Zeal & The Fiery Furnace

The first reading at Mass today is one that sounds so faintly familiar to us because of the names of the three characters in it.... Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were the ones ultimately thrown into the fiery furnance by King Nebuchadnezzar because they wouldn’t fall down and worship the statue that the King himself admits that he made... How’s that... the king had the statue made and he’s issuing orders that when the music starts from all the musical instruments -- everyone must stop what they’re doing and worship this 60 ft. or so statue.

The three didn’t worship the statue and they ended up in the fire. I prayed about this reading... asking for help on this and the Gospel. What to reflect on? What to share as a message from what seems like a strange story of little relevance to modern man and woman?

Then it came to me. I had just finished an interview with a pretty well-known manager at Franciscan University. Our talk - my interview with him was on the topic of zeal. Well today’s reading from Daniel is a mytho-literary device to share with us that zeal for the one true God will allow a good person to enjoy and benefit from God’s care... no matter what happens around them.

Take for example, our late Holy Father John Paul II. He was such a wonderful leader. Alas, many Catholics will nod at that statement but not avail themselves of his teachings, his writings. For example -- at the conclusion of the great jubilee year of 2000, John Paul II gave us an Apostolic Letter called Novo Millennio ineuente.

This letter is a reflection on the years past and encouragement for action at the beginning of the new millennium. He wrote that we are to have a true meeting and relationship with Jesus Christ.

As an example of the fire that he said was needed -- JPII floated the idea of World Youth Day... When the Holy Father launched the idea of World Youth Day, many critical voices were raised, some even hoped that this papal initiative would be a failure. Many analysts said that the youth were not aware of history and suffering... Others evoked the memories of Vietnam protests and Woodstock and sexual promiscuity among young people.

What happened was that the world... the Catholic Church... the proponents of not doing anything different soon found that young people wanted to be committed to truth and to a faith with zeal and relevance.

Some still poo-poo working with young people because even if they go to some exciting event and feel spiritually moved -- they go home and go right back into their sinful ways... This isn’t categorically true... Many go back to find that sin has lost it’s flavor... sin is recognized as having consequences.... When I sit in Masses with half of the people not singing... many arriving late... some leaving early... more than half not going to Reconciliation... I think that what we need is to pray them into the furnace of God’s love and  ask an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them. And dear friends -- you and I are called to be in the furnace with them... with zeal and enthusiasm and not worrying about whether we look or act different than other worshipers. Today’s Scripture tells us that when our zeal is roaring with intensity, another will be added to our joyous and zeal-filled celebration -- another who looks very much like the Son of God.

Reading I
Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
King Nebuchadnezzar said:
“Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
that you will not serve my god,
or worship the golden statue that I set up?
Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made,
whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe,
and all the other musical instruments;
otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace;
and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar,
“There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you
in this matter.
If our God, whom we serve,
can save us from the white-hot furnace
and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
But even if he will not, know, O king,
that we will not serve your god
or worship the golden statue that you set up.”
King Nebuchadnezzar’s face became livid with utter rage
against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
and had some of the strongest men in his army
bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
and cast them into the white-hot furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles,
“Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?”
“Assuredly, O king,” they answered.
“But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.”
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him;
they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies
rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.”

Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R.        (52b)  Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”
R.        Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R.        Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.        Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim;
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.        Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
R.        Glory and praise for ever!

Gospel
Jn 8:31-42
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,
“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham
and have never been enslaved to anyone.
How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not remain in a household forever,
but a son always remains.
So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.
I know that you are descendants of Abraham.
But you are trying to kill me,
because my word has no room among you.
I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence;
then do what you have heard from the Father.”

Bible Soap Operas

(This is a retelling of an earlier homily I did; it’s still worthwhile to consider.)I cannot honestly tell you that it happened related to today’s first reading from Daniel. But I do remember a woman coming up to me after a Communion Service I had led. She was protesting why the Church would put readings such as (for example) today’s first reading into a Mass or Communion Service. She thought it was terrible -- very distracting and with no reasonable explanation.

