FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
5 February 2011

Homily

This homily presented by Father George R. Szews, pastor.

Jesus often seems like a reluctant Messiah.
More like Job then a gung-ho warrior prophet.
That seems especially true in Mark.
It’s called the “Messianic Secret.”
But that’s a high church term and reflection on it.

I wonder, I always wonder if it’s not more Jesus really not wanting to do this at all.
He did wait a very long time for that culture to really start doing anything.

And he certainly gets off to a slow start in the Marcan account.

First he tells the demons who seem to know about him–not to tell anyone.
He tells the people whom he cures–to keep it to themselves.
And in today’s gospel, after he’s gone away, into hiding from the crowds,
  and the disciples find him saying there are a ton of people looking for him,
  he says, “Let’s get out of here.”

Did you catch that.  He doesn’t go to where the crowd is,
he goes to where the folks haven’t heard him yet.

It’s almost as if he wants to test again, whether he should really be doing this.

Now, I could be reading into this whole thing based on my own experience.
It’s no secret that I’d rather be an architect or author than a priest.
But, here I am.
Am I doing the right thing with my life?
I don’t know.  I think like Jesus, I keep testing that hypothesis.
And maybe that’s the point of all this.
Maybe Jesus is a much more realistic model of our lives than we ever believe.

Sometimes we forget that he was really human.
He didn’t just play at being human, he was really human.
And if he was really human, I think it’s quite possible that he is a reluctant Messiah.

Just as an aside, aren’t those the best kind?
Aren’t we suspicious about the people around us who remind us they are heros?
Aren’t the best heros the accidental ones, the ones who want no fame or fortune from it?

I think there are two lessons and maybe two questions from the Jesus we meet in the gospel today.

1) It’s not bad to test the hypothesis that maybe we should be doing something else with our lives.  That testing eventually led Jesus into the desert and the Baptism by John.
Should you be doing what you’re doing with your life?

2) When we look at Jesus, will we let him teach us what it is like to be human, as well as that God loves us? 


THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
22 January 2012

Homily

This homily presented by Father George R. Szews, pastor.

How many of you have seen the movie, Bruce Almighty?

Well, that’s better than me.
I do know the plot though because I read a review of it.

In the movie Jim Carey’s character complains that God had given him a crappy life and that he,
could do a better job of running the world.
So God gives him all the power he needs and waits to see how he uses it.

Well, for a good while Jim Carey’s character wastes it.
Uses the power on silly things–parts the soup in a bowl, the traffic in the city–
  just like Moses did to the Red Sea.
  He creates news scoops for himself by discovering the body of Jimmy Hoffa...
Gradually the world, with Jim Carey’s character running it, descends into chaos.
The world needs a God who pays attention.
Eventually, Carey’s character seeks out God who now works the night shift as a janitor,
  and confesses things are going so well.
  He laments to God, “I can’t get people to love me of their own free will.”
God responds, “Welcome to my world.”

As I read the review of the movie, I realized how many times I’d said quite plainly to God
that I could do a better job of running things.
And I’m betting I’m not alone in that either.
Aren’t there things/situations you look at and say, “Well, I know how to fix that?”

I’ve often wondered why the Marcan author in particular has the would be disciples in
these accounts respond to quickly and positively to Jesus.
You’d think Jesus had said to them,
  “I’m going to give you the power to change the world.
  I’m going to put you in charge.”

And maybe that’s what they thought they heard him say.
Big surprise huh?

And yet, it just maybe what Jesus does say to them, and to us.
Of course all the power in the world is never what the apostles or we or Bruce thinks it is.


Those of you who know the movie know that Bruce eventually learns
that all the power in the world to run things, means you do things unselfishly,
you are always on the lookout to make someone else’s life better.

And that is precisely the “power” which Jesus holds out to the disciples and to us.

Question of the week: “Do you hear Jesus calling you?  I will give you the power
  to change the world.”

MARY MOTHER OF GOD
1 January 2012

Homily

This homily presented by Father George R. Szews, pastor.

Pope John Paul II once said something to the effect that “Youth is not a state of time, but a state of questioning. Youth asks three questions:
1) Who am I?
2) Why am I here?
3) What should I do with my life?”

