God forges community from the cross – Jn 19:25-27, Heb 5:7-9

First Sunday Mass homily, for the solemnity of our patroness, Our Lady of Sorrows.  St. Stanislaus Saturday night and Holy Cross parish Sunday morning.  Hebrews 5:7-9; John 19:25-27.

Goudou Goudou: that’s the word in Haitian Creole for ‘earthquake.’  Before January 2010, there was no word in Haitian Creole for earthquake.  That’s how dramatic a change the shaking earth spawned, that they needed a new word, even though the physical devastation we saw on the media left most of the world speechless.  I spent some time in Haiti last summer with my brothers in Holy Cross there and I saw a counter-image to what we had seen through the television.  I don’t want to in any way idealize or sugarcoat the destruction that earthquake wrought, but I want to be just as clear about what rose up when the buildings fell down.  I met people who were working together to rebuild not just buildings but lives; I could detail project after project, but what’s important is that each of them were driven by people working together, people moved by a more profound sense of mutual responsibility than I often see in more ‘developed’ nations, people who didn’t even know they were a community until disaster hit.  From the all too real cross of that earthquake, God forged community, God forged family.

God loves us arms-outstretched-much – Jn 3:13-17, Exaltation of the Cross

My first attempt at a school Mass, celebrating our feast of title a couple of days early: Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.  The homily was very interactive, so these notes don't convey everything that happened in the moment.

“Guess how much I love you!”  Do any of you know this story?  When Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare do all kinds of actions to show each other how much they love one another?  Can you remember some of the ways they showed each other? [stretch arms up; hopping; distance, over the hills, up to the moon and back].

WwtW: Our Lady of Sorrows special edition

For Wednesdays with the Word this week, we looked at some of the readings for Our Lady of Sorrows, the patroness of the Congregation of Holy Cross, whose feast day can be celebrated by Holy Cross apostolates this weekend on September 15th in place of the usual Sunday readings.

First Reading:           Heb 5:7-9

Context.           The origins of this “letter” are shrouded in mystery: we don’t know who wrote it, who is was intended for, or whether it was even a letter (it may well have been a homily.  Its central theme is the priesthood of Christ, crucified and exalted: Christ did what Jewish cult could not do – provide permanent cleansing from sin, through the New Altar of the Cross.  We are called to follow our “forerunner” on his pilgrimage, bringing us home to heavenly rest.  Our extract this week is from the section of the letter which explores Christ’s priesthood.

God never tires of healing us – Luke 6:6-11

First daily Mass preached at Holy Cross parish, Monday of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time.

I’m tired.  It’s been a wonderful, thoroughly overwhelming, long weekend of prayer and celebration, hosting old friends, embracing new realities, running emotional gamuts, late nights, and early mornings, and now I find myself for the first time beginning a mass as a deacon and standing at this ambo to preach. 

WwtW: Christ makes us children of God and brothers and sisters in Christ forever, relationships that trump even death

Ordinary Time, Year C, Week 22.

Gospel:           Luke 14:25-33

Context.           We continue Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem (9:51-19:48; Wks 13-31), and the section of it which is an extended response to the question “who will be saved?”  (13:10-17:10; Wks 21-27).  He is concerned to form community and set boundaries, but in a completely topsy-turvy way that will confound any sense of privilege (think of Mary’s Song: the mighty will topple from their thrones).  Throughout, the door of discipleship remains open, even to the Pharisees.  We haven’t skipped much since our reading last week: one parable about inviting all to the feast.

Guest Post: Preparing for the rest of my life, and beyond

I have a guest post on the Holy Cross Vocations blog about my final preparations for Final Vows.

WwtW: Jesus welcomes the weak and humble to join the pilgrimage, heading heavenwards

Ordinary Time, Year C, Week 22.

First Reading:           Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a

Context.           The origins of this “letter” are shrouded in mystery: we don’t know who wrote it, who is was intended for, or whether it was even a letter (it may well have been a homily.)  Its central theme is the priesthood of Christ, crucified and exalted: Christ did what Jewish cult could not do – provide permanent cleansing from sin, through the New Altar of the Cross.  We are called to follow our “forerunner” on his pilgrimage, bringing us home to heavenly rest.  The sections of the letter we’ve been reading over the past few weeks deal with quite how we’re to walk this walk: we heard of people who endured trials for the sake of the heavenly city they could not see but, by faith, were assured of inheriting.  We must follow this pilgrim band, who have Jesus as their head.