The Daniel story of Susanna is as real-life a story as any that you will find... beauty and lust and false testimony. And the message of course is that a greater wisdom - a Divine Wisdom sees all and knows all and will, in the end vindicate the innocent.

How many of us believe – really believe that fornication and adultery are seriously sinful? I won’t ask for a show of hands… but maybe most here would probably say they believe these are sinful areas. But when it comes to our kids who live with one another without the benefit of marriage – we become quiet and say that it’s a sign of the times…. It’s the way things are! We’ll just shrug our shoulders and agree that things have changed. When couples live together without benefit of marriage because of benefits or financial issues – no one would dare to tell them they are living in sin. When couples change spouses at a hint of boredom… well….

Jesus didn’t seem to give us that option. They brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus… he was loving and kind with her. But his closing words were: “Go and don’t sin any more.”
There are loads of references to sins of the flesh in all areas of Church teachings, certainly including both Old and New Testaments.

When I taught RCIA (Adult Faith) classes, we talked about the early Church and about the Didache. It is a very, very early Church document… Didache means teaching of the twelve… it is believed to have been an encapsulation of the teachings and practices of the Apostles. It was in use by the end of first century… Here are some words from the Didache… These are the Two Ways:  one of life and one of death.

The way of life is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. …. Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal…”

St. John Chrysostom was one of the great preachers and teachers of the Early Church. They called him Golden Throat… and in his Homily on the Epistle to the Colossians, he wrote the following words: “Mortify your bodily members. These are things to avoid: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. From these come the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience."

As if I don’t have enough to worry about…. in doing research for today’s homily, I found these words in the writings of one of the Church Fathers: “A deacon who commits fornication after his appointment to the diaconate is to be deposed.” So pray for me that I mind my P’s and Q’s. When we have any question about Church teachings… or if we wonder how to understand something… a good place to turn to is our Catholic Catechism. Here is what it says about these matters.

Fornication is defined as sexual intercourse between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. Fornication is a serious violation of the Sixth Commandment of God. The Catechism doesn’t say anything about an exception for couples who may get married or are planning to get married.

Adultery is marital infidelity… you know we could just stop there. Why would we let society ever lead us to the point that we believe infidelity – a compromise in the relationship between two parties is ever okay? Adultery, says the Catechism is marital infidelity between two partners, at least one of whom is married to another party. The Sixth Commandment and the New Testament forbid adultery absolutely.

Now remember that while I tell you a brief story. Some time ago, I went to my regular hair cutting place. A pretty young woman was in the next chair. This girl, oblivious to me just six feet away, was telling the stylist about how she had lived with a young man for quite a while… the man had become serious and wanted the relation to go further. The girl said: “He was a good guy – one of those kinds that women try to find to get married to. I wasn’t ready for marriage so I left him… I broke his heart.” This short story had all of the elements of what’s wrong with our society… How is the woman at the hair cutters ever going to know it is sin? Who is going to tell her?

Do you remember in the movie The Passion of the Christ when the Roman guards tried to get Simon of Cyrene to help carry the cross of Christ… his answer was, “Oh no… not me. I don’t want to get involved.”
Today – you and I are called to a decision about sin in this world. I haven’t done all that good a job about the challenge. But I don’t want to squirm by myself. So – just like my mother… I’ll share some of the guilt with you.

