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Homilies from Saint Bernadette Catholic Church, Prospect, KY
Episodes
Sunday Sep 04, 2016
Sunday Sep 04, 2016
23rd Sun OT-C’16
“Mother Theresa – Saint”
Fr. Jeff Nicolas
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” What on earth is Jesus saying here? Well he is not advocating hate. He is using exaggeration to stress a point… that he must be the center of our lives, so much so that all our other loves are mere reflections of that love. In this way we need to take on the vision of God. We need to take on new eyes!
We are right now in the final stretch of our Jubilee Year of Mercy, begun by Pope Francis back in December on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is the official Year of Mercy Logo. It is a picture of Jesus embracing the Prodigal Son (who represents you and I).
Notice anything odd? (Assembly examines the logo for a few moments.) The image of Jesus holding the prodigal one has only three eyes… three eyes! Why? It is Pope Francis’ way of telling us that in this Year of Mercy we need to come to share God’s eye – God’s vision.
Today Pope Francis is canonizing Mother Theresa and holding her up to the world as an example of someone who came to see with God’s eye. Inspired by St. Therese of Avila and St. Therese of the Little Flower, Mother Theresa witnessed the power of doing small things with great love. The driving force of Mother Theresa’s boundless energy and compassion was her prayer. She once said to a reporter, “I don’t think that I could do this work for even one week if I didn’t have four hours of prayer every day.” And Mother Theresa shared with another reporter that she had a desire to keep the lamp – the life of Jesus within her – burning, radiating his love to others and so dispelling the darkness.”
Mother Theresa kept her inner lamp burning brightly. How can we do the same? Pope Francis shows us… by actively doing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
The corporal works of mercy: (1) feed the hungry, (2) give drink to the thirsty, (3) clothe the naked, (4) visit the imprisoned, (5) shelter the homeless, (6) visit the sick, and (7) bury the dead. The tougher ones to wrap our heads around, it seems to me, are the spiritual works of mercy: (1) instruct the ignorant [learn more about your faith and share it], (2) counsel the doubtful [invite someone to join you at Mass], (3) admonish sinners [respond to negative or hurtful comments with a positive response], (4) comfort the sorrowful, (5) bear wrongs patiently [be aware of your shortcomings and less critical of others], (6) forgive all injuries [declare a grudge “over”], and (7) pray for the living and the dead.
Mother Theresa did all of these, dedicated her life to them, and through them she took on God’s eye and now basks before the Beatific Vision in Heaven.
As we now enter the final three months of the Year of Mercy, I am challenging us to intentionally focus on doing corporal and spiritual works of mercy so as to more and more take on God’s eye.
Students in the school and Gift program, faith sharing groups, clubs and committees will all be challenged to work together to complete these “passports of mercy” which I will display in our narthex for all to see. Individuals coming to Mass will have an opportunity to record their week’s work of mercy on little paper flames, which I will also display for all to see. In this way we hope to help all to be intentional in our quest to take on God’s eye.
In the end, vision is something we each acquire… it doesn’t just develop in a void, rather our vision is shaped and molded by our choices and actions. As Jesus teaches today with his striking demand to be the center of our lives, we of faith only have two choices: God’s vision or the world’s vision. Our challenge is this: for each of us, which eye will apply?
There is no limit to the lengths Jesus Christ will go to save each of us, as his passion shows.
There is no limit to the lengths God the Father will go to give each of us new life, as the resurrection of Jesus attests.
The only limit in play is the one each of us bring to the game, for remember, as Pope Francis reminded us all, the eye I apply will one day be applied back to me.
Let that be an eye of mercy, rooted in hope and a spirit of communion, which believes Jesus Christ has conquered death.
St. Theresa of Kolkata pray for us!
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
22nd Sun OT-C’16
“Not Humility”
Fr. Jeff Nicolas
I almost made a mistake in our preaching today! I almost prepared a homily on the topic of “humility” because of the combination of the first reading from Sirach (which mentions humility) and Jesus’ words to the audience he is addressing at the dinner party of the leading Pharisees, where he seemingly advises them on humility.
