Happy Monday dear friends. My bride and I watched the movie Fireproof over the weekend. Have you seen it? I have talked to several people about this movie… not a deep script – certainly not profound acting – but good acting. I think I heard that other than the lead characters – many folks are just ordinary, non-professionals.

How to describe it? It’s a Christian-oriented values movie about the timeless message of ‘re-birth in and of a marriage. Combined with, the rebirth in belief in Jesus Christ.

What I like about Fireproof is as follows: first – the movie isn’t wasted on anyone. Even young children will enjoy the fire engines and dramatic scenes of rescues and self-giving and such. However – the story of a re-birth in a marriage is most meaningful to me – most meaningful for couples who have been involved in serious marriage difficulties. Not the little bickering and day-to-day issues that most of us face. No -- Fireproof talks from the point in a marriage where a couple is ready to ‘walk.’ How the two lead actors in this movie came to rebuild there marriage is what the movie is about – and it is a good and emotional ride with them. Boy could I relate to the entire movie.

Which brings me to share what many of us know or have heard – the people that are on-fire for their faith are the people who have converted or reverted later in their life… I’ve just had someone email me and we’re beginning to share a little bit. He’s 31 years of age and he sounds like he is reborn and on-fire for his faith. Praise God.

I am involved with many people on the internet who are on-fire for their faith and for the church. And of course, there are a select few people wherever you worship – these few whom you come to know. They are on fire for the Lord… They’ve gone on a journey that has caused a Fireproof effect on their faith. Some then become missionaries – or they are involved in healing, marriage counseling or other good works. Today in the Gospel – Jesus says these words, “ 'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith." Some have come to believe this… their faith has been Fireproof-ed and they will never be the same.

The LORD – as mentioned in today’s first reading has shared a portion of the wisdom of certain Catholics – certain Christians – giving them the opportunity for a rebirth in their faith and for many, a rebirth in their marriage. I love it… I absolutely love it…

Thanks be to God – he has helped my wife and I see the beauty of the gift in each other. Not perfection mind you. Far from it. But recognition that for all of eternity – God’s plan was for Dee (my wife) and I to be together and to love and support each other and nourish each other unto heaven. Thanks be to God!

In what ways do you struggle with your faith? In what ways do you struggle in your marriage? Maybe – just maybe – today is the day to begin to pray about these issues… The message of the movie – the message of these words today is – you can Fireproof your Faith… you can Fireproof your Marriage. Now – only partly related… here are a few words from Henri J. M. Nouwen.

True Intimacy

“Human relationships easily become possessive. Our hearts so much desire to be loved that we are inclined to cling to the person who offers us love, affection, friendship, care, or support. Once we have seen or felt a hint of love, we want more of it. That explains why lovers so often bicker with each other. Lovers' quarrels are quarrels between people who want more of each other than they are able or willing to give. It is very hard for love not to become possessive because our hearts look for perfect love and no human being is capable of that. Only God can offer perfect love. Therefore, the art of loving includes the art of giving one another space.

When we invade one another's space and do not allow the other to be his or her own free person, we cause great suffering in our relationships. But when we give another space to move and share our gifts, true intimacy becomes possible.”

Daily Mass -- Reading 1
Sir 1:1-10

All wisdom comes from the LORD and with him it remains forever, and is before all time The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: who can number these? Heaven's height, earth's breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these? Before all things else wisdom was created; and prudent understanding, from eternity. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom and her ways are everlasting.

To whom has wisdom's root been revealed? Who knows her subtleties? To whom has the discipline of wisdom been revealed? And who has understood the multiplicity of her ways? There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon his throne: There is but one, Most High all-powerful creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one, seated upon his throne and he is the God of dominion. It is the LORD; he created her through the Holy Spirit, has seen her and taken note of her. He has poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5

R. (1a) The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm, not to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed: holiness befits your house, O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

Gospel
Mk 9:14-29

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"

Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so."

He said to them in reply, "O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me." They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth.

A theme of the first reading for today concerns Cain’s sacrifice not being acceptable to the Lord. What was it about Cain’s offering that displeased the Lord? It sounded as if God would extend the possibility of a correction – a chance for Cain to ‘do well’ and then God would be pleased to accept a new offering. We’ve heard the story before – Cain slew Abel – perhaps in jealousy. What is this story about? What is its meaning to us in our time? Over the years I’ve heard different understandings and interpretations of this passage. Here is mine for today.

One of the areas of feedback that clergy hear often is about not being ‘fed’ or ‘nourished’ in Church. In fact, many Catholics have gone to other ‘feel good’ or ‘feel better’ churches. They feel welcomed elsewhere. The services seem more passionate – more spirit filled. And hence, people feel they are getting more from these other forms of worship.