Reading I
Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62
In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna,
the daughter of Hilkiah;
her pious parents had trained their daughter
according to the law of Moses.
Joakim was very rich;
he had a garden near his house,
and the Jews had recourse to him often
because he was the most respected of them all.
That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges,
of whom the Lord said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon:
from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.”
These men, to whom all brought their cases,
frequented the house of Joakim.
When the people left at noon,
Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk.
When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk,
they began to lust for her.
They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments.
One day, while they were waiting for the right moment,
she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only.
She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.
Nobody else was there except the two elders,
who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
“Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids,
“and shut the garden doors while I bathe.”
As soon as the maids had left,
the two old men got up and hurried to her.
“Look,” they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us;
give in to our desire, and lie with us.
If you refuse, we will testify against you
that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.”
“I am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned.
“If I yield, it will be my death;
if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.
Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt
than to sin before the Lord.”
Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden,
they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.
At the accusations by the old men,
the servants felt very much ashamed,
for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.
When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day,
the two wicked elders also came,
fully determined to put Susanna to death.
Before all the people they ordered:
“Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah,
the wife of Joakim.”
When she was sent for,
she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.
In the midst of the people the two elders rose up
and laid their hands on her head.
Through tears she looked up to heaven,
for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
The elders made this accusation:
“As we were walking in the garden alone,
this woman entered with two girls
and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.
A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime,
we ran toward them.
We saw them lying together,
but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we;
he opened the doors and ran off.
Then we seized her and asked who the young man was,
but she refused to tell us.
We testify to this.”
The assembly believed them,
since they were elders and judges of the people,
and they condemned her to death.
But Susanna cried aloud:
“O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me.”
The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
“I will have no part in the death of this woman.”
All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?”
He stood in their midst and continued,
“Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”
Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
“Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age.”
But he replied,
“Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”
After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
“How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together.”
“Under a mastic tree,” he answered.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two.”
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him,
“Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you,
lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.”
“Under an oak,” he said.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both.”
The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

Responsorial Psalm
23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R.        (4ab)  Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R.        Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R.        Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R.        Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R.        Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

Gospel
Jn 8:12-20
Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
So the Pharisees said to him,
“You testify on your own behalf,
so your testimony cannot be verified.”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified,       
because I know where I came from and where I am going.
But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.
And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid,
because I am not alone,
but it is I and the Father who sent me.
Even in your law it is written
that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.”
So they said to him, “Where is your father?”
Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father.
If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
He spoke these words
while teaching in the treasury in the temple area.
But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

Elizabeth Ficocelli and the Gift of Lenten Confession

There is a name some may be familiar with. She is Elizabeth Ficocelli - a writer of articles in Catholic magazines and with a number of  published books. She has written on topics ranging from St. Therese of Lisieux, to Medjugorje and about Lourdes. Other book efforts have been for children. She sent an email to tell me she has a new book coming out on April 2nd: Bleeding Hands, Weeping Stone: True Stories of Divine Wonders, Miracles, and Messages (St. Benedict Press/TAN Books). It's written for the teen and college market, to introduce them to supernatural phenomena such as Eucharistic miracles, stigmata, incorrupt bodies, amazing abilities of the saints, apparitions, and weeping artwork.

I mention Elizabeth because she wrote an article on confession -- and I’d like to share a portion of it with you. In a wonderful piece penned about her own experiences with the practice of confessing sin... Elizabeth wrote these words: “In the Lutheran church of my youth, confession was handled in a rather tidy manner. The congregation would stand and, together with the pastor, face the altar and read aloud a statement of confession. The pastor would then turn to face the congregation and read a response that essentially told us we were forgiven.”

“I don’t remember feeling heartily sorry for my sins – or heartily forgiven, for that matter -- it was just a part of our Sunday worship. I suppose I must have talked to God privately about my sins growing up, but forgiveness and reconciliation do not hold strong memories for me.”

Later, Elizabeth became a catechumen when she started RCIA and the process to enter the Catholic Church. At first, she was squeamish about the Catholic approach to confession. She dreaded having to bare her soul to a man.... a man who would think badly of her whenever their paths crossed. Now quoting her again, she wrote, “At the same time, however, something significant was happening. I was beginning to realize that once I made a confession, I truly felt better. Forcing myself to verbalize and take responsibility for my offenses and ask pardon for them really did make a difference in how I felt afterward. It was harder than my Lutheran way, but I was starting to see the benefits.”

“My biggest stumbling block remained not being able to forgive myself. I used to come out of the confessional disappointed by the Act of Penance – to say an Our Father or something easy like that. I would have much rather been told to take ten laps around the church property. Still seeing things from a purely human point of view, I was unable to grasp God’s ready and complete forgiveness. Then, I experienced a miracle.”

