WHAT ARE YOU SHARING?

Hi everyone - and to all the Mom’s out there, a Happy and Blessed Mother’s Day! Here’s my homily for the SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - May 12, 2013. The readings for today’s Mass can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051213-seventh-sunday-easter.cfm


Thanks as always for reading, sharing this blog and all your comments and feedback. God Bless! Fr. Jim

Fr. Jim Chern

HOMILY:

A few months ago, the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, proposed a ban against purchasing a 20-ounce container of soda.　 The Mayor, through health department regulations, announced this ban on the super-sized varieties of soft-drinks as a way of continuing other policies of his that are part of his campaign to improve the health of New Yorkers (such as bans on smoking, regulating sodium and trans fats). To put it mildly it’s been controversial and the responses have been mixed.

Which is why I was intrigued when I saw a friend had shared on his Facebook timeline on Monday that had the headline that said, "Bloomberg refused a second slice of Pizza at local restaurant." I laughed, thinking to myself, "Here we go - New Yorkers proving their no-nonsense, blunt, frank attitude - their New Yorker-ess."　And the story certainly seemed to go as I had expected: 　　The owners of Collegno's Pizzeria say they refused to serve him more than one piece to protest Bloomberg's proposed soda ban, which would limit the portions of soda sold in the city.

Bloomberg was having an informal working lunch with city comptroller John Liu at the time ...the two were looking over budget documents when they realized they needed more food than originally ordered.　 "Hey, could I get another pepperoni over here?" Bloomberg asked owner Antonio Benito.　"I'm sorry sir," he replied, "we can't do that. You've reached your personal slice limit."　 Mayor Bloomberg, not accustomed to being challenged, assumed that the owner was joking.　　"OK, that's funny," he remarked, "because of the soda thing ... No come on. I'm not kidding. I haven't eaten all morning, just send over another pepperoni."　 "I'm sorry sir. We're serious," Benito insisted. "We've decided that eating more than one piece isn't healthy for you, and so we're forbidding you from doing it."　　　　

I was kind of amused as I kept reading this report and imaging the embarrassing scene playing out in some local city pizzeria.　But then something didn't sound right... The story quoted Bloomberg furiously demanding his pizza as he called the man ugly names, screaming at the owner, dropping curse words as he insisted on being served his pizza.　Hmmm... that sounded a bit too unbelievable.　As hungry as the Mayor might have been, I couldn’t imagine him being that out of control.　So I opened another tab on Firefox, googled the story and sure enough found that the entire story was a fake.　It was a hoax that had been circulating online for a few days.　 I shared that link to the story that verified this Pizza shop incident was not true, hoping that my friend (who originally posted it) might take it down.　 Sadly, by Friday afternoon, there were still people sharing this untrue story online and commenting on it like it had happened.　

The whole incident made me think to myself – What is it we pass along?　What do we share?　 Because one of the things that episode taught me was how quick people are to believe　anything　they read online.　　And when people share these things online, as they go "viral" - they gain a sense of authenticity (whether they are true or not) with each share, with each comment passionately expressing anger or support to whatever it is that’s being shared.　

This all came to mind praying with this week’s Gospel.　On this last Sunday of Easter, as we are in this time where we celebrated Jesus’ Ascension on Thursday and anticipate the celebration of Pentecost next week, when the promised gift of the Holy Spirit comes down upon the Church – we hear a continuation of Jesus’ Prayer at the Last Supper with His Apostles.　 And one of the lines that jumped off the page for me was towards the beginning of the passage where Jesus says, "I pray not only for them [the apostles] but also those who will believe in me through their word."　

Why is this a concern for Jesus?　Because, for good or for bad - what we do, what we say has an effect on one another.　 Has an effect on what we believe, how we respond - and on what we pass on to those around us.　This is true not only in debates about the size of your Coca Cola, but more important things, or rather,　the most important thing　　- eternal life - our relationship with Jesus Christ.　　

Now I'm not against twitter, or　Facebook, or posting photos of your dog or your car or the meal you're about to eat. 　But we have to stop and think about what it is we're sharing, really sharing - what part of ourselves, of our lives, of our faith in Jesus do we pass on to others - not just in online media, but in our daily lives. 　Do we live a life focused on the things of this world - getting trapped in the rat-race of trying to succeed at any cost?　 Do we take care of ourselves and our needs (and, maybe, the people we like to have around us), striving to just make our own, insular lives a little more comfortable? 　

Or do we truly　live, believing that, by our Baptisms, we became members of Christ’s body - and that, in turn, made us citizens of Christ’s kingdom, now and for all eternity? The early Church spread and grew by the apostles sharing what they had experienced in the person of Jesus, and His love for them - and because it was so real, it spread like wildfire, across the Holy Land, then Asia and Europe, until, finally, the spark of that still ignites us, here, today. 　

We can make the mistake of thinking spreading our faith just means telling others about the rules, or tenets of our faith, reciting the Ten Commandments or Works of Mercy. 　And that is a part, a huge part of our Faith. 　But what makes it alive, what makes it contagious, what makes it, again, real to those around us is when we take those beliefs, those standards, those things passed down to us and flesh them out in our lives - when we share what is true and real - what is beautiful: when we touch others with kindness and mercy and love - because when we do, it is Christ acting through us - and it is no longer we alone who are doing those things, but Jesus, too. 　Will we allow ourselves to be His hands (and heart) and share His healing and love with our world?