I have been there. I understand – and in some ways I sympathize. BUT -- I’ve come to view the Mass and our Catholic faith much differently than I did 15 years ago. It took lots and lots of reading… it took listening to literally hundreds of audio tapes (and later CD’s and DVD’s) and such. In my thirst, I’ve searched for good homilies, sermons and teachers.

I’ve also been an avid ‘student’ of conversion stories. I likely have 25 audio versions of conversion experiences in my office and in my files out in the garage. Someone at the parish just gave me a Coming Home DVD conversion story Sunday after morning Mass. It is the 1/12/09 Journey Home program from EWTN.

The guest is a revert named Tom Peterson – a revert from secularism to Catholicism. Peterson narrates his falling out with Catholicism and falling in love with the faith again. Similarly, several weeks ago, I had occasion to attend Mass in Scottsdale, AZ. A gentle pastor named Fr. Douglas Lorig did the Saturday evening Mass. I happened to see in their parish bulletin that he had been a guest of the Journey Home show in November of 2008. So I contacted Fr. Lorig’s parish and bought a copy of the 11/24/08 Marcus Grodi show with Fr. Lorig as the guest. He was a former Episcopal minister.

All of this leads me to share something I’ve returned to from time to time. That is this simple teaching from another wonderful pastor, Fr. Larry Richards of the Bread of Life Catholic Community in Erie, Pennsylvania. Fr. Larry says: “On those Sundays when everything – everything works… the prayers and readings have special meaning and speak directly to you… when the homily is outstanding and you feel a part of the worshiping family… those Sundays are gifts to you from the Lord.

“And on the Sundays when nothing – absolutely nothing works… when it isn’t friendly and when the sermon is boring and the readings don’t seem to make sense to you… those days are your gifts to God.”

And so – going back to the first reading from Genesis… Cain says that he would become a restless wanderer when his sacrifice wasn’t pleasing to God… Some among us may bring flawed gifts of self and selfishness to Mass. What’s in this for me? I’m not satisfied here…. And they may become, like Abel, wanderers looking for perfection in some other place.

Abel brought the best of his flock – offerings to Almighty God. Cain brought less than his best to offer to the Lord and thus is told the tale. Thus is a message for us. Bring our best… our best attitude… our best hopes and prayers and intentions. Let us not bring a heart that is needy and selfish…

In a paraphrase of the late President John F. Kennedy: Ask not what your liturgy can do for you – instead, seek what you can bring and do for your liturgy.

On those days when I ‘get’ this… on the days when I am able to do as I have just shared with you… these are the days when I truly believe and feel that my offering – my liturgical participation is, like Abel’s – a sacrifice made acceptable to Almighty God.

And dear friends, my faith is indeed ‘blaising’ when I am able to do this. May it be so for you as well. Blessings.

Reading 1
Gn 4:1-15, 25
The man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD." Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil. In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.

The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen. So the LORD said to Cain: "Why are you so resentful and crestfallen. If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master."

Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out in the field." When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD asked Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He answered, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD then said: "What have you done!
Listen: your brother's blood cries out to me from the soil! Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce. You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth."

Cain said to the LORD: "My punishment is too great to bear. Since you have now banished me from the soil, and I must avoid your presence
and become a restless wanderer on the earth, anyone may kill me at sight."
"Not so!" the LORD said to him. "If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold." So the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight. Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth. "God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel," she said, "because Cain slew him."

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 50:1 and 8, 16bc-17, 20-21
R. (14a) Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. "Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always."
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
"Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth
Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?"

R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

"You sit speaking against your brother; against your mother's son you spread rumors. When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes."
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Gospel
Mk 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

Hi and good morning… I started this month of reflections under the ‘banner’ of having or desiring a ‘blaising’ faith (after St. Blaise whose memory we honored last week). And yet there seems to be a tendency among us that says we can’t have a blazing faith unless we are gifted with some sort of sign from God. And turning to our reading in the Gospel this morning: “The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign?”
 
There are other scripture sections which tell us that weak faith, imperfect faith or on again, off again faith -- these are a part of the human condition. Yet our desires to control the Almighty… to conditionally accept the premise of God and this business of the Incarnation -- based upon some sort of proof from the Almighty, these are not the signs of a healthy faith relationship with our Creator. This human characteristic that says ‘we want to see your proof,’ -- this really vexes the spirit of Jesus.
Let us suppose that all of us can agree on a few basics… God isn’t a human being as we are humans. God is a Spirit. We can’t see spirits, which means we can’t see God unless God wants to manifest himself to us. How would God manifest himself to us? By tricks? By spinning suns and trees growing upside down? By manifestations of power? Isn’t it likely that each would require his own proof? No more dementia. Heal my grandmother. Make my boss resign so I can take his position. Show me a little earthquake action -- but no damage, okay?
 
