YOU BUSY?

PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING OUT THE NEWMAN CATHOLIC CENTER WITH OUT CHRISTMAS APPEAL - Read More HERE

Hi everyone! HAPPY NEW YEAR! In the Church with the start of Advent we start a new liturgical year. The readings for today’s Mass can be found at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/112909.shtml - Thanks as always for reading and your feedback. Fr Jim

HOMILY:

Have you ever been hit with a “zing” of a comment? You know, when someone takes something you’ve said and somehow turns it against you, making you feel or look stupid? Surprisingly, this happens to me a lot - draw your own conclusions as to why. I have to admit, the last time it happened to me it was so unexpected, so unwarranted it really was like a punch in the stomach. I was aggravated that this guy - who happens to be a fellow priest - an older retired guy (and you’d think retired priests wouldn’t do these kinds of things anymore - aren't they supposed to be more worried about approaching death or something?) - like I was saying, I was aggravated he was still able to get me.
“Hey Jim - how’ve you been? Haven’t seen or talked to you for a long time. What are you up to?” he asked. So I said, “Well I’ve been the campus minister and director of the Newman Center at Montclair State for over two years now.” “I never had an assignment like that Jim, how is that work?” So I told him, “It really is terrific - I really love this ministry, I love the students I work with. I just find it hard to keep up with everything, though. The weeks seem to fly by and I can’t believe that another semester is finishing up. It seems like yesterday we were having our welcome back barbeque and I blinked and we’re at the end of the semester. Then once we get to Winter Break, we have this conference that we’re taking about 40 students to over break for five days four nights. It’s really great and there’s just a lot going on.”
“Wow, Jim, I have to tell you - you sound like you're the second busiest priest in the Archdiocese.”
Taken in by this old man’s gentle, meek demeanor, imagining some higher spiritual insight or wisdom he was about to share, I foolishly asked, “Who’s the first?” And he said, “EVERY OTHER PRIEST IN THE ARCHDIOCESE.”
Ouch.
Yeah, my two older brothers slamming me verbally like this, or one of the students at Newman, well, I’ve come to accept as a part of my life, but this threw me because it really was so very unexpected.
But when I thought about it - he is kind of right. Most priests are busy - really busy. One of my best friends is a campus minister AND a Pastor - he’s busy. And the more I think about it - everyone seems pretty busy. We seem to rush from one thing to the next, and simply try to get through whatever it is that’s currently in front of us, knowing there’s plenty of other things just on the horizon. College students barely start one semester before mid-terms seem to sneak up, followed by papers and projects and finals and yet another semester is quickly over. A friend of mine who works on Wall Street never seems to break out of the vicious cycle of daily updates, weekly summaries, quarterly reports, annual evaluations . . . and is always stressed about what’s next. Parents (somehow) have to deal with their own lives - conflicts from work, sacrifices that are essential to keep their marriage going - not to mention meeting the needs of their own kids, where they are in their lives - yes parents are busy. Even my parents both of whom are retired, still seem incredibly busy - whether it’s babysitting, taking someone to a doctor’s appointment or fulfilling someone else’s request (because people assume they can do it now that they're retired) - yes, we all seem to be living complex lives with packed schedules, struggling to meet the never-ending demands of life.
With all this busy- ness, some come to Mass simply to clear their minds of all their demands; some come here as a break from all that 'white noise.' Especially at this time of year, we know Christmas is coming – we’ve seen wreaths, trees, we've heard Christmas music since Columbus day – the demands of the season start to weigh on people. And so some of us are here just for a break, or because we know that Christmas is about Jesus Christ’s Birth, and we hope to gain some distance from the chaos out there and some perspective, some realization that Jesus really is the reason for the season.
Because I think that’s where a lot of people are coming from, it’s understandable that today’s readings can, on first reading, seem less than helpful. Far from hearing about shepherds and Joseph and Mary awaiting the birth of the baby Jesus, we hear Jesus himself talking about the “end of the world.” And what does Jesus do? He gives us even more work - “Be vigilant” He says, telling us not to let the last day catch us by surprise like a trap. (Oh great - something else to do!)
Yet, in reality, if a shift in our perspective is truly what we’re looking for, if making “Jesus the reason for the season” is really our goal, if freedom from the business and stress of our daily life is something we long and hope for – and if we can listen again to what Jesus is asking us to do - we should welcome these words.
Because in reminding us that there will be an end to this world - there will be a day when Jesus comes back, a day which will mark the end of the history of earth; whether we live to see that or not, there will be an end to our own part of this earthly drama, there will be a day when our own, busy lives will end, and so much of what occupies our daily existence- so much of what contributes to our daily stress level - so much of what makes our busy-ness so busy on that day really won't matter any more.
Either at the end of our lives or at the end of all time, we’re going to (finally) find ourselves face to face with Jesus. If we’ve been seeking Him every day of our lives, if we’ve been desiring this union, if we’ve been trying to follow His call in our workaday lives, if we’ve gratefully received His grace and His love and tried to respond to it in how we’ve related to Him and to others - then that’s a day of great joy that we are looking forward to.
If, however, we’ve been preoccupied, if our vision has been obscured, if we (kind of) know Jesus’ voice is out there, somewhere, amidst the 'sound and fury, signifying nothing' which is all around us - if we have treated His call as only one possible call among equals - then we live in fear of that day - it’s the deadline we know is coming, although we do not know when.
Advent calls us to “prepare for the Lord” - not simply to study or make a historical remembrance of Jesus’ entrance into our chronology; nor to live under the gloomy cloud of end-time worry, living in fear of that day when human history will end. We are to prepare for the Lord - with fear and joy - today and always. We are to be focused on the things of the Lord, to make sure He is our greatest priority, our one 'ever fixed mark'; to make certain that, when He does returns, He will find we have been ever seeking Him, that we have been truly and deliberately 'busy' doing His work on earth, and are, at last, overjoyed to be reunited with Him, finally, in heaven.

THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING

PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING OUT THE NEWMAN CATHOLIC CENTER WITH OUT CHRISTMAS APPEAL - Read More HERE

So four years ago I was writing some OP-ED pieces for Fox News' website. I had forgotten about this till someone had directed me to this after they had found it on Google.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

What makes America great?

Depending upon your perspective, your experience or your history, the answer to that question will vary. For many nations, greatness is measured by military strength. By this measure, the United States is peerless.

The bravery with which young men and women volunteer to risk their lives in service to our country is a measure of American greatness. Today, we are mindful of those serving so far from their homes and families so that we could enjoy this holiday in peace and security.

Another measure of a nations greatness is it's diversity. Whether you use the term "melting pot" or "salad bowl" to describe it, the variety of races, religions, cultures and nationalities that have made their home in the United States is a characteristic of our nation that is uniquely American. Though there have been some serious lapses throughout our nation's history, America has always strived to offer all the opportunity to live in peace. Today, we have a peaceful nation where Muslims, Christians and Jews can be on a line in a department store or in the same restaurant and not fear the other. This is something of which many people in other nations are rightfully envious.

Some would argue that a nation's greatness comes from things over which they have no control, such as the physical land that nation occupies. For some countries, problems such as poverty or hunger are caused by their location. America is also great in this sense--from rich farmland to busy sea ports, from reserves of natural resources to thriving cities, from the Rocky Mountains to California's beaches.

All of these things make America great, but these are not all that make America great. There is something more, which encompasses all of these and reveals the true greatness of this nation. What makes America great is that it is the greatest experiment of faith ever attempted. Our nation was founded by Christians who were fleeing religious persecution. Our forefathers believed that each person had a soul, and that soul was made and given as a gift by a creator. They knew that the greatest gift in the heart of a soul was the freedom to chose between what is right and wrong.

Our Founders had faith in God, and tried to create a nation where everyone could choose their own way to serve him. Our national songs do not say, "God Save the Queen or King;" we sang "God Bless America." We imprint "In God We Trust" on our institutions; We pledge to be "one nation under God."

Today, there are many who disparage religion's influence on America. They don't want to hear that our leaders believe in God and openly practice their faith. They want to remove traces of religion from public places--whether it's a plaque of the Ten Commandments in a court house, or Christmas carols being sung in a public school. Yet, Thanksgiving isn't about turkey, Pilgrims or football.

Thanksgiving was first proclaimed by President George Washington in 1789 with these words "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor...[we] recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors Almighty God."

You'd expect to hear this from a member of the clergy. Yet, our first president, in proclaiming Thanksgiving a national holiday, articulated the belief that was in the hearts of the people who had entered into this great faith experiment that is America. When the United States finally became a truly free and independent nation, it must have seemed miraculous. So our forefathers thanked God for their many blessings.

As millions gather with their families this Thanksgiving, our prayer at this meal is obviously one of thanking God, but also a prayer of petition that Americans will be able to rediscover their spiritual selves, and draw strength and comfort from their individual spiritual faiths in the same matter that our Founders did, a faith that guided them in creating this great nation, and has sustained American greatness to this very day.

THE CONFLICTED HOMILIST

PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING OUT THE NEWMAN CATHOLIC CENTER WITH OUT CHRISTMAS APPEAL - Read More HERE

So here’s an insight into the way the Lord works with me and my own humanity getting in the way... I usually start praying with the Sunday scriptures Monday morning and throughout the week as I’m praying with it, jot words, and ideas down as the Spirit hits me.

This past week, probably for a variety of reasons I was distracted. For a 10 minute homily, I ended up investing probably close to 11 hours of prepartion (not including my holy hours/prayer time)

Yet I was very distracted. At one point I had 6 word perfect documents open at the same time with different ideas - some with dead ends, some that seemed “possible”. On Saturday I came up with a completely new homily and then Sunday afternoon I revisited another idea I had and went back to that. So in effect I preached two different homilies this weekend and wasn’t really “satisfied” with either.

Perhaps this is just a lesson in humility for me or the Lord is trying to tell me something.

So last night I posted the homily I delivered to the students at MSU. What follows is the homily I preached at the parish I assist at Sunday Morning. I kind of was unhappy with both so I’m curious - if you had your choice - which would you rather hear and why? – The one that follows below; the one I posted last night (Is Christ our King?) Or none of the above... (Curiosity...)


HOMILY

If you were home this morning rather than here, and you turned on the television, more than likely you would not be able to escape political news talk shows. There’s a whole bunch of them, on every different channel for a couple of hours. You have to wonder what was the motivation for these discussion shows to land on Sunday morning. Perhaps it’s a way to get American’s blood flowing on a Sunday morning before an afternoon (and evening) of sports.

The thing about these shows is that - the faces and names differ from channel to channel, but they really seem the same no matter which you tune into. There’s a moderator who attempts to be a mediator as conservative and liberal or Republican and Democrat journalists and politicians are invited to discuss a current event or issue. But quickly these discussions devolve into shouting matches or people “over-talking” one another.

Truth of the matter is that this doesn’t seem to be confined to television programming anymore. The mere mentioning of a variety of current issues seems to evoke strong feelings from people - Health Care; Immigration; Taxes; Abortion; Terrorism/how we treat captured terrorists; Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For many reasons, people seem to have become very polarized and extreme in their positions on each and everyone of these issues. You either are for something or against it and whichever camp you belong to, the other group is your enemy. We look to November like the Super Bowl of politics to see who’s “winning” and who’s “losing” as these battles seem to be decided on election day. November 2004 saw Republicans celebrating. November 2008 Democrats had their turn. And people are already speculating what will happen next year or three years from now.

Yes, sadly, politics has become a sport for many people. Rather than thinking about what is right, what is just, instead of acting for the good of all the self interests of politicians and lobbyists for different groups or constituencies seems to rule the day. The notion of compromise isn’t about people coming together to forge a solution on something but rather what individuals do to their values just so they can win. It’s no wonder that so many become frustrated and disgusted with the whole thing that rather than become engaged in issues they become apathetic. The number of people who are eligible to vote but actually turn out on election day still hovers around 50%. And when pollsters talk to those who actually do cast ballots, often times people say they doubt that even the person they voted for will actually do anything to improve things.

A bit discouraging isn’t it? With such polarization and more and more people becoming either extreme in their views or apathetic (and sometimes ignorant) to them, you’re left with two sides who are absolutely convinced that they are right - that they speak the truth and that the other side is completely wrong. In the process the one thing that both sides seem convinced that they possess, “the truth” is actually discarded..

That’s what’s happening in the Gospel today. Jesus is dragged before Pilate. His own people, fellow Jews have had it with Him - what he’s saying - what he’s doing. These same individuals hate the Romans for occupying their land, for making them second class citizens in their own country, but they hate Jesus even more that they want Him gone. They don’t simply want him imprisoned, they want him crucified.

Now Pilate, has no love for the people he is responsible to govern. So he tries some politics - Jesus violated Jewish rules not Roman laws, why are you bringing him to me? OK, you people want him killed - it’s Passover and it’s Roman custom to release a prisoner sentenced to death - you want me to release a crazed, convicted murderer named Barrabas or do you want this guy who basically you are bringing here because you find him annoying, Jesus?

We know what happens. The Jewish leaders got louder and louder; Pilate, despite knowing in his heart of hearts that Jesus was an innocent man compromises his values and allows a murderer to go free and Jesus to be crucified. And, the truth is discarded once again. In this case, the embodiment of “the truth” - Jesus Christ, God’s Son is crucified.

It’s kind of peculiar for us to focus on this gospel, and this reality on a feast we celebrate called CHRIST THE KING. Yet, the Church in her wisdom uses the contradiction as a call to humility and a call to reality.

The world has always and will always reject Jesus Christ. His radical call of selfless, sacrificial love isn’t as popular in a world in a culture looking for people to pick sides of an issue, be counted on to support a certain ideology or candidate. God’s kingdom could never be run by humanity because quite simply humanity always has to deal with original sin, which at it’s core is self-centeredness: Who need God when we can be God’s ourselves?

Jesus is brought before Pilate in the Gospel and questioned “Are you the King of the Jews?” From the scene that’s before Pilate with Jesus’ own people turning Him in to a hated occupying force, the evidence would appear to be pretty obvious to any observer - “ah, No”. Yet Pilate asks the question anyway. Perhaps recognizing that despite the loud and conflicting voices, there was something royal about this man before him. Perhaps seeing truth within this man, but still unwilling to sacrifice himself to stand up for the truth.

For you and I Pilate’s question resonates thousands of years later. Do we recognize Christ as our King? Are we ready and willing to lay down our opinions, our politics, our wants, our desires to truly serve, to desire to follow the embodiment of “truth.” The King calls out, still looking for those wish to hear his voice.

IS CHRIST OUR KING?

This is my homily for the FEAST OF JESUS CHRIST THE KING - Sunday, November 22, 2009. The readings can be found at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/112209.shtml

Thanks as always for reading and your feedback. God Bless, Father Jim

HOMILY:

Are you the King of the Jews - Pilate asks Jesus, and by all appearances, it sure doesn’t seem like it, does it? King’s aren’t usually turned in by their own people to an enemy. You have to be really hated for that to happen. And that’s what’s going on here. The Jews hated the Romans. Hated them for occupying their land. Hated them for making them live under their rule. Hated them for treating them like second class citizens. So they must really hate Jesus to be looking for the Roman authorities to take care of him. Not exactly royal. Not exactly what we imagine a King to be.

We kind of have in our minds what a King should be like. Maybe you’re like me and think of that guy from the movie 300. King Leonidas. The guy becomes king because when he was a kid, he makes a spear and kills this giant wolf. That’s cool right there, isn’t it? I mean, considering what a mess our political scene is, that seems as good a way to pick a leader as any. (Just kidding on that) Years later in the movie, these messengers come from Persia, a larger, more powerful kingdom and they demand the Spartans submit to their king peacefully or that they would be attacked, enslaved and taken over. King Leonidas doesn’t take those threats too kindly - he kicks the messengers down this massive well to their deaths. Then realizing that the Persians probably are going to be ticked off and attack them, King Leonidas leads this band of 300 men to battle against this massive army from Persia. Most (if not all) of the 300 realize that this is certain to end with their deaths - yet the King would never consider surrender. In the end, the Spartans prove to be more difficult to deal with than Persia expected. Even though the 300 would lose their lives the King and his men’s valor and sacrifice inspire the people of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy.

The scene we have of Jesus Christ our King in this Gospel is the complete opposite. There’s no one in sight coming to Jesus’ rescue. In fairness Jesus had told Peter in the Gospel just a few passages before to put away his sword. So what could be done? We’ve heard this story before, so we know what’s going to happen next. Pilate would ignore the truth of Jesus’ innocence. Instead compromising the truth so as not to hear the angry hateful voices that were shouting “CRUCIFY HIM” turn on Pilate himself. So the embodiment of truth, Jesus Christ, the Son of God ends up nailed to a tree.

If that were the end of the story, it would be ridiculous to look to Jesus as a King. We know that Jesus is King because we know that Jesus’ story didn’t end on the cross or in the grave. We know that Jesus rose from the dead, ascended to God’s right hand in the heavenly kingdom and that He remains with us in this His Word and in His Body and Blood which he gives us to eat in the Eucharistic Bread and wine

On the Feast of Christ the King, you would think we’d read something from the Gospels about those realities of our faith rather than this scene that we just heard focusing on Jesus’ trial. I doubt the directors of 300 would pick this scene to celebrate Christ the King.

So what’s the Church thinking? I think it’s meant to remind us that this feast isn’t just about that fact that Christ is our King because he has destroyed Sin and Death in his crucifixion and resurrection. It is meant to point out that this world still seems to want to fight our king. This world continues to question his authority. This world continues to put Jesus on trial. This world has always and will always reject Jesus Christ as it’s King.

Jesus’ radical call of selfless, sacrificial love isn’t popular in this world of ours. To follow this King means being obedient rather than seek power. It means putting others first rather than trying to be first. It means trying to live our lives with that same radical, selfless and sacrificial love that He had.

It sounds good, so why does it still elude us? Because people of this world still feel the effects of original sin – We go right back to the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. The sin of Adam and Eve wasn’t simply about eating a piece of fruit as much as it was self-centeredness. By doing the complete opposite of what God asked them to do, by buying into the lie of the serpent, they basically asked - Who need God when we can be god’s ourselves?

So the trial of Jesus, the interrogation by Pilate resonates thousands of years later. We are asked point blank, is Jesus our King? Or are we stuck with Adam, Eve and many of those who live focused on this world who still try to be gods themselves, living by their own rules, making their own definitions of things, rejecting Jesus and His Gospel.

To be a follower might not seem as dramatic as following King Leonidas to the battlefields against the mighty Persians, but make no mistake, our King is calling us to battle each and every day in small but meaningful and eternally important ways -

Do we cheat in that class?
Do we sleep with that girl or that guy?
Do we take that drug?
Do we make fun of that classmate, roommate or colleague?
Do we forget about that relative who’s suffering because we have stuff to do too?
Do we refrain from telling someone that something’s wrong because we don’t want to deal with the hassle of testifying to the truth?

“Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus has already answered that in his death and resurrection. Is Jesus really our King? The choices we make, the lives we live gives testimony to where our allegiance ultimately lies.

HELP ! CHRISTMAS APPEAL!!!!

-- Homily for this past Sunday November 15 follows this note...

Dear Friends of Newman:

Have you ever felt like you’re living in an alternate universe? Spending some time with us here at the Newman Center you might begin to wonder. In an expanding secular world that seems to question the validity of religion’s place... In a culture that seems to be encouraging everyone, especially young people to “Eat, Drink and be Merry for tomorrow we die,” you would be encouraged and inspired to witness what is happening here at the Newman Catholic Center here at Montclair State University.

Our Sunday Night Mass continues to be the most important thing we do as the Catholic Campus Ministry here at MSU and is becoming a fixture on the campus as the number of students continues to increase. Visitors joining us often comment how beautiful and uplifting our liturgies are - and especially how the “students are filled with Joy.” But our activity doesn’t end there. The number of students coming to daily Mass has tripled since last year. Eucharistic Adoration is offered weekly as more and more students want to spend time with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. In fact, between all the spiritual activities, community service opportunities offered on a weekly basis, and the usual number of social events - there’s usually several things going on every day of the semester.

In addition, this semester we have been blessed with 5 missionaries from FOCUS - the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. These selfless young men and women are recent college graduates, who sacrifice two to three years of their lives to Jesus and His Church by ministering to their peers. The missionaries have added so much in such a short period of time. They presently conduct ten bible studies per week; hold monthly Men’s and Women’s Evenings focusing on living chaste, soberly and pursuing excellence in academics and life (as Jesus came that we might “have life and have it more abundantly” - John 10:10) They are challenging their brothers and sisters to realize how they are “Made for More” than what the world shortchanges them as.

There’s so many wonderful things happening here, that it might feel like an alternate universe, but we are very much apart of this world. So I know that this is a difficult economy for many people, but I am confident that I can turn to you - our parents, friends and supporters - will help us continue to do the good work God is directing us to do here for His children. With the increase of students, and programming, our needs continue to increase for supplies and financial resources. Whether it’s something as trivial (but important!) as food for an event or paying a registration fee for a student unable to afford attending FOCUS national conference this December in Florida, we have had to dip into our savings to meet these challenges. I am hoping that this Christmas Season we will be able to raise $10,000 so that we can continue to build on all the good we have started as well as purchase much needed furniture for our new community room (our basement – which was renovated through your generosity this past summer).

