TV Mass Homily

“He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes,” so was the reaction to Jesus once his public ministry began. The people were astonished. That is an interesting term the evangelist Mark chose. In googling the word ‘astonished’ the matches came back as: surprised, amazed, astounded, dumbfounded, flabbergasted, overwhelmed, dazed, shocked. He clearly spoke in his own name with clarity of conviction, with an authority that overwhelmed. The word translated as “authority” is “dynamis” from which is a derivative of dynamite. He spoke with power. He also acted with power. He continues to do so today if we truly listen to him through His Church. He was different from the scribes who scholars tell us would speak by couching their words with “the Law says”, “in the…

“Repent and believe in the Gospel. The Kingdom of God is at hand.” These are the first words Jesus speaks in the Gospel of Mark. They capture the essence of what he is about and what he asks of us: Repent, believe in the Gospel, in Him and then follow him. Some may interpret these words as a fearsome warning; though judgment is certain what these words convey is not threatening, but rather a hope-filled though challenging invitation. Repent means more than simply being sorry for what we have done in the past. It means to be willing to change our minds, our actions and our lives. It is a call to conversion. There is a legend about a woman who dreamed of entering heaven. She was told she would…

“What are you looking for?” Jesus asked. It is a question we might ponder. The future disciples did not answer directly, probably because they did not know exactly. Yet they were searching for something more than the culture of the day offered and decided to check this Jesus out. My guess is that if we are honest with ourselves, we too are searching for something more than the culture of our day. They responded with a question of their own: “Rabbi, where are you staying.” He invited them “come, and you will see”. We do not know the details of what happened next but it led Andrew to want to share this experience with his brother Simon who became Peter. Inspired Sacred Scripture is not offered as an historic travelogue…

The first Sunday after Christmas is raised up for the Feast of the Holy Family when we contemplate Jesus, Mary and Joseph as one. It is appropriate since the Christmas season is a time for families, personal, extended and spiritual. It also recognizes that stable families are essential for a stable society, which sadly is not the reality of our times. Pope Saint John Paul II wrote: “It is in the family that the mutual giving of self on the part of the man and woman united in marriage creates an environment of life in which children develop their potentialities, become aware of their dignity and prepare to face their unique and individual destiny.” From personal experience we know that family life while beautiful in many ways also has its…

The 4th of the candles on the Advent wreath has been lighted, but only briefly for the 4th Sunday in Advent is also Christmas eve day this year. As a result we miss out on the fullness of the 4th week Advent to prepare the way of the Lord in time, at the end of time, and in our hearts. Yet the glory of the coming of Christ at Christmas is not diminished, his continuing presence is ever true and ever hopeful. Our readings set the scene for what is to come, or rather who is to come. St. Paul in the 2nd reading speaks of the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages: the salvation of all nations and peoples in Christ born in Bethlehem.  The 1st…

“Rejoice in the Lord always, I say it again, rejoice” St Paul advises us. This third Sunday in Advent is called Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday drawing from those words of St. Paul. That uplifting message is not always well received in the midst of so many pre-Christmas activities and with the heaviness that is in our world these days, and in many lives. Yet if we choose to make our personal relationship with Jesus Christ as the most important aspect of our lives, we can overcome the distractions of the secular world and be joyful in the midst of its busyness and challenges. True joy is reflected in the first reading from Isaiah which Jesus read in his hometown synagogue as he began his public ministry: “The spirit of the…

“Prepare the way of the Lord.” With those words, the evangelist Mark introduces us to John the Baptist. Historians tell us that soldiers would be sent out to prepare the people for the arrival of their secular king. That is the mission of John the Baptist in a spiritual way, to get people’s attention, encouraging repentance and thus preparing for the King of Glory to arrive. John the Baptist prepares the way for us by bringing to life Sacred Scripture. Isaiah speaks of the voice crying in the desert prepare the way of the Lord. In the Gospel, Mark quotes Isaiah and notes that John the Baptist fulfills that role. St. Peter in the 2nd reading addresses those who thought they were prepared but were disheartened because the Lord had…

“Be watchful. Be alert. You do not know when the time will come.” It is interesting that this Gospel reading is proclaimed on the first Sunday in Advent as we prepare for Christmas. We know when Christmas day will come which tends to be our focus every December. Jesus of course was not talking about our Christmas festivities. Jesus spoke these words of warning and encouragement just before he experienced his Passion and death, and his resurrection. This Gospel reminds us that the child born in Bethlehem which we recall with such joy at Christmas was born for a significant purpose, our salvation. It should give us pause in the midst of sales, parties and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. A few passages later Jesus experienced the Agony in the…

Today the Church culminates all the seasons of the year - Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time - with an exclamation point: Jesus Christ is King of the Universe.  It is a declaration of hope and of promise. This feast was added to the Church calendar in 1925 to counter the atheism, nationalism, materialism and anti-Catholicism of the 1920s when communism and fascism were on the rise. Things have not changed much, with secularism, relativism, attacks on religious liberty, incivility, religious intolerance and terrorism in our own country and around the world; we yearn for a declaration of hope. To celebrate Christ as King is to recognize the certainty of the triumph on the cross of good over evil and of God over worldly tyrants even in the midst…

What do you want out of life? What do we all want? Today’s gospel reading challenges us to think about it. Where does our culture suggest fulfillment can be found: in material stuff, in pleasure, in financial security, in popularity or power. I must admit there was a time when I bought into all of that. But as the crosses of life and the reality of my limitations have confronted me, I now realize that those answers supply only fleeting happiness and that true fulfillment comes only when we are in all humility one with God. As our first reading from Proverbs reminds us: “charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, the woman (or man) who fears the Lord is to be praised.” To fear the Lord is not to cower…