"ANNOYING" HOLY SPIRIT?

Hi everyone, here’s my homily for the SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - May 5, 2013. The readings for today’s Mass can be found at: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050513.cfm . As always, thanks for reading, sharing, and commenting on the blog. God Bless, Fr. Jim

HOMILY:

I really love Pope Francis.　Shocking news, I'm sure... That's not just because I was there in Rome, standing front row the night he was elected Pope (although that was an amazingly awesome experience). Nor does this diminish my love and admiration of Pope John Paul II - the holy father I knew for most of my life, nor of Pope Benedict - one of the greatest theologians and humblest and gentlest men to ever be the successor to St. Peter.

But the thing about Pope Francis that's been so unique and, I think, has endeared him to so many is he's relatable.　He has a casualness that is so approachable.　 And because, unlike his predecessors, he only speaks Spanish and Italian, and his style is to often　preach without a prepared text, he is speaking from the heart. .　The night he was elected and first came out to the balcony to great the hundreds of thousands of people waiting to see who would be the next Pope, his first words were a joke:　　　You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone almost to the ends of the earth to get him…　but here we are.

　

It's just so cool.　Which is why I've enjoyed reading his homilies. Usually there's not official texts,　or prepared translations of his homilies, so you have to read various translators' versions of what he said if you don't understand Italian (after 4 years of Italian in high school I'm embarrassed how rusty mine is). He's speaking so conversationally, which has the ability to shock and surprise us.　　For example, a few weeks ago he said in a homily something that, if you take the one sentence out of context, would be cause for concern - he said　the Holy Spirit annoys us.　　I was like, did the Holy Father just say the third person of the trinity annoys us?　He did, but the whole quote probably fleshes it out a bit more:　　

The Holy Spirit annoys us. Because he moves us, he makes us journey, he pushes the
Church to go forward. And we are like Peter at the Transfiguration: 'Oh, how wonderful it is for us to be here, all together!' But let it not inconvenience us. We would like the Holy Spirit to doze off. We want to subdue the Holy Spirit. And that just will not work. For he is God and he is that wind that comes and goes, and you do not know from where. He is the strength of God; it is he who gives us consolation and strength to continue forward. But to go forward! And this is bothersome. Convenience is nicer."

These words have particularly resonated with me the last few months.　Back in January, the Archbishop called me into his office and told me he was considering moving me out of campus ministry into the Office of Vocations.　 It was something I did not want, did not ask for... Something I was anxious about, just listening to the Archbishop describe it in our conversations.　And it was something that the Archbishop remained undecided over for a couple of months.　 Because the Archbishop said he was happy having me here at Montclair State as well as stay Director of Campus Ministry... But that he kept coming back to this idea of assigning me to Vocations.　He kept saying　–　let’s keep talking and praying about this.　

In truth my prayer was,　"Let this chalice pass me by Lord."　As challenging as this work can be, I love it.　 Each year presents new and different experiences that have definitely stretched me as a person, and especially as a priest.　But I know that I made a promise of obedience to the Lord, to His Church　–　and one way that is expressed is my obedience to the Archbishop (whichever Archbishop it is that the Lord sends us). 　So I couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t making the final decision and say,　"OK, I’m moving you."　He kept hesitating on it.

One morning as I was praying my Holy Hour　–　I kept having this thought,　"Perhaps you could continue on as Campus Minister at Montclair and be the Director of Vocations…"　I shook my head and resisted, thinking　"That’s crazy…　they’re both full-time jobs　–　it would involve a complete restructuring of things for both offices, plus there’s no way the Archbishop’s going to go along with that."　In this interior dialogue in my holy hour, I said　"Well before I waste anymore time arguing with myself over whether this is a good idea or not, maybe I should ask the Archbishop if this is something he would even be open to, since these are　his assignments　to make, not mine to take."　So I sent an email saying, tentatively,　"This was a thought that came to me during my holy hour, before I keep praying on this, I wanted to see if the Archbishop would even be open to considering this as a possibility."　Not two hours later I got an email saying,　"OK that sounds great…　let’s go with that."　　Wait　–　what???　Uhmmm…　- Like Pope Francis said　"The Holy Spirit is annoying."

I share that because we hear in tonight’s Gospel Jesus telling us that He and the Father will send us the Advocate　–　the Holy Spirit who will teach us everything and remind us of everything right before he says　Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you　–　not as the world gives do I give it to you.　Which is why it so often appears annoying when the Holy Spirit gets involved in our lives.　 Try as we might not to, we often think of Peace in the way that many in the world would describe it -- as the absence of conflict, to be comfortable, not to rock the boat, so to speak…　And when we apply it to our following Christ, we start to tell ourselves　–　I’m praying, I’m trying to avoid sin and be a good person (and even go to Confession when I do sin)　I go to Mass on Sunday　–　so why is peace still so elusive?　

