Here's the homily I would have shared this weekend

Sometimes a single picture can open our blind eyes to a problem. 

Powerful images taken by photojournalists over the decades have helped us to see man's inhumanity against man or captured a moment of something so senseless that we scream "something has to be done!" 

There is probably one picture of such inhumanity or senselessness seared into your brain. 

And this week, the world added another. NPR's Scott Simon eloquently gave voice to our heartbreak at seeing this image.

"This week the little boy on the beach came to signify thousands who have died trying to escape the everyday of bombs, shooting, and starvation of life in Syria, and other conflicts.

The frail body of a boy shouldn't have to do that. There has been so much fine, vivid reporting about the thousands of lives that have been lost, the millions uprooted, and the many who now camp in foreign train stations or tramp over highways.

But we can grow numb to numbers. One little boy can be a human story.

Nilufer Demir, who shot that photo for a Turkish news agency, said, 'There was nothing to do except taking his photograph. I thought this is the only way I can express the scream of his silent body.'

I have done those stories in war zones and crime scenes in which you hope that a single human story — with a scream, a cry, an image or phrase — might dart through the static of statistics into people's hearts and minds, and move them beyond just feeling.

But a lot of things grab for our attention. Expert voices warn us of complications. We look, and feel, then look away, to go on with the lives we have right in front of us. Until the sight of a little boy on a beach reminds us that looking away can cost lives, too."

Scott Simon's words give voice to our feelings after seeing this picture. 

Pope Francis is suggesting we put our feelings into action. 

After today's Angelus, Pope Francis called on all "parishes, religious communities, the monasteries and shrines throughout Europe" to take action on the growing refugee problem by hosting one family fleeing brutality and repression in their homeland. 

Pope Francis says we must "give them real hope."

Here's a report on today's comments after the Angelus:

Vatican City - "Every parish, religious community, monastery or sanctuary in Europe 'must host a migrant family. Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees fleeing from death by war and hunger, and are on their way to a hope of life, the Gospel calls us to be 'close' to the smallest and abandoned. To give them real hope,'  said Pope Francis today after the midday Angelus.

The pontiff recalled the mercy of Mother Teresa, whose liturgical memory is commemorated this weekend: 'The mercy of God is recognized through our work, as we have witnessed the life of the Blessed.' He immediately added: 'Hope is combative, with the tenacity of those on their way towards a safe destination. Therefore, as we draw close to the Jubilee of Mercy, I appeal to the parishes, religious communities, the monasteries and shrines throughout Europe to express the reality of the Gospel and accommodate a family of refugees. A concrete gesture in preparation for the Holy Year. Every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary of Europe, should host a family starting with my diocese of Rome. The two parishes in the Vatican are preparing to welcome two families of refugees.'

The Pope then appealed 'to my brother Bishops of Europe, true shepherds, may their dioceses support this appeal of mine, remembering that Mercy is the second name of love: 'All that you have done for even one of my brethren, you did for me. '

Earlier, the Pope spoke of the Sunday Gospel, which is the story of the deaf mute: 'A prodigious event that shows how Jesus will re-establish full communication with God and with other men (and women). The miracle takes place in the area of ​​the Decapolis, that is in pagan territory; Therefore, the deaf-mute who is brought by Jesus becomes a symbol of the non-believer who makes a journey of faith. In fact, his deafness expresses the inability to listen and to understand not only the words of men, but also the Word of God. And St. Paul reminds us that "faith comes from hearing the preaching.'

The first thing that Jesus does, said the Pope, 'is to bring the man away from the crowd: He does not want to publicize what is about to happen, neither does he want that his word covered by the din of voices and the surrounding chatter. The Word of God that Christ gives us needs silence to be accepted as the Word that heals, reconciles and restores communication.'

Two gestures of Jesus are highlighted: his touching ears and tongue of man "blocked" in communication, and the entreaty of a miracle from above, from the Father. The lesson we draw from this episode, says Francis, 'is that God is not closed in on Himself, but opens and connects with humanity. In His great mercy, He exceeds the abyss of the infinite difference between Him and us, and comes to us. To achieve this communication with man, God became man.'