It would have been the same type of mistake I made when I was first ordained and decided to spend my ordination gift money on a new Lazy boy recliner. I looked at some small swatches of materials and selected one that I thought looked good. But when I got the chair I discovered that the small swatch of material did not show the whole pattern, and I ended up with the ugliest chair ever! (I left it at the Cathedral when I moved here!)
Lest I make the same mistake again, we need to step back and look at today’s Gospel story with the bigger picture in mind. If we look at the whole scene we see that these Pharisees invited Jesus to the dinner only to set him up. Just before the part we hear today the dinner guests parade a man with dropsy before Jesus to test him and see if he will break the Sabbath laws to heal the man. When Jesus tries to engage them and asks the question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” they remain silent. They refuse to engage Jesus. All they are interested in is setting Jesus up for failure. A second time Jesus asks the dinner guests a question, “If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on the Sabbath day?” And for a second time they give him no word of response. They are so wrapped up in their little world-view (wrapped up in their own egos) that they just sit there unresponsive to Jesus, only capable of hearing what they want to hear.
Those dinner guests before Jesus reminds me of some priest mothers I once heard about that gathered for lunch one day. The first said to the others, “Well my son is a monsignor… when he enters the room everyone says, ‘Your Grace.’” The second mother said, “Well my son is an archbishop… when he enters a room everyone says, ‘Your Eminence.’” Then the third mother sat silent for a moment and then said, “Well my son is 6’7” and weighs 300 pounds… when he enters a room everyone says, ‘My God!’”
How we each hear Jesus’ advice on humility today makes all the difference in the world. If I hear Jesus say to me today, “When you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table,” and I think to myself this is how I can get ahead of those around me, or this is a good strategy to advance myself in the eyes of others, then I am really just being exposed by Jesus to be like those priest moms --- ego-centered. (This is what Jesus is doing with the dinner guests he is with today who are refusing to engage him. He is holding up a mirror to show them their true selves.) All who have their own ego sitting on the throne of their heart, instead of Jesus, need a radical change of heart!
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is NOT a means to get ahead in this life. It is a means to inherit a place at his side with God in eternity.
A relationship with Jesus Christ is not something to leverage so as to position myself for some advantage over another. Jesus Christ is someone to imitate so as to inherit what he inherits.
The greatest among you must serve the least; the last will be first. This is what Jesus wants his unresponsive dinner guests to understand and embrace. Now, lets gather at Jesus’ table.
Sunday Aug 21, 2016
Monday Aug 15, 2016
Sunday Aug 14, 2016
Sunday Aug 07, 2016
Sunday Aug 07, 2016
19th Sun. OT-C’16
“Baptisms”
Fr. Jeff Nicolas
(Speaking to parents of children to be baptized) It is an honor to celebrate baptisms with you this weekend, because last Thursday, August 4th, was the 53rd anniversary of my own baptism into the faith of Jesus Christ. And get this, not only is August 4th my mother’s birthday, it is also the Memorial of St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. I was made to be here!
53 years ago my own path of discipleship began, and today it begins for these children. What will these babies’ discipleships look like? It will be as unique as each of these beautiful souls. I am honored as well to celebrate our baptisms with you today because this weekend I celebrate that 23 years ago my path of discipleship led to being ordained a priest of the Archdiocese. (Show ordination metal) My brother Jerry asked me, when I told him it reads, “I am a Catholic Priest”, does it say on the back, “Call a Catholic?”
Although we each have our own unique paths of discipleship before the Lord, there are common disciple traits… traits Abraham shows us: (Show ordination chalice) This is the chalice of my ordination, which reminds me of three of these discipleship traits. (1) Obedience: Abraham obeyed God. Soon after ordination the rules changed and I was told I could not use it because it wasn’t metal. So I haven’t! This is a small obedience matter, but it demonstrates the point. Disciples go where God tells them to go, even when it may not be where they at first want to go. A Disciple learns to listen to God’s will and then obeys that will no matter what. A disciple obeys.