I’m thinking of a lot of questions that various people have shared with me over the last few months　–　"Father, I know some of the people I’m working with are doing some horrendous things　–　I know I need to blow the whistle on this, but I’m scared because I could lose my job, it’s going to create a real mess…　I feel so stressed…"　　"Father, I know I’m called to the religious life, I’ve never felt　what I’ve felt each time I visited that convent, but I have to somehow pay off my debts from student loans to do it…　how am I going to raise $40,000? (by the way, as of Friday, within only three months, she’s raised a third　of that already).　　"Father, I know that this guy isn’t the best guy for me and I’ve thought about breaking up with him, but I’m afraid there’s not going to be someone else for me and I’ll never get married."　

If we truly, sincerely, genuinely want to Love Jesus, we have to allow His Advocate, allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within us…　To annoy us…　To confront us…　To challenge us…　To move us, out of our comfort zones and comfortableness.　To desire Christ’s peace which crushes the illusion of security we so often settle for in favor of the fullness of life that comes from following His will in every aspect of our lives.　To remind us of the depth of Love of Christ crucified for you and I; to teach us Christ crucified is the meaning of Love　–　which isn’t simply a warm fuzzy feeling I have when I’m attracted to something I like or desire　–　but when we die to ourselves and live for others, for God alone, that is Love.　  What is the Lord annoying you with... nudging you about that's calling you out of indifference, apathy?   Challenging you out of the ordinary into something different? Bringing to mind and heart something bigger, bolder - that the devil is trying to lie to you into inaction?  How is the Lord calling you to listen to and respond to His seemingly unfathomable, radical calls to move forward?  To truly embrace that call to love and die to self and live for Him alone?  It's only in responding to those calls that we begin to experience the peace that was so seemingly elusive, as we freely begin to follow where the Holy Spirit leads us.　

　 Pope Francis, in that favorite homily of mine, went on to say:

Do not oppose the Holy Spirit. For it is the Spirit who makes us free, with that freedom from Jesus, by that freedom of the sons of God!　Do not put up resistance to the Holy Spirit: this is the grace for which I wish we would all ask the Lord; docility to the Holy Spirit, to that Spirit that comes to us and makes us go forward on the path of holiness, that holiness of the Church which is so beautiful. The grace of docility to the Holy Spirit

May you and I desire, pursue, and finally be open to that Freedom that comes from obedience to the Holy Spirit – lovingly annoying us to experience the Peace that God alone can give.

ARCHBISHOP MYERS, STAR LEDGER & MR. BORAI

Of the many different paths that I considered for my future, journalism was one that I was very interested in.  In High School, I joined our school newspaper - The Crusader (which was a take off of our Mascot, “The Crusaders”)  One of our English Teachers, Mr. Borai who was the advisor to The Crusader also taught the introduction to Journalism class I was taking.  One thing I remember most about Mr. Borai was he was so obsessed about the importance of getting the paper “right” - in terms of stories, details, facts – that we ended up only publishing a newspaper three or four times a year.  (The joke we would say among ourselves was - is it “news” anymore when the Football game took place two months ago)

It was frustrating.  We wanted to get the paper to come out a lot more frequently.  And at the time, I didn’t appreciate Mr. Borai’s attention to detail.  But looking at the state of the media today, I only wish there were more Mr. Borai’s around.

Because one of the things he emphasized in class and in practice was regarding biases.  He said that
while we all had our personal opinions, perspectives, our own likes and dislikes, it was our responsibility as journalists to be as objective as possible when covering stories.  He would often give us examples of how biases aren’t just revealed in how we would write a story - but what facts you omit and which ones you highlight.

Those memories come to mind as I wanted to address something to the students I minister to here at Montclair State.  You might have seen The Star Ledger the last few days with pretty disturbing headlines aimed at our Archbishop John J. Myers.  If you read the articles, they’re claiming that the Archbishop allowed a child molester to continue to work as a priest, have contact with children, and violate laws and agreements made with civil authorities (not to mention violate his own conscience, his own moral responsibility as a Shepherd and put his own soul in jeopardy)

Yet, that’s not true.  The Star Ledger has cherry picked details of a story and written a new narrative that should be categorized as creative writing rather than “news reporting.”

In this “twitter” generation we live in, it’s easy for people to read “ARCHBISHOP SHOULD RESIGN” ask “WHY” and be told “HE LET A CHILD MOLESTER NEAR KIDS” and simply react with horror.  But I encourage you to dig a little deeper and read the following article, written by a person who readily admits his bias - he’s the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights - to provide you some details The Star Ledger chooses not to share, as well as some possible reasons why they do so. 

You can read it here:  http://www.catholicleague.org/star-ledgers-war-on-archbishop-myers


I’ll end with this.  As a priest it hurts me to hear when a brother priest has done something as horrendous as hurting a child.  Check that... It infuriates me when I hear that a brother priest has hurt anyone.  And in over the last 10 years, it’s been a painful thing to see the effects of those sins on the Church.  To read credible stories of abuse, shameful coverups, and disturbing details in between – it’s been horrible. 

As a result, some of the things that the vast majority of us priests, who try to strive to be good, holy men and would never think of doing such things – have had to bear as a result has been difficult.  Going to seminars explaining what sexual abuse/harassment is (which for a vast majority of us is common sense) , having to get background checks done, and the scrutiny we’ve felt as a result of the sins of a few – yes, it’s been difficult.  And I offer up my own frustration in the face of those things with the hopes that it will help the Church heal from such a dark episode.

