given. I enjoy giving and helping others. You really do feel better when you are generous. I’ve been through several up and down times in my adult life. Overall, I’m grateful for all God has blessed me with. We’ve always tried to give, even when we had nothing. About 12 years ago, we were facing possible bankruptcy. We had borrowed all we could, and I was not sure what to do. Maybe we didn’t give much then, but we still gave from what little we had. It was then that others were generous to us. It was humbling, but I’m forever grateful for those that were there for us. Over the next four years things gradually improved, and we dug our way out of the hole we were in. We grow as Christians when we are tested and things are tough, not when things are easy. I’ve heard countless stories about people who gave when they had little to give, only to have been blessed with a gift later that dwarfed what they gave. I’m not saying you will always be repaid financially, but in some way you will. Even if it does not happen here. The ultimate gift we could receive would be to spend eternity with God. I’ve not met too many people that like to talk about money and tithing, especially Catholic pastors. It’s an uncomfortable subject for most, but someone has to do it. A parish like St. Pius has lots of expenses to keep all the many ministries, buildings and people in place to serve the needs of its parishioners. St. Pius really offers so many ways to be involved, but there is a cost to accomplish that. When it comes to ministries in any parish, many people feel that someone else will step up, that they don’t have time or the money to share. Matthew Kelly has said that 20 % of the people in a parish give 80% of time, treasure and talents. I’d like to challenge anyone who feels that they are probably not in the 20%, to do more. I know that I can do more as well; we must push ourselves out of our comfort zones. Remember this, it’s all God’s anyway, he’s just letting us use it while we are here. We must be good shepherds of all we’ve been given. He is going to ask us what we did to feed his children. For those who are not doing so, I strongly encourage you to use the electronic giving format. It helps you assure that you are giving consistently every week, even when you are out of town. It helps the parish budget as well. Faith is what we need to rely on. Have faith that you can give, and everything will be fine. God will not abandon you because you are sharing what he gave you. I’m not sure that anyone could give like the widow that gave the only two coins she had, but we are not being asked to do that much. During our married life, we’ve been very involved in 4 parishes. I’ve been on many CRHP teams, church committees, school boards, etc. Often, I would think, I really don’t have time for all of this with as busy as I am. But looking back, it helped us grow into who we are now. I promise you; we ALL think we are too busy to get involved, and most of us are wrong in that assessment. It’s amazing how it all works out, whether it’s giving of time, talent or treasure. So, in closing I’d like to return to my original question. “Is it possible to out give God?” I contend that the answer is obviously a resounding NO. I’ve been saying for years, “You can’t out give God”. If you only remember one thing I said, remember that. God Bless

 

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

13 FEBRUARY 2022

 

            In the first reading, the Prophet Jeremiah contrasts the blessings enjoyed by a person who trusts in the Lord with the curses suffered by one who trusts only in human beings.  He compares the one who trusts in the Lord to a tree planted beside the waters.  It stretches out its roots to the stream for nourishment.  He compares the one who trusts only in human beings to a barren bush in the desert.  It is isolated from the life-giving stream and stuck in a salt and empty waste.  Our Psalm contains these same contrasts.  In both cases, the tree does not accidentally find itself near the stream.  It is planted there!

            In the Gospel, Jesus uses this same literary device to contrast the blessings of those who have embraced his message with the curses of those who have refused.  Saint Luke tells us that he gives this version of the Beatitudes on level ground to the Twelve, the crowd of disciples, and to a large number of curious folks.  He is on level ground, because he has emptied himself of the privileges of divinity and taken on their nature.  He invites them to empty themselves of any attachments that keep them from embracing God’s gracious gift of love.  He calls the poor blessed (or happy or fortunate), because they do not need to have any status or wealth to be numbered as part of the Kingdom of God.  Those who are hungry are blessed, because they do not depend on any other external quantity to satisfy them.  Those who are weeping are blessed, because they can express sorrow over the power of sin in our world, especially in its power to draw us from a deeper connection with Jesus Christ.  Disciples are blessed when they have the courage to speak the truth in the face of rejection and persecution.

            Then he warns those who have not emptied himself that they are cursed.  The rich are cursed, because they think that their power or possessions can save them.  Those who are filled up cannot imagine being hungry for the Lord’s presence.  Those who pursue the feelings of happiness cannot understand the dangers of being drawn away from intimacy with the Lord.  Those who value popularity with other people above all cannot expect to be conformed to the image of Christ, who embraced rejection and trusted in being raised from the dead.