But this Gospel also tells us: 'We are often folded and closed in on ourselves, and we create so many inaccessible and inhospitable islands. Even the most basic human relationships sometimes create the reality incapable of reciprocal opening: the closed couple, the closed family, the closed group, the closed parish, the closed home... and that is not of God. It is ours, it is our sin.'

Yet, concludes the Pope before the Marian prayer, 'the source of our Christian life, in baptism, we are precisely the gesture and the words of Jesus: 'Ephphatha! - Open up! '. And the miracle took place: we are healed from deafness and muteness of the closure of selfishness and sin, and were included in the great family of the Church. We can listen to God who speaks to us and speaking His word to those who have never heard it, or who have forgotten it and buried under the thorny troubles and deceptions of the world. We ask the Holy Virgin, woman of listening and joyful witness, to support us in the commitment to profess our faith and to communicate the wonders of the Lord to those we meet on our way.'"

And we in the United States are not off the hook. Many refugees are flooding into our country from south of the border, fleeing gang violence in their home countries. We heard their stories on Pope Francis' town hall on ABC. 

May our eyes and ears be opened as we hear the Word of God and respond to the refugee crisis. What is God calling you to do?

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Bread of Life

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15

Ephesians 4:17, 20-24

John 6:24-35

In today’s Gospel of John, the people of God are requesting a sign that Jesus is ALL he says he is. They want proof.

Don’t we all at times want proof of God’s existence in our lives?

In today’s first reading from Exodus, the people of God want a sign, too.

They’re grumbling in the desert, thinking, “Hey, we were much more comfortable in captivity in Egypt.”

Then a miracle happens and they have their fill of manna from heaven.

In last week’s Gospel of John, we got the most wondrous sign of all that Christ is what he says he is when he took a boy’s five barley loaves and two fishes and fed a multitude of people.  

It was a miracle sign that Jesus is consubstantial with the Father. And He was offering more than mere material food, but spiritual food that lasts forever as he reminds followers this week.  

That word “consubstantial” caused quite a stir in 2011 when the New Roman Missal was introduced, but the meaning of this big word from the Nicene Creed is quite accurate.

Consubstantial simply means: “of the same substance or essence.”

             Jesus is trying to get THIS into the heads of the people He encounters today.

They want material proof THAT he’s the Son of living God.  More miracles.  

He’s trying to tell them that everything he is and everything he is doing is a reflection of the one who sent him.

            This is called the “Bread of Life Discourse” and is found only in John’s Gospel.

            Wait, aren’t we in the Year of Mark with our Gospel readings? 

We are. But the Church wants us to take a break from Mark and reflect on Jesus as the Bread of Life from John’s Gospel for the next few weeks.  Remember, when the Church gets serious, it breaks out the Gospel of John.

One of the keys to understanding this weekend’s readings is this passage from John’s Gospel spoken by the people of God: 

“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”

In other words, “What shall we do? What are the works that God wants us to do?” 

Before we can answer this question we have to first learn to avoid the things that disconnect us from God?  To do this, we must deepen our relationship with the Lord in prayer.

This is what each of us must ask God in our prayers daily.  What is it that You, Lord, want me to do?  And what do You want me to change about myself?

“Faith is entering into a relationship with God. Faith is becoming aware of the gift of our existence as a gift from God; nothing we've ever earned. God has loved us into being and sustains us in being, and we need to recognize that, and then to develop a relationship with this living God.”

For our parish mission team, we are doing the will of God for the next 10-days as we leave for Guatemala tonight.

If you want to keep track of our journey, I encourage you to find ICOLPH on Facebook and “LIKE” it. This way you can see pictures and watch videos from our parish mission trip to Guatemala.

There, we will use the 15-thousand dollars raised in the parish to do the will of the Father.

We will build relationships between our parish community and our sisters and brothers in Christ in a Mayan Catholic parish community in one of the poorest areas of the world.

We will build stoves in homes so families can cook their meals without poisoning their families with harmful smoke. We’ll build houses to help those without homes have a home of their own. We’ll build classrooms for the parish school.  We will build new roofs on houses that leak when it rains.

By giving up our attachments to the material things that disconnect us from God and plugging directly into the Kingdom, God will draw us all closer to Him.

