October 30, 2022: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Even when we as people have sinned and strayed from God, He still seeks after us, because, as is written in the reading from Wisdom, God's "imperishable spirit" is still in us, because He created us and loves us, even if the whole world is relatively small in before God's vastness.

Indeed, He spares us from punishment all the time and gives us a second chance to be right with Him.

Jesus looked past Zacchaeus's disreputable deeds as a tax collector, and recognized his potential to make amends when overshadowed by God's grace.

So when Jesus passed through Jericho and saw Zacchaeus in the tree, He arranged a visit.

There must have been an incredible outpouring of God's grace upon Zacchaeus, who committed to actions of reparation.

While we have a tendency to judge others, we are all in need of mercy, which God abundantly grants us so that we can live in the fullness of life He desires for us.

And that is the power of God's salvation, as St. Paul's words in the 2nd reading say, to work His Grace in us to restore us to who He has called us to be.

October 23, 2022: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God shows no partiality, yet it's clear that the way we pray matters.

It's notable that the Gospel passage mentions the Pharisee offered a prayer to himself, similar to how Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount speaks about those who make their deeds obvious to others, and they get obvious recognition.  And the Pharisees followed the practices of religion in an admirable way.

Tax collectors were known for taking advantage of their position to enrich themselves.  In this story, it's almost astounding that the tax collector prays in full awareness of his shortcomings, and offers an honest, humble prayer to the God Who alone he acknowledges is merciful.

May our prayers be offered in a humble, honest way as we acknowledge our shortcomings and be aware of how God raises us up, just as He raises up the lowly and needy.  While we, as humans, all make mistakes, by faith we recognize how powerful our God is in coming to our aid, if only we humbly acknowledge His ability to fill us with His Grace that sets us right.

Indeed, let us join with the spirit of St. Paul's words of reflection in proximity to the end of his life, having confidence that he fought the good fight of faith, finished the race, and kept the faith in a genuine way.  It is this faith that gives him confidence that God will deliver him to Heaven.

In this world broken world, our faith gives us that same assurance that God will bring us to Heaven as we faithfully follow Him each day.

October 18, 2022: Feast of St. Luke

In the Gospel of St. Luke, we come to understand how God came to us in the Flesh through His Son, born of Mary, with infancy stories narrated in great detail in the Gospel.  sent His Son, anointed with His Spirit, with a mission to bring healing to the world.

In St. Luke's 2nd volume of Acts, we see how the Holy Spirit continued to work through the apostles and those in the Church to continue building the Kingdom on Earth.

This past weekend, I attended Mass at St. Luke's Church in River Forest.  Father Stan focused on that feast day in his homily, and he remarked that we are part of the 3rd volume of St. Luke as the Holy Spirit continues to do God's work in and through us, through the same Spirit Who anointed Christ.  And we anointed in that same Spirit.

October 16, 2022: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Persistence is an important part of starting and continuing the life of faith.

We confess faith in God, and then we continue living in that faith day by day.  And God has promised to be present to His people and uphold them.

Jesus tells a story about a malevolent judge who finally renders a just decision for the widow who constantly petitions him, giving in only because he's so bothered by her persistence.  How much greater, Jesus states, is our God Who is just in the fullest way.

At the end of the parable, though, Jesus poses an important point in a rhetorical question:  Will God find people who are faithful and seeking Him when He comes?

Indeed, God is constantly reaching out to us.  Faith is meant to transform us so that we constantly seek Him.

Furthermore, we're called to support each other, just like Aaron and Hur support Moses so he can keep his hands raised so that Joshua can lead the Israelite army to victory.  We can encourage one another in pursuing God.

Because our God is so faithful, let us respond with similar faith, proclaiming at all times the Word of this reality in which we abide, regardless of whether it's easy or difficult.  Some translations of St. Paul's word to Timothy say to proclaim the word "in season and out of season", with athletic imagery, as athletes certainly have to keep in shape.  God has breathed upon His Word so that it can direct us in the right ways, ultimately leading us to salvation.  It's a worthy goal to attain, so let's keep at it.

This weekend, I celebrated the 17th anniversary of my Confirmation.  It was an important day when I made a confession of faith, and was called to continue living that confession of faith.

October 9, 2022: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When sin broke the wholeness in which God created us, He set forth to restore us, ultimately healing us through Jesus Christ.

Sin separated us from God, just like the lepers had a condition by which they had to remain separated from the rest of society.  They had little means to restore themselves.

Then Jesus Christ came, and made it possible for them to come back to society, just as He makes possible the restoration of our relationship with God and with each other.  Through death and resurrection, we live for God and with God, the powerful message of the Gospel that St. Paul devoted His life to proclaiming even in the face of difficulties, because he knew its reality so deeply.

Now that we are healed and set free from what damaged us, it is only fitting that we recognize the power God alone has to make us whole, just as Naaman, after his reluctance to heed the command to wash in the Jordan River, recognizing God alone as worthy of worship.  May we join with the healed lepersin recognizing how good God is to us, and devote our days to praising Him, and extend our life-giving relationship to others so they, too, can experience this healing.

October 2, 2022: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

There's so much in this world that works against our faith.  It's easy to see why Habakkuk cried aloud in desperation to God as he sees turmoil around it, and why the apostles asked Jesus Christ to increase their faith.

Yet God comes through time and again to strengthen us.  He helps us to see that faith gives us what we need to face the circumstances of our lives.  He promises that if we wait, He will fully manifest His vision to us.

Indeed, as St. Paul writes, we have the help of the Holy Spirit to guard this rich trust of faith, so that we can endure in "bear[ing] our share of hardship for the Gospel", confident that God strengthens us. And by stirring into flame this great gift, we can face our difficulties while also living with a vital sense of purpose, moving beyond just going through motions of faith to letting this great gift pervade our lives and transform us to greater holiness.

It's this kind of holiness that allows us to fully live in the life and love God gives us, and in full awe of His gift of life, work to uphold the sanctity of life for all.

And even though the Sunday liturgy supersedes their feast, except in the Diocese of Gary, let us remember the Holy Guardian Angels, who are God's ministering servants helping us on our way to Heaven, so that we can live the vision of Heaven now.