The assumption seems to be that Mary had settled these questions for herself.
That’s why she was “chosen.”

I’m not so sure that’s true.

I think in fact this child so chaotically born in a stable,
held in her arms,
Oggled over by strangers,

Leads her again on this day to ask those same three questions.
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What should I do with my life?”

And I think she will ask those questions at least two more times.
As she stands beneath the cross.
And, on Pentecost.

These are questions which come to us over and over
as the circumstances of our lives change and challenge us.
As we are given new gifts, new opportunities.

As a new year is upon us.
These questions: Who am I?
Why am I here?
What should I do with the rest of my life,
Are not questions of angst and unhappiness,
But of the continual longing of the disciple of Jesus,
To try to discern where God is leading me today, this year.....

Where is that for you?
Who are you? Why are you here? What will you do with your year?



FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
 18 December 2011

 Homily

 This homily presented by Father George R. Szews, pastor.

Why Mary?
Sometimes I think you have to ask the big question which lurks behind the story.
We’re not given much of a clue really.
There’s nothing really to base a judgement.
 All we know is that Mary was young, that she was already betrothed–
  which just means she was attractive to someone,
  but in this case, not much of a someone,
  and that she was not yet married.
 We know she lived in Nazareth–which was not an important part of the country,
  and probably pretty tiny as towns go.

 That’s about it. So why Mary?

I think it has to do with precisely the things we know about her,
 and the things we don’t know about her.

 What we know:
 She was too young to be important because of her age.
 She was a young woman which made her even less important.
 She lived in a place that wasn’t important.


Most of the people who will hear about Jesus and believe in him,
 eventually are Mary.
 We come from nowhere and we will not change the course of world events.
 At least that’s me, for sure.
 Hatley is actually slightly smaller than Nazareth was at the time of Mary.

What we don’t know about her is if the angel ever came before?
 How many times had she been visited?
 Was this the first, or was it simply the last.

 How many times does an angel come to her with a question, an invitation,
  a prompting?

 How many times does an angel come to us with a question, an invitation,
  a prompting?

Sadly, when I pray, I count up all the times I’ve said “yes” to God,
 and hope God doesn’t remember all the times I said “no.”

 I also hope that what will be remembered of me,
  are the times I said, “yes,”
  And not all the times I said, “no.”

 It seems to be true for Mary.....

Will it be true for you do you think?




THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
 11 December 2011

 Homily

 This homily presented by Father George R. Szews, pastor.

Those people here of a certain age will remember two things about this weekend in Advent.
 They are.........?
 1) It’s called “Gaudete Sunday–after the first words in the Introit–or entrance antiphon.
 2) The priest wore pink.

 Some priests still do on this day.
 I, decidedly, do not.

There is a thematic element to this weekend of Advent–Joy.
 Why? Advent is half over? Christmas is close at hand.
 But of course it’s got to be deeper than that.
 It’s got to be deeper than soon we get to open our presents.

 Wouldn’t we all hope that?

 Peter Gomes, who is a protestant preacher writes about joy
  by recalling the two great bringers of joy in the old and new testament–
  Moses and Mary.

  Moses, when confronted with the burning bush is less than exhuberant,
   And really hesitant.
  Mary, we’re told is troubled, and questions how this will all go down.

 Gomes says, “I am encouraged by these two examples of bringers of joy, 
 because they, like me ‘slouched toward joy.’ Joy cannot be summoned like
 an actors tears or laughter. Joy is something which grows deeper within us,
 each time we’re tested and not found wanting.”

 “Joy,” he says, “evolves in us when by grace we are able to see through
  the ‘thin’ places in our lives to a greater purpose and meaning.
  When we are reminded that we are not our own, or on our own.”

And, that is the key for me.
 Both Moses and Mary were first reminded that they were not all their own.
 They had a greater purpose in life. In accepting that, they were also reminded
 as they bore the burden of their “purpose,” that they were not alone.
  Joy comes in living with purpose and knowing we are not alone.

I don’t want to make that sound too easy.
 And yet, I think it’s true. The most “joyful” people I’ve known,
 are the ones who lived for a purpose, who had something to accomplish,
 and who somehow were not loners–either with their fellow human beings, 
  Or without God.