            It all starts when we eat this Bread of Life, and become filled with ALL we need to do the will of God.  This helps us to turn away from things that separate us from Him.

Paul reminds the baptized in Christ what we must do in today’s reading from Ephesians:

“You should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness."

Paul is urging us to undergo a revolution within ourselves by putting on this new self. These are strong words.  In many ways, he’s calling for “something that would almost turn us inside-out, upside-down, just change everything in our lives, a revolution, so that we really live in God and renew ourselves from inside, according to God's ways.”

This is my hope and my prayer for our parish mission team.

In the Gospel, Jesus is telling us clearly how to do this:  by partaking in the Bread of Life that comes in the Eucharist, and in the Word of God we share at Mass every week.

This spiritual nourishment is designed to turn us from old sinful ways and renew us in the joy and hope of Christ. This Bread of Life sustains us and helps us to better hear the voice of God whispering in our prayer life, guiding us as we do the will of the Father.

            For each of us, we hear different things. But we are all called to action.

Some feel called to give of their time, talent and treasure to our St. Vincent de Paul food banks. Some feel called to work to ensure our parish commits itself to our Catholic Social Teaching through events like Operation Stocking Stuffer every Christmas benefiting our homeless sisters and brothers and the Days of Caring in partnership with Catholic Community Services. Some feel called to help individuals they meet on the streets to find housing or food or health care or a sympathetic ear to listen. Some feel called to bring communion to those in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes or prisons. These are all corporal works of Mercy.  This is what Pope Francis is calling us all to do as we enter the upcoming Year of Mercy.

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            There is no one right way to do the will of God. Only that we  deepen our relationship with Christ, hear God’s call and then respond.

            And Jesus is reminding us today that the source of this Bread of Life is found in the Word and Eucharist.

            I’d like to share a final thought for reflection from popular Catholic writer Henri Nouwen.  It’s entitled Becoming the Living Christ:

“Whenever we come together around the table, take bread, bless it, break it, and give it to one another saying: "The Body of Christ," we know that Jesus is among us. He is among us NOT as a vague memory of a person who lived long ago but as a real, life-giving presence that transforms us. By eating the Body of Christ, we become the living Christ and we are enabled to discover our own chosenness and blessedness, acknowledge our brokenness, and trust that all we live we live for others. Thus WE, like Jesus himself, become food for the world.”

So, what is God calling you to do to be food for the world?

            Spend some time in prayer figuring it out.  Hear what God is calling you to do in for own life to improve your relationship Him and focus your life on the needs of others.

Then, put God’s call into action.  And just do it.

 

Homily – Corpus Christi – A Letter from Kristi

Exodus 24:3-8

Hebrew 9:11-15

Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

 

This weekend we celebrate the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ -- Corpus Christi.

          On Friday night, Archbishop Murphy High School honored another Kristi as we graduated 94 seniors. One student was graduated posthumously. Kristi Bartz was killed in a tragic train accident almost one month ago.

When the name Kristiane Nicole Bartz was read, her two older sisters Stefani and Michaela both graduates of A-M-H-S walked in her place to a standing ovation as they received their sister’s diploma.
 

          There was not a dry eye in the house.

      As each graduate went to receive his or her diploma, they placed a yellow rose in a basket under Kristi’s empty chair. A beautiful hand drawn picture of Kristi adorned the chair along with her red cap and gown.  All students were wearing yellow “KB” initials on their caps. Yellow was Kristi’s favorite color.

          At the senior awards assembly one week earlier, Kristi received two awards that had been selected weeks before her death.

One scholarship was from the Mill Creek Business Association. The other was from the U.S. Army Reserve naming her the Female National Scholar Athlete of the Year.

To standing ovations, her mother Karen and father Manfred were presented both of these awards honoring their daughter.  

Again, not a dry eye in the house.

Three weeks ago, we held Kristi’s funeral (here) at our own Immaculate Conception Church in Everett.

A packed church watched as her family, and the two friends who were with her in death, lit candles around the urn that held her earthly remains.

Her father and two sisters eulogized Kristi in beautiful ways.

A video with pictures from her life and her favorite Christian songs helped to start the healing process.