But The Star Ledger’s coordinated, multi-front attack; complete with inaccurate and intentional mis-reporting; designed to dispirit good faithful Catholics and unite those who hate the Church to pile on once again cannot be left unanswered.  Without a Mr. Borai to point out to the reporters the very basic, Journalism 101 mistakes they’re making, people themselves need to educate themselves and dig a little deeper.  So again, I hope you’ll take some time to read this article:
http://www.catholicleague.org/star-ledgers-war-on-archbishop-myers

ARE YOU A THERMOMETER OR THERMOSTAT?

Hi everyone, here’s my homily for the FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - SENIOR SEND OFF APRIL 27, 2013.   Tonight is our Annual “Senior Send Off” Mass for the students at Newman Catholic who will be graduating, so the homily was a bit more directed towards the graduates, but hopefully it will be meaningful to all.  As always, I appreciate your reading and commenting as well as all the shares of the blog on facebook, twitter and elsewhere.  God Bless You!

The readings for today’s Mass can be found at: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042813.cfm

HOMILY:

    "What do you want to be?"

    It's a question that comes to all of us in different forms and ways throughout life, but most especially it is posed to College students a lot.  Which makes sense... If you (or your parents) are paying thousands and thousands of dollars each semester to be here to prepare you for the rest of your life, it's good to reflect on "what do you want to be" to help you focus on your dreams, your goals and to give you the tools to help you pursue them.

    A few months ago Curtis Martin, the President of FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students) at their national conference for College Students posed a variation of that question:  He asked what do you want to be and gave two options.  Do you want to be a thermometer or a thermostat?  Do we simply want to get a "read" on things; "fit in" not rock the boat, not make any waves... simply take the temperature of the room like a thermometer and adjust ourselves to the environment we’re in?  Or do we want to affect change, be the change... Do we want to go into a place and bring something to that place that will change the temperature...that will make it different because of us – like raising the heat and  being a thermostat.

    A vast majority of people throughout and in many aspects of their lives probably fall into the thermometer category. That's how stores like Abercrombie and Fitch or Hollister stay in business.  They are professional thermostats.  They set a fashion trend and millions of young people around the world throw down $70 for a pair of jeans.  Steve Jobs has been deceased 2 years now and just think about t - how we communicate, how we purchase and listen to music has been forever changed – and now how we purchase and read books, newspapers has been altered by this “thermostat” as well.  Those examples are great ones... We don’t mind being a thermometer in those instances because most of us couldn't come up with those things.  We need creative people to share their gifts and talents that we can all benefit from. There’s no way I could have ever imagined 20 years ago when I was in your shoes as a college student how different thermostats would’ve changed the world so much that my VHS tapes, CD’s are becoming like the vinyl records and 8 tracks that my parents had…

    The problem is though, we can fall into the false belief that is our role throughout all aspects of life to be simply thermometers and let life continue to re-direct us. To let others, to let the culture, to let the media, to let all these outside forces set the temperature on everything.  We see countless examples of that around us –both on and off campus: “Diversity” “Inclusion” “Tolerance” “Equality” are terms that sound really great and in their most pure definition should be things that guide each and everyone of us. But the reality is that the way they are often used carry pretty clear expectations that if you don’t agree with the thermostat – get your thermometer out of here.  And it can be scary to defend yourself, your faith and your beliefs with those types of attitudes and forces coming down on you. Just a couple of weeks ago, students at George Washington University tried to have the Catholic Priest thrown off campus and the Catholic group as well because they were labeled “anti-Gay” for not supporting same-sex marriage. One of the most horrific trials in a US court room that has been going on for over 6 weeks, the trial of an abortionist named Dr. Gosnell, who killed babies not still in their wombs, which is horrendous enough.  No there’s testimony of people who saw him killing babies who were already born – yet while we still know the names of witnesses and intricate details from all sorts of trials (OJ Simpson?  Ted Bundy?) … there’s been scant coverage of this trial at all.  We can’t deny, there’s some very influential thermostats who have their agenda and are very clearly setting the tone in our world.

    Do we just go along? Do we become defeatist and say they’re too influential, too powerful, too well-connected” that we can’t do anything to stop it or change it?

    Jesus in tonight’s Gospel is pretty clear about what He wants us to be. He wants us to be thermostats – and not just to change the temperature, but to set the world on fire. Not in the literal sense… (Don’t misquote me and get me on some watch list) – But spiritually. He is clear about who he wants us to be – His Disciples . And He is clear about how we do this.  How do we change the campus? How do we change our communities? How do we change the culture … How do we change the world? Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel how:

    As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
    Yes, we are to imitate Jesus Christ.  And that has to be a clear, decisive choice.  It’s interesting because at the very beginning of the passage we heard - “when Judas had left them”- that’s not simply to provide historical or biblical context - that’s a telling line.  Judas was indeed going to be a diabolical thermostat that would set in motion some pretty horrific things that were going to change things pretty severely.  To the point that it would seem to many, especially those closest to Jesus, the horrendous end to their hopes and dreams.  But Jesus’ thermostat, infused with the fire of God’s Love, with the Fire of the Holy Spirit would not leave Jesus dead in a cold grave.  The unprecedented... the impossible... the never before experienced Resurrection from the Grave of Jesus Christ transforms everything.  And shows us the tremendous power that can be unleashed when we follow His loving example, and let that inspire our choices whether to be a thermometer or thermostat - to “raise the heat” ourselves.  Which we see the Apostles did in the Early Church as we read throughout the Acts of the Apostles.  They go from scared followers, timid thermometers to thermostats bringing the warmth of the Love of Christ to the ends of the earth.

    What gives me great Hope tonight- (and that’s why I’m happy so many of your families are here is to congratulate them on the tremendous job they’ve done with each of you) is seeing how you’ve already started to do the same thing . In some significant ways... In ways that were difficult, painful at times… In ways that your peers, your faculty and maybe even some of your family and friends might not have always understood...you did it. I’m just thinking of a few stories I know about some of our seniors and students:

-    When you passed on a role in a performance that you were being cast in because it was vulgar and insulting to you as a person and you as a Christian. It might not have appeared to matter as people dismissed you and laughed at you and told you that you better grow up.  That significant act was a way you lovingly bore witness to who you were as a person, whose you were as a disciple and gently left a memory that no doubt unsettled those who were easily participating in things that are anything but beautiful, inspiring which is what the arts are truly meant for.

    - When you gave up time over summer or spring break, time when many of your peers save up money to blow as they get drunk, get stoned, and do a whole host of other things – you fundraised, you gave your time and service to a mission trip. And more than likely it didn’t even go the way you planned or expected. But in that you experienced the love and presence of Christ in a way you’ve never have, that has changed your vision.
   
    -When you recognized the double standard, the hypocrisy of the University with it’s anti-bullying, “respect for others”; zero tolerance against any and all forms of bias – do nothing in the face of these actions when you reported the fact that a professor made very untrue, unacceptable attacks on the Catholic Church.  Instead you stood up, you refused to be bullied, you reported it, and you took a lower grade than you deserved (or transferred into another class)

    Yes there’s many, varied ways that come to mind and touch my heart as I see how you guys, on a sometimes very cold campus, have warmed it becoming thermostats, changing the temperature around you by your being the Light of Christ.  Affecting change not through complaining, not through destructive ways – but in loving, sincere, genuine gestures and actions.

    To our Seniors preparing to leave us… something that I’ve said numerous times to you rings especially true and I hope and pray is seared in your minds and hearts as you go forward.  You cannot not know what you already know. You’ve heard and experienced the Love of Christ. You’ve heard and experienced the need to be that Love. You know that’s not easy, that it's often not popular or appreciated (in fact it’s often rejected and ridiculed) – but you know that He never abandons you, He never leaves you, and He never will - not now, as you prepare to leave Montclair behind - and not ever, no matter where you go, or where the Spirit leads you.

    And as you listen to Him, as you let Him work through you in this wonderful life He has given you - in the end, you might not get a particular part, or a specific job you had hoped for – but He will lead you let Him.  He will guide you to be that thermostat, that disciple who will change the corners of the world he Has placed you in.  And even more, He will bring you true joy, true fulfillment - the very meaning of your life.

WHO (and why) WE FOLLOW

Hi everyone - here's my homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter.  The readings for today can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042113.cfm.  Thanks as always for reading, all your feedback and comments and for sharing this post on facebook, twitter and emails.  God Bless, Fr. Jim

HOMILY:

So try to imagine this hypothetical scenario - some guy comes up to you on campus tomorrow afternoon. He just sees you walking into University Hall or Dickson and just says, “Hey my name is Joe... I love sky diving and I know you want to go sky diving so why don’t you come with me to Tetterboro Airport today and we’ll go up in a plane and I’ll show you how to jump out of it” - how many of you would be ready to get in a car and go for it?

(Please God, no one raise their hands or we got even bigger problems)

YOU WOULDN’T. (Or rather YOU SHOULDN’T) That would be crazy!!! That would be insane.  Some random person just walking up to you on campus as you’re between classes and simply claiming to be an instructor thinking that you want to sky dive.   If you really were interested in sky diving, you’d research it out... you’d find out where people who’ve done it went... you would check out different instructors and their expertise. You wouldn’t simply listen to the voice of a stranger walking up to you on campus making some crazy claim.

I was thinking about that today. As we come for Mass on this fourth Sunday of Easter, we hear this somewhat short Gospel.  It seems somewhat tame... sheep, shepherds, taking care of them - nice gentle images... they all seem comforting.

But if we dig a little deeper - In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes an astounding, radical claim that is the epitome of a dividing line. He says something that makes it clear once and for all that
Jesus isn’t just a buddy...
Jesus isn’t just a good teacher...
Jesus isn’t just a philosopher who said some interesting things that we can put on a bumper sticker or a tweet...
Jesus isn’t just a friend...
Jesus isn’t just a dynamic leader...
Jesus isn’t just a charismatic preacher....
Jesus isn’t just a miracle worker

All of those characteristics, all of those traits are true and they had already been verified. Up to this point in the Gospel of John Jesus proved those things.  He had turned water into wine, walked on water, fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes, healed a paralyzed man, cured a blind man... preached and taught and was attracting crowds who heard and saw and experienced who Jesus was.  And after all these signs and wonders, after all those words that opened hearts and minds, he makes this remarkable claim that is the dividing line:

The Father and I are one

Those few words, in that short Gospel passage say it all.

Jesus is God.  He tells us unequivocally that He and the Father are one.

If he’s not who he says he is; if he’s not God - then he’s a lunatic that deserves to be called out as a fraud - which is what some people thought, which is why he ended up like that, dead on a cross...

But for others who did see and experience all those miraculous events, those who did follow, those who were there at the foot of the Cross (as well as those who were scattered out of fear) those who saw him, talked with him, ate with him, touched him after he rose from the dead might not have totally understood the magnitude of that claim before the resurrection, (they knew it was a big deal since it really, really ticked a bunch of their fellow religious leaders out)  but after the resurrection, they sure understood it...There was no doubt any longer:

The Father and I are one...

And because of that experience... their entire lives were consumed with sharing His voice in preaching the Gospel and being His presence in the world by being living examples of the Good Shepherd to the world around them. To the apostles, they were given the command to continue to offer His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, bringing His bodily presence in the world.  In so many ways, all of the disciples, all of those first followers testified in the most dramatic, intimate way - with their very lives - to Jesus' abiding presence in the world which we still hear today... still calling out to the world to grab on to the hand of the Father that He is reaching out to us.  To follow the voice of the Shepherd, calling out to his flock to follow Him and not be lulled by the evil one into following the ways of this world.

It’s perfect that this Gospel falls on this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, because we are asked not simply to pray as bystanders that God simply will bless us with more priests, and religious – with more clergy to continue to do that... but to prayerfully ask ourselves how are each and everyone of us responding to God’s commission to spread His word, to be His presence?

Do our lives bear witness that we believe what Jesus says…

That Jesus is God. And because of that fact, we strive to hear his voice, listen to his voice, and follow what He says?

Do we allow him to challenge us on our paths? Are we open to the new journeys, the new horizons that he places before us? Do we hear the question, “Have you ever thought of being a priest, a religious sister” and immediately dismiss it or could we let it sit there and see if it resonates even slightly in our hearts that perhaps we can dig deeper on that?  Or at the very least let that be a moment where I offer sincere prayer that someone I know or love might be called and then offer them my support.

Do we strive to, in whatever state of life we are, to follow Christ so that people will be able to see we are indeed His people...that our offer for them to join us in following Christ won't be seen as a reckless act (like jumping out of an airplane with a stranger who may or may not know what he’s doing), but rather like an invitation from a friend, introducing them to the one who offers us eternal life?

GIVEN A SECOND (3rd...4th...5th...) CHANCE

Hi everyone - here’s my homily for the THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER - April 14, 2013.  The readings for today can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/041413.cfm .  Many thanks as always for reading, for your comments, feedback and for sharing the link to this blog.  Really amazed at the number of visitors every week.  God Bless, Fr. Jim

HOMILY:

           A couple of weeks ago, the front cover of the NY Post had a story with the headline screaming “SON BURN.”  It uncovered how the son of the commissioner of the FDNY, who was hoping one day to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a firefighter, had been found to have posted some tweets on twitter that were racist and anti-Semitic.  After a few days of continued coverage and media pressure, the guy left his job with the FDNY EMT squad, and more than likely saw his dreams of working with the FDNY go up in smoke.

    Around the same time, Tiger Woods also started getting some media attention, and once again not for golfing. It seems he has a new girlfriend. Dutifully the media interviewed other women that he had cheated on his wife with in the past to get their reactions, and issued warnings to this new woman about what a philanderer he is.  There were “stories” (if you can call them that) asking, “What was wrong with her? How could she date such a person?"

    It's a weird thing . . . So often it’s easy to forget that these stories are about people, whose bad behavior was very public (or thanks to the media, became very public).  And I’m not excusing those bad choices, bad decisions. The messages written by that aspiring firefighter were stupid, immature, and yes you can say even hateful  (it’s a good reminder to all of us that use social media that, whatever you post, even something you think is just for your friends or relatives is really out there for public consumption).  Tiger Woods cheating on his wife and kids, well, I don’t know him or his family, but from talking to people who’ve gone through similar incidents, the wounds that the entire family experiences in these incidents are devastating  (and that’s without it being on your newspaper's front page).

    But what is equally disappointing is how both of these people have been tried, convicted and sentenced in the court of Public Opinion. And it’s almost like they have nothing to look forward to …  quite simply they’re being portrayed as being “done.”  They are seemingly forever remembered for their failures. You get the sense that there’s an expectation the one guy should never be able to get a job (how could anyone in their right mind hire someone who wrote such things?) or ever be in a relationship again.

    Sadly, that's how the world seems to operate today, isn't it?  It’s bad enough that people make mistakes …  but it’s amazing watching how vindictive we can become. With these types of unforgiving attitudes,  people become trapped in their pasts. .. they are defined by their faults and failings. Constantly reminded of their mistakes. There’s no opportunity for forgiveness, or healing or growth. Which is incredibly ironic considering all of us are sinners, all of us have failed, all of us need redemption.

