September 11, 2016: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Father Hurlbert said something very insightful at Mass on Sunday at Ascension: Often, when we think of sin and forgiveness, it's a matter of having committed a crime, and then making it up.  He offered a different idea:  the image of a person once being lost who has been found.  It's important for the person who is lost because of sin, and has drifted from the Father, to come to his/her senses and return, as the son does in the story in the Gospel of the Prodigal.  It's also what Paul speaks of so fervently from his own life's experience.

God by His nature is merciful, showering it upon us, Whom He has made His people, as Moses reminds God when He, in His anger, is about to smite the Hebrews Whom He delivered from Egypt.

God rejoices in showering His mercy on us when we turn back to Him.  Let us live rejoicing in the gift of mercy that God gives us, and that we share with others as we make His presence known.  On a sorrowful occasion of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, it is this mercy that truly heals us and makes our world whole, which is truly reason to feel joyful.

September 4, 2016: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

When we abide in the way of Christian discipleship, we must put our relationship with God above all else, which is why Jesus says we must renounce what we have, and hate those in our family--which doesn't mean "hate" so much as it means "loving less", according to Father Bob in his homily at Ascension Parish's Masses this past weekend.  We are reminded of this call as lived out by Christians throughout the world who are persecuted.

It is a difficult way, but beyond that, when we truly commit ourselves to to discipleship, we are transformed:  The course of our lives is now directed toward seeking to fulfill God's purposes in our lives, embracing others in the mercy of God as fellow brothers and sisters created and loved by God, that our work may prosper in Him who directs our course by the Holy Spirit.  We seek after God day by day, Who is our refuge throughout all time.

August 28, 2016: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

God, Who was once so distant and stoked fear in our ancestors in faith, came to us humbly in Jesus Christ, and furthermore humbling Himself in death upon the Cross. He thereby made a New Covenant by which we can approach God confidently.  And in this New Covenant in which we stand He now calls to us to a way of life lived in humility He first demonstrated to us.

It is giving of ourselves to heed those who are lowly, not to receive a reward now, but rather, as Jesus says, on the day of the Resurrection of the Righteous.  This is the way God regards the poor and lowly, knowing we all are to some degree in a state of poverty and lowliness. and this is the way we follow as we strive toward the full realization of the Kingdom.

August 21, 2016: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

God gives a glorious vision in the Book of Isaiah about His people returning to Him, and all the nations coming, too.

God, indeed, is bringing His people together to be with Him, promising a place in His Presence in Heaven.  But the path is not an easy one.  At times, it requires strenuous effort to attain something so glorious.  That's probably why Jesus says that there will be those who won't be strong enough to enter Heaven, not that God doesn't want all people to come to Him.  Hebrews furthermore adds that the difficulties we face in striving for the Kingdom is a matter of experiencing discipline, which produces something awesome, namely, the righteousness through Jesus Christ by which we attain Heaven.  It is righteousness we display now as we show we care about the end goal through living the values of the Kingdom.

August 14, 2016: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Those who proclaim God's message sometimes face great difficulty.  Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern because the people in Jerusalem don't want to hear his demoralizing words calling for surrender.

Jesus says that these difficult circumstances should not surprise His followers because His words have such a powerful force to them that it will cause division.  No one can remain neutral: either people will embrace the message of the Truth, or despise and resist it.

In the midst of this reality, we fix our eyes on God, so that we may persevere in the course before us, remaining faithful to Him who sent Christ to endure great difficulty to rescue us from sin and bring us into His Kingdom, as He has done for all the saints who have gone before us.

August 7, 2016: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Kingdom of God is coming, and God wants us to be ready for His arrival.

He has given us the great gift of Faith by the Paschal Mystery that directs the focus of our lives toward awaiting His arrival, because this great gift compels us to live in a way befitting of it:  We focus on building treasure in Heaven, and keeping busy in those activities that glorify God and benefit of others, that truly we experience the blessings of being His people.  Faith drives us toward a Heavenly Reward, which we don't have a grasp of, but we know for sure it's real, and we aim for it.

While we don't know when He's coming, we live in a way that acknowledges that reality, in a state of constant readiness, eager to behold our God when He comes.

July 31, 2016: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The author of Ecclesiastes spends much of the book wrestling over the meaning of life, in the face of meaninglessness.  He comes to the conclusion that is espoused and expounded upon by the other readings.  By His Paschal Mystery, Christ has freed us from sin, has made us anew, and now secures us a place in Heaven.  Our lives now find purpose in striving for Heaven and accumulating Heavenly treasure, not being so fixated on earthly matters.  Jesus refers to a focus on wealth and enjoying its pleasures as foolishness, because it's so temporary.  Rather, He calls us to focus on building treasure in Heaven, which is everlasting, to the praise of God.

Focusing on Heaven above was fitting when attending Mass at St. Peter's in Cripple Creek, CO, at an elevation of nearly 2 miles above sea level, and even as the guest priest asked for support for his mission work in Kenya.