Homilies
A list of homilies delivered by Bishop Paul Swain.
This day is familiarly called Palm Sunday when we bless and receive palms as a way to recall the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. The Church officially calls it Palm Sunday of the Passion the Lord because we proclaim a Scriptural rendering of his suffering and death. It is of course both, because they are not separate events but the continuation of salvation history which continues to this day. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who turns 90 on Easter Sunday, wrote a trilogy entitled,” Jesus of Nazareth”. The 2nd volume is a powerful reflection of both which is worthy of our prayerful studies this Holy Week. Among his thought provoking insights are these. First he notes that Our Lord's entrance into Jerusalem was not a one day event. He in…
The Chrism Mass raises up the priesthood as we recall when Our Lord instituted that holy order at the Last Supper. As we do so it is important to also recognize the essential role of permanent deacons, men and women religious and laity both professional and volunteer. We are one in Christ only with differing roles; different branches attached to the vine that is Christ expressed in His Church. Thank you to all who walk with and support one another. [icon name="file-pdf-o" class="" unprefixed_class=""]View Bishop's Chrism Mass Homily https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp6bODQfWBI
This Fourth Sunday in Lent is called Laetare or Rejoice Sunday. We do not rejoice simply because Lent is more than half over, we rejoice because the new life of Easter is closer, the light of Christ brighter which can guide our way in perilous times. Our readings center on the concept of being able to see, to overcome the darkness of this world, to set aside the blind spots and to see more clearly because the light of Christ shines in our lives. “Not as man sees does God see,” the Lord tells the prophet in the first reading, “because man sees the appearance but God looks into the heart.” Sometimes appearances can be really off base. Father Dominic Grassi, a Chicago priest, wrote that he often pondered where…
“Is the Lord in our midst or not”, the Israelites challenged Moses in the first reading. It is a question that may come to our minds when we feel anxious, lonely or lost, observe wars and natural disasters, and face debilitating disease or senseless tragedies, or the quietness of aging. Jesus answers the question in the Gospel reading as he patiently and gently leads the Samaritan woman, mired in sin, on a journey to conversion and new life in Him Her journey is a model for each of us as we continue our quest for greater holiness, a daily task. First he used the occasion of the water that she drew from the well to uncover the desire in her for greater peace and a fuller meaning to life. Then…
“Abram went as the Lord directed him,” the first reading from Genesis announces. What was the direction the Lord asked of him? “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house.” In other words, leave family, friends, familiar territory and go to an unknown place with an unknown future. One scholar noted that Abram was asked to leave behind a prosperous commercial area to settle in a land that was still relatively primitive and undeveloped. Could I have responded as did Abram who we know as Abraham? It means letting go of our control and trusting God. That ought to be the essence of our Lenten reflection. Are we willing to let go of sin and trust in God’s mercy, doing as the Lord directs us.…
“Jesus was led by Spirit into the desert” the Gospel reading begins. One would think that is a good thing. The Spirit only seeks the good. Then the Gospel goes on to declare that the Spirit did this so that Jesus would “be tempted by the devil.” Temptation is not good – or is it. Why would the Spirit lead Jesus, fully human, into an environment to be tempted? Perhaps to teach us that the wiles of the evil one need not envelop us. Perhaps that it is spiritually healthy to identify and then confront our temptations and turn away from sin. The season of Lent is an opportunity to reflect upon the temptations we face and confront those we have not handled well. God in his love and mercy…
Wednesday we begin the season of Lent with ashes imposed on our foreheads while the words of truth are proclaimed: Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. It is a bit sobering yet also freeing. Today’s readings set the scene well knowing that Lent is a time for soul searching and if necessary to reconnect our faith with our actions. It is also a time of preparation for Easter joy. Each of us is faced with the tensions of how to balance often conflicting demands of body, mind and spirit in morally appropriate ways and how to deflect the temptations of the Evil one who encourages us to believe that we can go it alone, that we do not need God. During this season we are asked…
“Be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect” Jesus challenges his disciples and us as we continue to hear the Sermon on the Mount. The first reading from Leviticus also sets forth that call to perfection which is a call to holiness. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: be holy, for I, the Lord, you God am holy.” Its teaching is summarized in the Great Commandment which Jesus also recalled: “you shall love the Lord your God with all your mind, and heart and soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” The journey to greater holiness is a challenging one given our fallen human nature, the temptations of the evil one and the relativism of the secular culture. Recognizing this…
Tuesday is the secular Valentine’s Day. Some years ago St. Valentine was removed from the church calendar because there is almost no reliable information about him, other than he likely was martyred in Rome. How he became associated with expressions of love is unknown as well, although some suggest that it was the work of English poet Chaucer who wrote that it is on St Valentine’s Day that birds choose their mates. Regardless of the history it is nice periodically to acknowledge those who are important to us. Over the years I have received many valentines from students in both Catholic schools and religious education programs. The messages in candy, in cards and in gesture are simple and direct: “I love you. You’re great.” Recently in Aberdeen I received not…
“You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world,” Jesus tells his disciples. His words apply to you and to me. Salt is a preservative that enhances flavor and keeps from corruption. That is what personally encountering Christ can do for us all – preserve us from the corruption of the secular culture and of the evil one, and bring out the beauty of who God created each of us to be. Yet we must keep working to maintain that relationship with Christ or we can become separated and empty, our faith like salt can lose its flavor, the spiritual light can go out. The story is told of a man who bought a hamburger at a church bazaar. As he walked around the area…