Elizabeth read the writings of a young Polish nun - we know her as Sister Faustina... and inspired by what she read, Elizabeth seemed to become a missionary inside her own little parish for the Divine Mercy of Jesus... and she fell more in love with the Sacrament that celebrates God’s mercy.

Later, Elizabeth told a sort of ‘God has a sense of humor story.’ She said that she had a sort of significant sinful experience in her life -- enough that she had to apologize to her son and to her husband. She knew she also had to go and apologize to God.

Approaching a penance service and confession - she wanted to avoid her pastor and go to confession to a visiting priest. Arriving at church, she found the visiting priest line had about 25 people -- while there were only three in the pastor’s line.

Swallowing fear and perhaps some pride - she went to confession to her pastor. She said that upon leaving the confession she had an almost tangible sensation as of water being poured over her head -- washing her clean and tingling down to her feet. Nothing like that had happened to her before.

I’ve shortened this story quite a bit - but it is told for those who through pride or hardness of heart will hear that God’s mercy awaits sinners -- not the obstinate... not the proud... not those who say they won’t go to a man to tell their sins. God’s mercy is available in either the pastor’s line or the visiting priest line. God’s mercy is endless.

This Lent -- join me in the line for a shower --- a real and beautiful experience of restoration. It’s the only thing I’ve found that can restore this broken deacon to the state I enjoyed when I was three weeks old and was baptized on the east side of Detroit. That’s how profound this sacrament is. So -- God willing, you’ll see me there... I’ll be in the longer visiting priest’s line.

Reading I
Dt 4:1, 5-9
Moses spoke to the people and said:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees
as the LORD, my God, has commanded me,
that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?
“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”
Responsorial Psalm
147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
R.        (12a)  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Gospel
Mt 5:17-19

Deacon Tom Is In The Longest Confession Line

There is a name some may be familiar with. She is Elizabeth Ficocelli - a writer of articles in Catholic magazines and with a number of  published books. She has written on topics ranging from St. Therese of Lisieux, to Medjugorje and about Lourdes. Other book efforts have been for children. She sent an email to tell me she has a new book coming out on April 2nd: Bleeding Hands, Weeping Stone: True Stories of Divine Wonders, Miracles, and Messages (St. Benedict Press/TAN Books). It's written for the teen and college market, to introduce them to supernatural phenomena such as Eucharistic miracles, stigmata, incorrupt bodies, amazing abilities of the saints, apparitions, and weeping artwork.

I mention Elizabeth because she wrote an article on confession -- and I’d like to share a portion of it with you. In a wonderful piece penned about her own experiences with the practice of confessing sin... Elizabeth wrote these words: “In the Lutheran church of my youth, confession was handled in a rather tidy manner. The congregation would stand and, together with the pastor, face the altar and read aloud a statement of confession. The pastor would then turn to face the congregation and read a response that essentially told us we were forgiven.”

“I don’t remember feeling heartily sorry for my sins – or heartily forgiven, for that matter -- it was just a part of our Sunday worship. I suppose I must have talked to God privately about my sins growing up, but forgiveness and reconciliation do not hold strong memories for me.”

Later, Elizabeth became a catechumen when she started RCIA and the process to enter the Catholic Church. At first, she was squeamish about the Catholic approach to confession. She dreaded having to bare her soul to a man.... a man who would think badly of her whenever their paths crossed. Now quoting her again, she wrote, “At the same time, however, something significant was happening. I was beginning to realize that once I made a confession, I truly felt better. Forcing myself to verbalize and take responsibility for my offenses and ask pardon for them really did make a difference in how I felt afterward. It was harder than my Lutheran way, but I was starting to see the benefits.”

“My biggest stumbling block remained not being able to forgive myself. I used to come out of the confessional disappointed by the Act of Penance – to say an Our Father or something easy like that. I would have much rather been told to take ten laps around the church property. Still seeing things from a purely human point of view, I was unable to grasp God’s ready and complete forgiveness. Then, I experienced a miracle.”

Elizabeth read the writings of a young Polish nun - we know her as Sister Faustina... and inspired by what she read, Elizabeth seemed to become a missionary inside her own little parish for the Divine Mercy of Jesus... and she fell more in love with the Sacrament that celebrates God’s mercy.