Thank you for all of your support and your prayers for us. We remember you often in our prayers, especially when we look around the house and see what has been accomplished through your generosity. May God’s saving Love which we celebrate with the Birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas, shine brightly upon you and your loved ones at this special season of faith.
In Christ’s Peace and Love -



Father Jim Chern,
Chaplain & Director

Please send all donations to: NEWMAN CATHOLIC CENTER; 894 Valley Road; Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

OPRAH IS NOT EQUAL TO JESUS (Shocker, isn’t it?)

Hi everyone - here’s my homily for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time - Sunday November 15, 2009. The readings can be found at http://www.usccb.org/nab/111509.shtml . I appreciate you’re reading this and sharing it as well as all of your comments and feedback

God Bless- Father Jim

HOMILY:

I am not an Oprah Winfrey fan. This may or may not shock you. It’s nothing personal. I’m not much of a talk show fan, period. So I could just as easily (and accurately say) I am not a Jay Leno fan or a David Letterman fan. I can’t stand their shows. I'd much rather watch episodes of “The Office” or “Seinfeld.” Anyway, back to Oprah, no, I’m not a fan of hers. And I realize that puts me at odds with what is popular or what is considered “mainstream” in America.

Because, by many standards, Oprah is the epitome of “mainstream”. Actually, to give credit where credit is due, she helps define what is mainstream. She sticks an “O” sticker on a book, and it’s #1 in the NY Times Best Sellers' list. That’s why former Vice President nominee, Sarah Palin, who was a political rival to the ticket Oprah was supporting in last year’s presidential election, will make her first appearance on Oprah’s show this week in anticipation of her book’s release – after all, it can’t hurt.

Oprah is a multi-media phenomenon; she has her own radio channel on XM satellite Radio, her own magazine (with her own picture on it every month – a little much, isn’t that?). She’s been involved in TV shows, movies, broadway musicals. Commentator Bill O’Reilly said about her, "This is a woman that came from nothing to rise up to be the most powerful woman, I think, in the world."

O’Reilly has a point. After being a dominating presence in the United States, conquering every realm of media, Oprah can be seen in 140 countries. According to the 'Wall Street Journal', one channel in Saudi Arabia centers their entire programming on reruns of her television show because of the record number of female viewers it draws. The reason, they say is because women in that culture see Winfrey dressed modestly, telling her own story of how she overcame adversity and abuse to get where she is today.

For those of us who are used to (and maybe a bit tired of) her media influence, we've probably forgotten that’s why she has captured so many people’s attention. People see this successful women, speaking candidly and in some cases heroically about her own struggles and how she overcame them. This, in turn, taps into people’s own pains, their own struggles, their own fears and so they become optimistic – if she can do it, well, so can I. And so they listen to her words. They buy her books, they follow her advice and endorsements. Oprah in many ways epitomizes optimism, and optimism, especially in times of adversity, sells.

Fr. Willian O’Malley, who is a Jesuit priest, who is hysterically, brutally honest and real made the following observation. He said, “I’ve learned the big difference between optimism and hope. Optimism is 'Annie' [that’s the little orphan red curl-headed kid] belting out, 'The sun’ll come out tomorrow! Bet yer bottom dollar there’ll be sun.' Good luck, kid. The forecast says rain for the rest of the week. Hope’s different. Hope says, 'Okay, so it’s gonna rain. We’ll get the job done anyway.' Hope says, 'It’s the last inning, and we’re down by three, but let’s go out swinging!' Unlike optimism, hope knows that quite often nice guys do finish last, but that it’s a helluva lot better to be a nice guy than to be first.”

Which is why Jesus is different from Oprah (wow, never imagined I’d be saying that sentence). Jesus isn’t selling us optimism. Jesus is offering us Hope.

Today’s Gospel passage has Jesus telling us how the world is going to end – tribulations - the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, stars will be falling from the sky, the powers in the heavens will be shaken - and this is some pretty scary stuff. For many people, though, it remains a distant event they don’t worry about right now because they've got more frightening things to deal with. The family going through a rough time. A loved one sick. Unemployment. Someone they're close to dying. Struggling with addiction. Any one of those things - or a combination of them - can definitely make someone feel as if the sun has truly disappeared.