            Jesus is calling his disciples to respond to God’s love with action.  The Second Vatican Council insisted on a renewal of moral theology to emphasize that Christian living draw more on the Scriptures.  With that instruction, we can understand that the Beatitudes reveal God’s plan for our happiness here and in the world to come.  As we listen, we need to be aware that the Paschal Mystery of the Lord’s death and resurrection overshadows these words of Jesus.  Jesus invites us to be part of his kingdom now.  The kingdom is not a place.  Rather, it is a verb, a reality that he has brought to us and which he invites us to embrace. 

            With the aid of God’s grace, we can learn to live these Beatitudes by practicing the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.  Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can embrace the moral virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.  Then the fruits of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, and peace – can become more manifest in our lives.

            Jesus Christ does not want any of his beloved disciples to be cursed.  He wants us to be happy and fortunate.  He wants us to see each other as equal in the kingdom of God, hungering for his love, aware of the power of sin, and one with him in speaking an unpopular truth.  He also warns us against the dangers of relying on ourselves and our possessions, on filling our lives with what we think will fulfill our deepest hungers, pursuing the transitional emotion of happiness all the time, and pursuing popularity at all costs.  He wants our behavior to put us firmly in the Kingdom of God now.

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

6 FEBRUARY 2022

 

            Simon is doing what he does every day, washing his nets after fishing all night.  He allows Jesus to use his boat as a pulpit, because he had witnessed Jesus healing his mother-in-law.  Suddenly, Jesus tells Peter to return to deep water and lower his nets for a catch.  Peter is frustrated by this request of someone who knows nothing about fishing.  But, because he had heard the words of this itinerant preacher whom he calls “Master,” he obeys his command.  When he and his partners recognize the miracle of the huge catch of fish, he addresses Jesus as Lord and falls to his knees.  Like the Prophet Isaiah who had also encountered the Divine, Simon recognizes his unworthiness before the presence of the Son of God.  Jesus tells him not to be afraid, in spite of his unworthiness. 

            In 1840, a forty-two year old woman set sail from France to cross the Ocean to America.  She had been a comfortable single woman who did not speak English.  She had every reason to stay in France, to live her life in a familiar environment.  Once she reached this country, she set down a new life in the wilderness of southern Indiana.  She faced nearly impossible challenges, but did not fear and never looked back.  Her name is Mother Theodore Guerin, a Catholic nun recently canonized by Pope Francis.  Her image is on our triumphal arch, because she is a fellow Hoosier.  By the time of her death, she established several Catholic schools, some of them in Fort Wayne.  She founded an order of nuns and organized the oldest Catholic Liberal Arts College for women in America, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in Terre Haute.   She recognized the call of God in the ordinary circumstances of her daily life and ventured into the deep and uncharted waters. 

            Mother Guerin followed the example of those we encounter in today’s readings.  Isaiah was praying in the Temple, trying to stay focused.  He responded to the Lord’s call to become the most beloved Prophet of the Old Testament.  Saul was making his way to Damascus to take care of business.  On his way, he encountered the risen Lord.  He became Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.  Simon puts out into deep water and becomes Simon Peter, the first of the Apostles.

            The Lord continues to call each of us in our comfortable daily existence to put into the deep water.  Perhaps you are in an ongoing feud with a fellow worker or a neighbor.  The Lord might be calling you to cast your net into the deep water of forgiveness and mercy and tolerance.  Married couples can get stuck in the ordinary circumstances of simply tolerating each other.  The Lord might be calling you to cast your nets into a more profound and intimate experience of the Sacrament of marriage.  The Lord might be calling young people to the deeper water of personal encounter with others instead of being stuck in the common experience of online contact.

            Perhaps the Lord is calling us to do what Mother Guerin did –commit ourselves deep water of humble service.  The pandemic has taken a hit on our ability to serve the needs of others as parish stewards.  We are trying to rebuild that stewardship.  The Lord might be calling you to be part of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society to care for the poor and vulnerable.  He might be calling you to serve the needs of those who come to bury their dead here, offering consolation and a shared meal.  He might be calling you to serve as a minister of hospitality to welcome in his name those who come to the parish wondering if they can experience the Lord’s presence here.  Faithful stewards do not cast their nets into the deep water for their own benefit.  We cast our nets for the benefit of others.  We will be successful if our service is rooted in Christ.

Through the intercession of Mother Guerin, we can take steps into the unknown to make a difference and evangelize in our own ways and our own time.  If a fellow Hoosier who lived on the border of Kentucky can do it, so can we who live on the border of Michigan!