A few days earlier, on what would have been Kristi’s 18^th birthday, we gathered in our A-M-H-S gym with her family to share stories about the friendships and good times forged during her lifetime with us.

Kristi’s family and close friends were all on couches. The students were on the floor with blankets and pillows.  Her classmates and family wanted the gym feel like one giant living room. It did.

Amazingly enough, Kristi’s birthday fell on the 40^th day after the Resurrection, on the Ascension.

At the end of the Memorial of Life gathering, we marched to the football field with a thousand balloons.

After reading the story of the Ascension found in Acts of the Apostles, I shared something found in Kristi’s day-planner inside a pencil-etching she did of angel’s wings.

It read, “It’s always the saddest thing when angels fly away.”

On a clear spring night with the sunset in the distance, we released a thousand balloons to the heavens.

Kristi was one of my leaders at our Kairos retreat for juniors and seniors at Archbishop Murphy.  She was an awesome young person; hard working, strong willed, conscientious and compassionate.

While at Kairos, students have transformational faith experiences. For many, it’s their most impactful God experience in high school.

Near the end of Kairos, students write a letter to themselves documenting the impact the experience has had on them. They are told the letters will arrive at their homes in six weeks.  

Kristi’s final letter arrived a few days before her death. Her sister Stefani found her Kairos letters in Kristi’s room on the night of her death and read them.  She then read the letter at Kristi’s funeral to gasps from the audience who heard a prophetic voice.

With the family’s loving permission, I’d like to share the letter Kristi Bartz wrote on Kairos.

I think it will touch many hearts in this Church, but especially touch the hearts of our young people searching for God in their lives.

This is Kristi’s Kairos letter:

 _______________________________________________

Dear Kristi of the Future:

I hope at this point you have not forgotten your amazing experience at Kairos. But in case you have, let this be a reminder of how you felt and what you learned through this experience.

Never forget how important it is to love.

I know how easy it is, for you especially, to get caught up in the constant chaos in your life. But remember that you are never too busy to show someone you care.

You’ve had your rough patches and you will have more. But don’t forget that you aren’t alone.

Remember all the amazing individuals who opened up to you and shared their stories of suffering. They showed their true self, putting themselves in a vulnerable position so that they could receive love. Don’t be afraid to do the same.

You are independent and self-reliant, but it’s okay to admit that you need people sometimes.

You ignited, rekindled, and strengthened a lot of relationships at Kairos and I hope they can continue to grow throughout your senior year. Do your best to branch out and reach out.

Make it a memorable year. Leave your mark on Murphy. Don’t lose sight of the things that are important to you and the people that motivate you.

You are who you make yourself and that cannot be determined by anyone else. Be the strong, determined, and energetic leader that you are and remember how much you are loved and valued by the people in your life.

If you’ve learned anything from your rough patches and your experiences at Kairos, take it upon yourself to make sure no one feels alone and unworthy the way that you have seen in others and yourself because no one deserves that. Save a life.

Last of all keep your faith close to your heart. Let it guide you in the choices you make and let God in. It’s hard, I know, but it is through Him that you are who you are so thank Him for that.

And while you’re at it, tell someone you love them today. Let them see how much you really care before you may not have the chance anymore. 

Stay strong girl always. I love you for who you are and who you’ve become.

Don’t let nobody stop you from taking charge of your future.

Yours Truly,

You (Kristi from the past)       

____________________________________________

Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain helped us break ground for our new chapel at Murphy the day before Kristi died.

          He wrote something powerful in this month’s Northwest Catholic entitled: The true meaning of life.

“By desiring and loving me, God brought me into being and sustains me. I am neither the source nor the goal of my own life. I am one who is desired and loved by God, moment after moment, and therefore I am alive. My existence is evidence that God exists.”

Kristi knew that. She felt her Kairos experiences helped draw her closer to God and helped her forge a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

The word Kairos stands for God’s time. We live in what is called Chronos, human time. Time we can keep on a watch.

Kristi now lives eternally in Kairos.  

Thank you for keeping Kristi’s family and friends in your prayers as we heal from this painful loss.

On this Corpus Christi weekend may we also give thanks to Jesus Christ who opened the gates of heaven for us all, and keeps us connected to Him through His Most Holy Body and Blood.