(2) Tent People: Abraham dwelled in tents. I have been moved around from Hikes Point to E-town, from Okinawa and Mississippi to Dixie Highway, from Fifth Street to Norton Commons. This chalice has been packed up and moved seven times already! Disciples are pilgrim people, called to never stop seeking after the Lord. This is why Jesus tells us to not bog ourselves down with stuff, rather gird yourselves and light your lamps and be ready to follow. A disciple follows.
(3) Sacrifice: Abraham was put to the test, called to sacrifice. The chalice of our Mass holds the Blood of Christ’s sacrifice. Abraham would not need to offer Isaac in the end, but God the Father would sacrifice His Son. Jesus took our place on the cross so we might be able to join him in his place before God. Disciples imitate Jesus in sacrificing themselves for the other, dying to self so God might be glorified. A disciple sacrifices.
Our babies take their first step of discipleship today, but everyone here also has their next discipleship step directly ahead. Embrace obedience, pilgrimage, and sacrifice. And don’t worry about what’s behind you, as Abraham can attest, it is all about where you’re going now!
Sunday Jul 31, 2016
Sunday Jul 31, 2016
18th Sun OT-C’16
“Big Barns”
Fr. Jeff Nicolas
ME – WE – GOD – YOU – WE
[ME] Boy this Gospel makes me uncomfortable! Big Barns… of course we get this Gospel right when I have been saving up to get a new car. I don’t normally think of myself as “rich”, but I have been around enough in the world to know that I am better off than many. I have wealth in my life, I know I do, but is our Barn story written for me? Yeah, I have been thinking about getting a new car, but I have been planning for it, working for it, saving for it, and sacrificing for it for a while now. Should I rethink my plans? I’d like to think of myself as one of the five wise virgins in that scripture story that thought ahead and planned for the wedding bringing along enough oil. I’m sorry the other five don’t have enough, but does that have to affect my plans? Still, today’s Gospel makes me uncomfortable.
[WE] I bet I am not the only one. I suspect that many of us here today are doing all right as far as our “barns” go. A parishioner of mine at my last parish told me when hearing I was coming to Norton Commons that it was a community of good people who have worked hard and succeeded in life, and now want to enjoy the fruit of their hard work. What’s wrong with that? We just want to enjoy the fruit of our planning, work, and sacrifices. Lot of talk these days about the 1%, inequality, and greed… but it’s not like we created the system or “rigged” it. Anyway, there are plenty of people better off than us. I know it. Maybe we ought to just dismiss this Gospel as having nothing to do with us. But then again, maybe we should take a second look just in case…
On the surface it might not be a bad idea to look at how much “stuff” we each are accumulating. What are we stacking up? Starts with the closets, then the garage, then the rented storage unit…maybe I need to invest in a barn? St. Augustine once preached that if I have a second blanket locked away in a footlocker, then I have stolen it from the person who has none. When you think about it, each of our piles of stuff ultimately just shift from one set of hands to another, and to another, and then another, and another. Brings to my mind that scene from the play, “A Christmas Carol” when the now dead Scrooge looks on with the Ghost of Christmas Future as some women pillage his bed curtains while they dish on him. Did it all come down to this? On the surface we have to ask ourselves, “Do I own my stuff or does my stuff own me?”
But there is a deeper danger. We can get to a place where our self-worth is measured by our piles of stuff. Our egos get wrapped up with our big barns. Our treasure becomes my importance in the eyes of others, or my being admired by my neighbors who have less, or my being recognized, feared, envied. Then our crusade to accumulate becomes an obsession, which ultimately leaves us dead inside. Like someone chasing after Pokémon characters we can pour all our energy, time, and attention into gathering something that ultimately means nothing. (Know who Nick Johnson is?) If my accumulation of stuff is tied to my ego, then I can never get enough. A big barn is good, but a bigger one is better, and bigger yet is better still.
Jesus knows there is a better way.