Question of the week: How is your joy level?
 Are you living with purpose and with God?

 

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
 4 December 2011

 Homily

 This homily presented by Father George R. Szews, pastor.

Does it strike you at all odd, that we get such a complete picture of John the Baptist,
 down to his diet?
 Locusts and wild honey.
 Locusts and wild honey.

Ever wonder why we’re told John ate only those things?
I don’t think it’s accidental.
I think the Marcan author–who originated the format we know as “Gospel,”
 chose his words very carefully.

Sure it’s plausible that someone who lived in the desert would eat
 locusts and wild honey.
 But beneath the plausibility of it all,
  there is a message.

 Locusts were the traditional symbol of judgement
  –remember the plagues of Moses and the Pharoh.
  If you suffered a locust attack it was a sign of judgement.

 And honey–wild honey, God’s comfort and peace,
  which surprises us when we recognize it,
  confirms God’s care.

 In other words, those who received John’s preaching
would know either judgement or comfort.
Another way to put it:
He comes to afflict the comfortable
and comfort the afflicted.

This is not a one-sided event.

God coming so close you could smell his breath,
Would either dislodge you,
Or give you a home.


Question of the week: In your heart of hearts. In your most honest moments–
which is it for you?




I guess the question 

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
 27 November 2011

 Homily

 This homily presented by Father, George R. Szews, pastor.

Watch. Just what are we watching for, do you suppose?
I think there are at least four ways to interpret this.

1) We’re literally watching for Jesus to sneak up on us–again.
 For the second coming, the end of the world.
 The day I wrote this homily, the headline on AOL read:
 “Religious Group says end of the world recalculated. It’s today.”

 So, we could be on the lookout for the end of the world.
 A kind of doom and gloom perspective.

2) The second way to interpret this is that we’re keeping watch over our conduct.
 Watching so we don’t fall into sin.
 Watching so that we don’t backslide.
 It means we live intentionally, choosing the right thing each moment,
  not coasting along.

3) The third way to interpret this passage is to say we’re to be on the watch for our own death.
 That it’s right around the corner.
 Are you prepared to die before the end of Mass?
 Just how do you prepare to die anyway?

 Not long ago I read an opinion column which said the only reason for religion is
that it helps people cope with the inevitability of death by promising
that there is something more there beyond this life.
I suppose that could be a reason for some people’s clinging to religion,
but I don’t think that’s why I find religiousity important.

I think the real reason for religion is that I/we get hints here and there of a fuller life,
of something which lurks below the surface of things,
of unseen grace, and greater purpose.
Religion helps us name what we experience and know in our bones.

4)  Thus, my vote for an interpretation of this gospel? I think Jesus is speaking to my weary heart,
reminding me that I know in my bones God exists, has been good to me and loves me.
He’s reminding me to look again, watch for, those signs scattered throughout my life,
of God’s presence and goodness.
And he’s telling me not to give up on what I know is true.

What’s he telling your weary heart? 

 

FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
20 November 2011

Homily

This homily presented by Father George R. Szews, pastor.


I have always found this story, this section of Matthew’s gospel to be the baseline
of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

More importantly, I believe that it is this section of Matthew’s gospel
which is the grounding of any sense of final judgment which any of us might undergo.

I know this is not a popular thing to say in the Catholic Church–
but in the end, I don’t believe it is
–if you listened to the pope,
–if you voted for the right politician,
–if you said the rosary,
–if you didn’t eat meat on the Fridays of Lent that matters.

Jesus is far too explicit–four times, four times, four times, four times.
It is if we have fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty,
cared for the stranger, clothed the naked, cared for the sick
and prisoners that counts.

And if I have an examination of conscience it is not Lord, what did I do wrong today,
but Lord, where did I feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty,
care for the stranger, naked, sick and imprisoned.

Now, that being said.... what actually helps us do these things?
I think listening to the pope can helps us do these things,
I think voting for the “right” politician can help us do these things,
I do think praying–especially this communal prayer, and denying ourselves
actually help us do these things.

But we should confuse the means with the doing.

So, today, will you feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty,
care for the naked, stranger, sick and imprisoned?

I’ve only repeated it three times......THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR