If there's one thing in the world we don't like, it's hypocrisy. I remember sitting next to a man on an airplane one time. When he saw that I was a priest in clerics, he was initially very courteous. He said he was Catholic and spoke about being involved in the Church when he was younger. As our conversation continued, he began to spend a lot of time criticizing the Catholic Church, particularly it's teachings on marriage and sexuality, a male priesthood, and the war in Iraq. After listening for a while, I asked him where he went to church at the moment. He responded: “Oh, I don't go to a Catholic church anymore; there are too many hypocrites there.” Nodding at his response, I turned to him and smiled: “Well, there's always room for one more!” The word hypocrisy comes from the Greek … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2009
From the Pastor – August 23, 2009
This Sunday we complete our five week Eucharistic study of the 6th Chapter of John's Gospel. Four weeks ago we heard about the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes – earthly food. Three weeks ago we heard Jesus describe Himself as the “bread from Heaven,” calling to mind the manna sent from heaven to nourish the Israelites in their Exodus in the desert. Two weeks ago Jesus starts facing detractors; but instead of backing down, He described Himself as the means by which we have access to the Father. Last week, He mentions that the process of gaining access to the Father through Him is by actually eating His body and drinking His blood. (Jn 6:54). Gone are the references to bread. Now He's talking about His flesh and blood. And this week, many followers begin leaving Him. It's too … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – August 16, 2009
As I mentioned over the last three weekends, the Gospel this Sunday is a continuation of the 6th Chapter of John's Gospel. Three weeks ago we heard about the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes. Two weeks ago we heard Jesus raise the bar and describe Himself as the “bread from Heaven,” calling to mind the manna from heaven of the Exodus. Last Sunday Jesus starts facing detractors, people who rejected his audacious claims, and He “upped the ante” by describing Himself as the means by which we have access to the Father. This week, things get even more challenging. Verses 51-58 connect the “bread from Heaven,” and the “means” by which we have access to the Father” to the actual flesh of Jesus. All of a sudden, it becomes abundantly clear to the listeners of Jesus that He's not … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – August 8, 2009
As I mentioned over the last two weekends, the Gospel this Sunday is a continuation of the 6th Chapter of John's Gospel. Two weeks ago we heard about the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. Last week we heard Jesus raise the bar and describe Himself as the “Bread from Heaven,” calling to mind the manna from heaven of the Exodus. This Sunday Jesus starts facing detractors, followers who reject his audacious claims, and He “ups the ante” once again: “Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Have you ever been hungry … [Read more...]
From the Pastor – August 2, 2009
As I mentioned last weekend, the Gospel this Sunday is a continuation of the 6th Chapter of John's Gospel. Last week we heard about the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. As I said, that miracle – the only one recounted in all four of the Gospels – is a prefigurement of the Eucharist. Jesus comes to the people and fills them with earthly food. This weekend we read verses 24-25 of the same 6th Chapter. We hear that the people who had been fed have searched and found Jesus again. And the first thing he gives them is a rebuke: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” It's an almost shocking statement, isn't it? Since we know that Jesus loved those people, it sounds harsh that He would chastise them … [Read more...]