[GOD] “Be rich in what matters to God!” The secret of stuff is this… anything we acquire needs to support our serving God. The purpose of all stuff, from Jesus’ perspective, is to help us follow him, for our ultimate purpose in this life is walk with Jesus, to be in relationship with him, and to bring him to all our relationships. And as Jesus teaches his disciples, when it comes to following him, less is more. Stuff piled up gets in the way, loads us down, and distracts us from our essential task of seeking the face of Jesus. “Take only a walking staff, one tunic, and some sandals …” For a disciple, less is more. St. Therese of Avila put it this way in her work; “The Interior Castle”… only one person can sit on the throne of our heart. Either Jesus sits on that throne or our ego does. We can have only one Lord, its either Jesus or our ego.
[YOU] Who sits on the throne of your heart? Who is the Lord of your castle? Is Jesus Christ my Lord or a block on a religious “to do” list that gets checked off each week or month? Is Jesus Christ my Lord by which I evaluate everything that I do and have, or just one more “thing” collected to shore up the image of myself that I project out in the world to make me look good? Are my hands free to embrace what Jesus wants me to embrace, or are they clutching something else?
I think of that time in the storm when Peter climbs out of the boat to walk on water to the Lord… at first he clung to the rail of the boat with white-knuckled fear, but with the Lord’s encouragement he let go and a miracle began. Then when fear again overwhelms Peter, because his hands are free, he is able to grab Jesus’ hand, which saves him. This is why Jesus wants our hands free… he wants to be able to reach out and grab us so to save us.
Where do we begin? Ask the Lord to help you. In your silent prayer after receiving Communion ask the Lord to take the throne of your heart for himself. Sitting before the Blessed Sacrament in our chapel (which is open 24/7) ask the Lord to help you take a hard look at yourself and the “barns” you are building. Pilgrimage to our day chapel any Tuesday between 1:30pm and 6:30pm and in the Presence of our Lord exposed on the altar speak the words of the saints, “Here am I Lord, I’ve come to do your will.” Physically sacrifice the precious commodity of your time, and seek the face of the Lord; make Jesus your priority and discover real strength, real peace… discover your true self; the you God has created you to be.
[WE] Imagine the immediacy between God and us if there were no big “barns” between us. Imagine what it would be like if when standing before our Lord we could say as did the faithful steward, “I did it all for you for you are the Lord of my heart.” Then will we hear words delivered with a knowing smile, “Well done my good and faithful servant, well done.”
Sunday Jul 24, 2016
Sunday Jul 17, 2016
Sunday Jul 10, 2016
Sunday Jul 10, 2016
15th Sun. OT-C’16-C
“Love God Completely”
Fr. Jeff Nicolas
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Great question! Simple answer: Love God Completely. But what does THIS look like?
I think St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13, gives us an insightful way to grasp Jesus’ answer today. You see, Jesus was very intentional in his selection of characters for his story…
The Priest that walks on by is more than just a Priest; he’s any worshipper of God. Here’s what St. Paul says, “If I speak in human and angelic tongues [an act of worship] but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.” In other words, if I am just a worshipper of God who “walks on by” an opportunity to love another through self-sacrifice, then I do not inherit eternal life.
The Levite that walks on by is more than just a Levite; she’s anyone who is studied up and knowledgeable on God. Here’s what St. Paul says, “If I have the gift of prophesy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge, but do not have love, I am nothing.” In other words, if I am just a scholar on the subject of God who “walks on by” an opportunity to love another through self-sacrifice, then I do not inherit eternal life.
St. Paul, I believe, then goes on to point out that even the Good Samaritan, if his motives are wrong will lose out… “if I give away everything I own, and I hand my body over SO THAT I MAY BOAST, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” No eternal life is inherited if I reach out to help another just so I will look good.
So what does loving God completely look like? St. Paul clearly states that loving God completely looks like self-less action for another. This Love is the effort of patience, kindness, appreciation, humility, politeness, truth-telling, other-serving, and constancy. This is the enduring, believing, hopeful, unfailing disciple of Jesus Christ who will inherit eternal life. For you see, we do not fall into loving God completely; we die-to-self into loving God completely.
Today’s Letter to the Colossians assures us that “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,” yet scripture offers no physical description of Jesus. The image we are given is that of his actions alone… the greatest action being that of his dying to self so we could be lifted from the ditch and made whole. Deuteronomy assures us that loving God completely is not beyond our reach. It is as close as your next act of mercy.