Isn’t it more likely that God the Father would send an emissary? Which brings us to Jesus… the beautiful story and reality of Jesus. God becomes man. And if we surrender to that ‘little’ bit of reality… then we can begin to surrender our resistance to the things we can’t control or understand. In childlike simplicity we can sing that ‘Jesus loves the little children…’ and all the people of the world. We can listen to hymns or contemporary Christian music and just surrender… both hands in the air… surrender to the Lord and say to him, “There is much I don’t understand, but the story of the Father loving and caring so much that He would send you… that you would come and share a vision of what it means to love the Father so much… and what it’s like to be your follower… sharing images of what awaits us…. No, I don’t understand but it is so beautiful… help me to surrender. Show me nothing… give me nothing except a ‘blaising’ faith.
 
I’m on the road this week, visiting family in Missouri. …. See you from the normal digs next week, God willing. Loving thoughts. Prayers and blessings.
dt
 
Reading 1
Gn 4:1-15, 25

The man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD." Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil. In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.

The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen. So the LORD said to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen. If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master." Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out in the field." When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD asked Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He answered, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD then said: "What have you done! Listen: your brother's blood cries out to me from the soil!
Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce. You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth."

Cain said to the LORD: "My punishment is too great to bear. Since you have now banished me from the soil, and I must avoid your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, anyone may kill me at sight."

"Not so!" the LORD said to him. "If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold." So the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight. Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth.

"God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel," she said, "because Cain slew him."

Responsorial Psalm

R. (14a) Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always."
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
"You sit speaking against your brother;
against your mother's son you spread rumors.
When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes."
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Gospel
MK 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

As you have probably seen in your daily missalette book – we have two optional memorials today – Blaisé and Ansgar. Both men appeared to be holy… both men brought people to the faith by their example and by their preaching.

So let me say just a brief few words about Ansgar who is known as the first Christian missionary in Scandanavia. One noteworthy thing about Ansgar is that not once but at least twice and possibly more – he saw all his great successes in leading people to Christianity dashed to failures… people reverting back to paganism because of invaders entering into the Scandinavian countries. So what did Ansgar do? He started over again and again and did the work of God… much as the reminder of Paul in today’s letter to the Hebrews: “… persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.”

Even Jesus suffered setbacks and failures… certainly with the Jews and within the ranks of his apostles…. So whatever failures you and I may encounter – sin after sin after repeated sin… adult children who stop going to Church… the return of a demoralizing illness or situation… Let us do what we need to do – pick up and start again as Ansgar demonstrated in his life.

Now about St. Blaise… they say that more is known about the devotion to Blaise by Christians around the world than is known about the saint himself. Certain Eastern Churches, and England and Germans and Slavs have various histories of devotion and practices related to Blaise.

Some Europeans and U. S. Catholics have held him in special honor for decades for the annual St. Blaise blessing of throats… we’ll do that today at the end of our Mass.

The last four years, I’ve had my throat blessed quite often as I went through a period with a suspected cancer on one of my vocal cords and subsequent repair work. Thanks be to God and perhaps also to Blaise that I have had satisfactory healing and return to reasonable health and usage of my voice box.

As I say, there are legends and true aspects of the stories associated with this holy man St. Blaise. He was a good bishop who encouraged the spiritual and physical health of his people. We might think of him and pray for his help for other illness in the kingdom of God’s creation – because Blaise was once observed curing sick and wounded animals…

The connection with throats and Bishop Blaise is due to a story – it may be legend. It has to do with a boy choking from a fish bone. At the command of Blaise, the boy was able to expel the bone. And the two candles we use in the blessing of the throat ceremony are derived from two candles later brought by the boy’s mother to St. Blaise when he was imprisoned.

Blaise was tortured and eventually beheaded because he refused to sacrifice to pagan idols…

And thus we have a dualistic celebration of holy men who were involved in the Catholic Church during a period of open idolatry… both men challenged for their faith practice… both men willing to give all-consuming service to Almighty God and to his people.

Blaise is an example of what happens when men and women give themselves over completely to the power of Jesus…

At the end of the Mass – we’ll have the blessing of throats with words such as these, “ Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ”

Reading 1
Heb 12:1-4

Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 22:26b-27, 28 and 30, 31-32

R. (see 27b) They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him. The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him: "May your hearts be ever merry!"
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; All the families of the nations shall bow down before him. To him alone shall bow down all who sleep in the earth; Before him shall bend all who go down into the dust.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
And to him my soul shall live; my descendants shall serve him. Let the coming generation be told of the LORD that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the justice he has shown.

R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

Gospel
Mk 5:21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live."
He went off with him and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.
She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"

But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, Who touched me?" And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."