In the midst of those struggles, we want optimistic words. We want someone to tell us it’s going to be alright. Everything’s going to be fine. We want things to go back to the way they were. 'The sun will come out, tomorrow.' And if it doesn’t? Then what?

If things don't turn out the way we want them to, we don't have to give into pessimism. But we do need to be honest.

Jesus is honest; He doesn’t sugarcoat this truth. Yes, there will be tribulation and darkness - not just at the end of the world, but probably through many moments of our lives. Things might get so terrible that we feel things will 'never be the same.' But – wait for it - here are the words of hope from tonight’s Gospel – listen to them once again:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

If we’re looking for a quick fix, these words will pass away. Because Jesus isn’t promising a quick fix. He’s not promising to make things the way they were before, or the way we would likr them to be in the future. His words are not going to get you a job tomorrow morning, immediately cure your illness or miraculously pull up your GPA.

The point it, if that’s just what we’re looking for - a quick fix, an increase of pleasure and a decrease in pain - we will, ultimately, be disappointed in life - disappointed not just by Jesus, but by Oprah and any who market the 'power of positive thinking' as a religion, or tell us the Gospel is all about 'prosperity' ('pie in the sky when you die, and steak on the plate while you wait'). The Gospel, Jesus - the Word of God - is all about Hope. Hope is borne of deep love and trust in the One who loved us into existence, the One who constantly lifts us up after we fall, the One who promises us - even though the road ahead of us may be difficult, will be difficult - that He will never leave us, and that His words of hope will never pass away.

A FOOLISH, RECKLESS LOVE

A FOOLISH, RECKLESS LOVE

Hi everyone, here’s my homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary - November 8, 2009. The readings for today’s Mass can be found at http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/110809.shtml. Thanks for reading and all your comments and feedback - God Bless, Father Jim

HOMILY:

A few weeks ago, one of my closest and oldest of friends – we’ve known each other since I was 4 and he was 3 years old – called me. We don’t get to see each other or talk on a regular basis, but it’s the type of friendship that we can go two months without talking and seem to be able to simply pick up where we left off. So I wasn’t alarmed or surprised when I saw his name on my cell phone as it was ringing. I picked up the phone and said “Hey Brett, what’s up man...” - I could tell something was wrong by the sound of his voice. He told me“Hey buddy - listen, I just wanted to call to tell you, my dad died a couple of nights ago.”

It was a pretty sudden shock. Mr. Ashley hadn’t been seriously sick. So I was pretty stunned. In the days after I found myself recalling different memories of growing up 2 doors down from my friends. When something like this happens, you might be surprised at how many memories you can have locked away in your heart and mind. Especially when you know someone basically your whole life. All of a sudden it was like taking a photograph book out and looking at pictures (something us older people did before digital pictures were saved on hard drives...)

Some things came back with all the details - Like I could remember Fourths of July where Mr. Ashley would light up the entire backyard with M80s, bottle rockets, and other illegal fireworks he had gotten. At Mr. Ashley’s memorial service, Brett told a story about how one day he pushed his father’s leaf blower, this gas powered piece of equipment that you’d push around (like a lawn mower) right into their in-ground pool. And how his Father didn’t kill him for doing that. As Brett was telling this story, I could see the entire episode replaying in my head (It was something I had forgotten, but I had been there when it happened, can’t recall exactly what my role in that whole experience was. Something tells me I wasn’t shouting “No Brett - stop, don’t...”)

Other memories though, I realize now how much detail was missing. Only now learning the full story, can I appreciate the beauty of those mental pictures so much more. For example, Brett talked about this one summer when I was maybe 8 years old. Brett was probably 7 his younger brother Drew was about 5 and their family took this cross country trip in a Winnebago. I remembered them being away - you remember when one of your closest friends is gone all summer, especially when they have an in-ground pool.

But at the Memorial service, Brett explained the reason for the trip. They had just gotten news that his younger brother Drew had a relapse of Leukemia. With this relapse, and fears over Drew’s prognosis, Mr. Ashley decided to sell his business, buy this Winnegbago and go and take his sons and his wife to every National Park across the country. I had remembered hearing about the trip when they had gotten home – looking at pictures of them fishing, hearing stories of places they had visited together. But I didn’t realize why this was such an important trip or what the cost really was to Mr. Ashley until his son recounted it at that memorial.

To some friends, family members, colleagues at the time this probably seemed like a reckless - even foolish thing to do. Sure on one level, people would think it sounds sweet. But upon hearing Mr Ashley’s plans, I’m sure many tried to “talk sense” into him. Arguing, “You’re just being emotional” - “you’re not thinking clearly”. To put your livelihood, your career aside for a trip?

But the thing was, it wasn’t about a trip. It was about a Father wanting to give all that he could for his son, for his family. When you have this little guy fighting a deadly disease. When you’ve gone to all the doctors, done all that you could do, and you’re not sure what’s going to happen, what is a Father left to do? So he completely emptied himself of all that the world tells us is necessary like finances, career. He let go of things like time and energy in order to obtain those things... And he offered them for his family, realizing that whether Drew was alive a year from then or not, he would never regret offering not just something, but everything he could out of love for his son.

That is what this beautiful Gospel story is about - offering something out of Love. Not just something - everything... This widow, this lady is as poor as poor can be. Her entire life savings basically amounts to one cent. And what does she do with that one cent? She gives it to the treasury (basically an offering to the temple)

What difference is that going to make to the temple? There are wealthy people making offerings of substantial amounts. Maybe one guy is a billionaire, and so he drops a million in the collection. That’s no small deal, is it? So what does that penny mean? Now instead of having 1 million dollars they have 1 million dollars and one cent... So, what, they can build that new temple now? That one cent sealed the deal? Meanwhile, she’s can’t afford to do that... that’s all she has left... what’s she going to do now. Again, in our moments of rational thinking, we would argue it seems quite foolish and reckless for her to do such a thing.

But you know what - she didn’t ask us for our opinion. She didn’t ask to be noticed. This isn’t about her contribution being compared to another on some spread sheet. It’s simply her way of putting her money where her mouth and her life is... She’s come to the realization that the only thing that matters to her is God. Yes her husband has died, she’s lost a lot already. Yet, that didn’t make her bitter - it made her cling to the one thing - the ONLY thing she knew for certain she had in her life - which was God. And so, out of love for him, she offers all that she has. She gives the only thing she physically possesses – a seemingly insignificant amount of money.

Over the last 11 years of being a priest I’ve come to realize that many people have never experienced true love so they don’t know how to offer it themselves. A guy hooks up with a girl for a night and they whisper “I love you”– that’s not Love. A parent makes outrageous, guilt ridden demands and says “If you love me you’ll do this” - that’s not Love either. There are countless other stories or examples of destructive, or manipulative behavior that people have been told or led to believe is loving behavior and that is shockingly sad.

And for those who’ve gone through such experiences, all of what I’m talking about probably does seem unreal or like a fairy tale. The rational, reasonable arguments from the world saying “how foolish and reckless these people offering their entire selves out of love are”- suddenly seem valid.

For those who’ve gone through that or have been led to believe that, I can’t tell you how sorry I am. Because - the reality is my brothers and sisters, you can’t read the Gospels, you can’t read the scriptures and not walk away with an overwhelming, earth shattering revelation.: Jesus Christ loves us with this foolish, reckless love. God loves us like this. The creator of the Universe - who LOVED YOU AND ME INTO EXISTENCE. He keeps loving us by giving us His son Jesus Christ - by telling us we are to follow Him and His example - which is a life of complete self-emptying, giving up his life, giving up everything for you and for me.

That’s why he’s touched and moved when he sees the poor widow acting with that same foolish, reckless abandon. He sees that she gets it. That she’s been changed by the God who has so foolishly, recklessly loved her, and that she loves Him like that - by giving all that she has left to Him, knowing he won’t abandon her or let her faith be shown to be foolish or reckless.

I know for my friends, Brett and Drew, as much as they mourn the loss of their father, they have been forever changed by their dad’s loving example. They are two of the most generous, selfless men I know.

What about us? I don’t think Jesus is putting to us a challenge -- where he sends us home to “prove” whether we love him with that selfless, self-emptying, giving love for him tonight or not (and saying, if you do, you’ll empty your savings accounts to show that – anytime you hear a preacher recommending that, run away as fast as you can). The Gospel is not about our bank accounts. It’s about our hearts. And that takes a lifetime for us to truly offer to Him. In order for that to even happen, I think Jesus challenges us with the radical but essential starting point - do we actually believe that He loves us like that?