    With these types of attitudes I wonder, if Saint Peter had been one of the candidates in the papal conclave that took place a few weeks ago, how likely would it be that our first Pope would even have gotten a single vote this time around?  Throughout the Gospels, we see him talking without thinking (on one occasion, Peter so misunderstands what Christ is saying to him that Jesus tells him, “Get behind me Satan”).  Peter is a bit impulsive at other times, which earns him further rebuke.  Most damning of all – during the Passion of Jesus Christ - Peter, who is supposed to be the "rock" upon which Jesus was hoping to build his Church, denies even knowing Christ.

    It’s hard to recover from something like that. Which is why today’s Gospel has always been such a moving and hopeful one for me. Because God doesn't treat us like we sometimes treat one another. God doesn’t look at our failures, our mistakes.  He knows about them, surely; but the Lord doesn't look for reasons to disqualify us. He's constantly looking at our potential. He’s constantly looking at us as the beloved sons and daughters he created us to be. He knows that when the reality of our bad choices, our mistakes and missteps finally occur to us; when the shame, the embarrassment, the pain comes rushing in from those things, we can become isolated and alone - believing the lies of that master liar, the devil (who helped us make those bad choices in the first place) to now believe there's no hope, there's no chance… that we, too, are “done.”

    Which is what's happening here. Think about it, the apostles had already received and even experienced the amazing, glorious news that Jesus has come back from the dead.  The man they witnessed being brutally tortured, crucified and killed on the cross was alive again.   You would think that such an experience would be welcomed, would be exhilarating, would be life changing... But look at the beginning of today’s Gospel. Not long after this event - which forever changes human history - happens, what's Peters reaction? I'm going fishing?  What's up with that?

    Perhaps he's feeling guilty … perhaps he's feeling ashamed.  He knows that Jesus must realize by now what a failure he is.  One of the most brutal lines, to me, in the Passion narrative is when Peter denounces Christ for the third time saying, after being asked “You know this guy Jesus, don’t you– you were with him”Peter responds “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he says this, the cock crows, and the Lord turns and looks at Peter.  Right then (a second too late)  Peter knows he's let Jesus down… So, after the resurrection, Peter is probably figuring that Jesus has just been too nice not to bring that up.  And, maybe in his mind and heart, he feels his opportunity to be that leader, that rock ended as soon as the cock crowed.  And no wonder, really.  So he returns to what he knew before he met Jesus.  To the life had had before he found his life with Christ.  He returns to the life of a fisherman.

    But Jesus doesn't see it that way. He's not stuck in the past, or hampered by Peter's (or our) past failures… He meets Peter right there, in his isolation. And, beautifully, first Christ reminds Peter – that he will accomplish great things when he listens to Jesus and does what Jesus asks him to do – he demonstrates this by repeating the same miracle that got Peter’s attention 3 years earlier, with that huge catch of fish.  And then, with Jesus' repeated question to Peter, “Peter do you love me?” he gives Peter the chance to, three times, acknowledge him - canceling out, if it were, the three times Peter had denied him ... Three times Peter professes “Yes Lord, you know I love you” – not to convince Jesus of anything – Jesus already knows Peter’s heart ... but so that Peter himself can come to that deeper awareness that his Love is greater than his past doubts, and failures... Peter is reawakened to the potential that the Lord once saw in him.  He remembers what it was that Jesus desired for him - to be that rock, to be the first Pope of the Church. And he can then attempt to fulfill that call (albeit a bit more humbled than he was before).

    God doesn’t look at our failures, our mistakes - or, at least, it doesn't end there.  The Lord isn't looking for reasons to fail us, or exclude us or cast us aside as unworthy. Instead, He's constantly looking at our potential, at our innate goodness, at our best tries, our near misses, our clumsy attempts at doing His will. He’s constantly looking at us as the beloved sons and daughters we are to Him.  Unlike Judas - who believed that final lie that for him there could be no hope, no second chances, no forgiveness  - through God's grace, Peter was able to have a second (third, or fourth -- who's counting???) Another chance, to start over; and he found that Jesus was serious when he commanded us to forgive 70 times 7 times… And was serious that He was willing to forgive us that many times, as well.  Will we continue to let our pasts and our failures define us?  Or, instead, will we allow that radical love of Christ to restore us, to transform us, to bring us to Him?

IN DEFENSE OF THOMAS

Hi everyone, here’s my homily for the SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER - APRIL 11, 2010 the readings for today can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040713.cfm)  Thanks for all your comments and feedback.  All the best - Fr Jim

HOMILY:

    Ask yourself this question - How would you like to be remembered two thousand years from now in three words of less? It’s hard, if not impossible, for us to come up with something like that. It almost seems unfair to try to sum up the entirety of who we are in such a short phrase.  It’s interesting though that history seems to have been able to do that with several individuals from scripture.  We almost have a word association just in hearing their names:  Peter - the Rock; Judas - the traitor; John - the beloved disciple.

    Those descriptions seem to fit because they highlight significant things about each of these individuals. Peter as the first pope, with all his strengths and weaknesses led the Early Church after Jesus’ Ascension and proved to be a firm “rock” of leadership for the Church.  Judas, despite whatever good he might have done in his life, after selling out Jesus for 30 silver pieces, well, it’s kind of hard to recover from that and so, he’s simply known as the traitor.  And John, the faithful friend of Jesus, the only one of the 12 to stand at the foot of the cross, the one Jesus entrusted the care of Mary, His Mother for the rest of her earthy life, it seems obvious why he is remembered as “the beloved.”