Later, Elizabeth told a sort of ‘God has a sense of humor story.’ She said that she had a sort of significant sinful experience in her life -- enough that she had to apologize to her son and to her husband. She knew she also had to go and apologize to God.

Approaching a penance service and confession - she wanted to avoid her pastor and go to confession to a visiting priest. Arriving at church, she found the visiting priest line had about 25 people -- while there were only three in the pastor’s line.

Swallowing fear and perhaps some pride - she went to confession to her pastor. She said that upon leaving the confession she had an almost tangible sensation as of water being poured over her head -- washing her clean and tingling down to her feet. Nothing like that had happened to her before.

I’ve shortened this story quite a bit - but it is told for those who through pride or hardness of heart will hear that God’s mercy awaits sinners -- not the obstinate... not the proud... not those who say they won’t go to a man to tell their sins. God’s mercy is available in either the pastor’s line or the visiting priest line. God’s mercy is endless.

This Lent -- join me in the line for a shower --- a real and beautiful experience of restoration. It’s the only thing I’ve found that can restore this broken deacon to the state I enjoyed when I was three weeks old and was baptized on the east side of Detroit. That’s how profound this sacrament is. So -- God willing, you’ll see me there... I’ll be in the longer visiting priest’s line.

Reading I
Dt 4:1, 5-9
Moses spoke to the people and said:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees
as the LORD, my God, has commanded me,
that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?
“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”
Responsorial Psalm

147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20
R.        (12a)  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R.        Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Gospel
Mt 5:17-19

Truth and Getting Along

In the daily Mass reading for this day -- the Old Testament tells of those conspiring to do away with Jeremiah - one of the great prophets and a man of truth. Come they said, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah... it won’t mean the loss of any of the things we want to keep.

In thinking about this - I’m reminded that Jesus was a man of truth. Jesus was and is complete Truth. And the response to his teaching was to plot and do away with him. In a short reflection at our Stations of the Cross on Friday, I said that society’s response to truth is hatred. Society has been brought to the point that we think we are all to get along -- play nice in the sand box. Don’t say anything to upset anyone. It didn’t work for Jeremiah. It didn’t work for Christ. Why think that we should get along with everyone?

I’ve told this story before and I’d like to repeat it. On the first weekend after I was ordained and when it was my turn to preach at all the Masses -- it was the 4th of July weekend. We lived in a vacation mecca -- and the Church was jammed -- standing room only. I decided to preach a Red, White and Blue homily: love of God, love of faith, love of country. When I got to the love of country area in my homily -- I talked about having traveled across our country and passing barns painted with U. S. Flags... I talked about stopping in a town that had a sign inviting everyone to come and welcome a soldier back from armed conflict. I talked about fields of American corn that was 3 ft high and getting ready for harvest. And I said I came back into our town -- and I saw someone with dozens of bumper stickers all over the car.
Signs like Free Tibet... and ‘if you aren’t angry, you aren’t paying attention.’ I asked why people who didn’t want us involved in conflict wanted us to free Tibet? I asked where such anger and dislike of our country came from...  you get the idea.

After Mass -- I was outside greeting parishioners, summer visitors and friends. And of course, there were comments on my homily. Soon, 3 people came up to me and were most upset... angry that I was bringing politics into the Church -- that I was sounding carefully partisan. One woman said, “We don’t come to hear this kind of stuff -- we come to hear about love and Jesus.” My reply was that was exactly my point -- where is love? Where is Jesus in anger at the country he has given us?

It was Catherine Doherty who said that Christ’s followers will be crucified. Dear LORD God - Forgive me when I fear that I prefer the bed of soft public opinion and praise. Help me to remember and to recognize the ways in which I need to stand up for truth. Help me to learn this through this Lent so that I may die to self on Good Friday and rise with you on Easter. Help me to be the prophet You want in the world I live in. Help me to be a truthful Christ to other.

Oh and God bless America. This is Deacon Tom...