    But sometimes those word association descriptions don’t completely work. The characterization usually given to St. Thomas based on today’s Gospel, seems unfair.   For centuries Thomas has been labeled “doubting” - and it’s given birth to a really negative image.  We call people “Doubting Thomas’” when describing someone who’s cynical, or negative.  All of this because Thomas gives voice to the disappointments that he had with himself and the others as he speaks with candid honesty in saying “I will not believe.”

    Seriously, why wouldn’t he react like that?  At this point, there was so many things that had happened that he couldn’t believe, couldn’t wrap his mind around:

    - It was scandalous to him that Jesus would be betrayed by one and denied by another of the chosen 12.
    -It was impossible for him to consider that the rest of them couldn’t or wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop what had happened to Jesus;

    -It was inconceivable, unimaginable to him that the one who had given them faith, hope and love; the one that they had left everything in their lives behind to go and follow - that Jesus  was left for dead on a cross.

    Now he’s hearing these reports  that Jesus had been raised from the dead,
        that Jesus had accomplished what he had promised he would,
            that indeed hell has been defeated,
                that death has been conquered. 

Thomas is hearing all of this remarkable news from the same people who had been such failures so recently, who could blame him from being beyond skeptical?   So Thomas’ seems to dismiss this incredible news of the Resurrection of Jesus, an event that would change human history forever with those simple words “I will not believe.”

    But if we are able to move past that initial moment of heart-wrenching honesty, maybe we can look at Thomas in a different light and even consider changing the idea of Thomas being labeled “the doubter” to something else, perhaps Thomas “the faithful.” Because in truth, his doubting words don’t match his actions of faith. 

    Because the week after this whole “doubting” scene, look at what happens - Has he let his doubts drive him away from the others? Has he let his unbelief discount all that he had come to believe that Jesus had taught?  Does he let his realization of what complete and utter failures he himself was as well as the others were in not standing up (or even standing by) Jesus at his hour of need, does he let that  drive him to loneliness or despair?

    No, a week later, we find Thomas is there in the locked room with the others. And because he remains faithful WITH his doubts, because he has been honest about his unbelief, Jesus the risen savior is able to meet him.  Jesus is able to heal him of the unbelief that had been so deadly to the heart of the believer.   That’s why Thomas can be such a great model for us.

    Because truth be told, We have our doubts too, don’t we?  Sometimes it’s borne from the actions or lack of actions from others.  We know that there are things, scandals that have plagued our Church over the last few years and every time the news reports one of these things (or for perhaps ulterior motives recycles old stories of past failures) they bring a flood of angry, disappointed, heartbreaking, nauseous feelings to all of us.  Things like that shake our faith which is why Pope Francis is being so upfront and direct about dealing them so quickly into his papacy. 

    We have our doubts about our politicians, our government leaders... Seeing tension, animosity, extremes fighting each other with no compromise in sight that leaves us questioning our faith in those institutions.

    Closer to home there’s things that makes us wonder, makes us question, makes us doubt.  Things that undermine so many important aspects of our Christian lives.  We’re challenged by thoughts like - with so many people – friends, relatives of ours even –  ending up divorced, can anyone really stay married forever anymore? What’s the point in being the nice guy or playing by the rules - everyone cheats, everyone looks out for number one ? 
    And if we’re somehow able to navigate through all those difficult areas, the questions of unbelief don’t seem to end.  So many people struggle to believe that God is personally interested in each one of us?  It’s heartbreakingly sad for me sometimes trying to help some recognize this blindness...And the reason why it’s so sad for me is because I’ve been there, I’ve doubted that before... - everyone goes through that at some point in their lives.  But being on the otherside of it, I can’t tell you how frustrating it is watching people who are unable to imagine that God has something greater in store for them.  They put it in words like... God’s too busy to be worried about whether I am living a life of excellence.  What does it matter if I screw up, I’m still better than that guy.  Worst case, I’ll just go to confession (making that sacrament a type of car wash rather than an opportunity for us to grow in holiness).

    Thomas, formerly known as “the doubting” - Thomas the faithful though gives us an essential lesson to deal with all this:  and here it is - Having doubts is okay... giving into them is not.
    Because that night when Thomas encounters the risen Christ as he gathers in that locked room full of flawed, failed, broken individuals like himself, yes as he gathers with the Church... It is there that he realizes something within him wanted to see past the scandal of the cross, that something within him wanted to see past his own doubts and disbelief.  When he does his vision is transformed:  All he is able to see is the hands and the side as he beholds the risen Jesus Christ in his midst.

    For us the challenge is the same. Not to deny our doubts, but not to give into them either. Rather, 

- bringing them here among brothers and sisters who are also pained by scandals,
    - bringing them here among a family who wish to move past the legitimate fears we are so often
      challenged by from some harsh realities of the world;
        -bringing them here among others who have also doubted that God is so interested in us loves
         us personally that He actually has a dream for us... A dream that if we ever truly considered it
         could radically open our hearts and minds to conceive something greater for ourselves than we
         ever imagined.

    If we like Thomas allow ourselves not to be limited by our doubts, but to be moved from unbelief to belief as well, what we will be remembered as 2,000 years can be quite simple - Jesus’ faithful disciples.