Deacon Larry

   

Thursday of the 2nd Week in Advent

Is 41: 13-20; Mt 11: 11-15

Dc. Larry Brockman

 “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence.”  That’s what we just heard.  Yes, indeed, you, the elect, those who have a grasp of the Kingdom of God, those who are committed to Jesus Christ, suffer violence in this world, just as Jesus could see the forces of evil marshalling against His disciples and Himself.  They were poised to do violence, and they did.  It will always be so in this world, because the Kingdom of God is not of this world. 

And so, expect it, expect the suffering that comes with the challenge of living in this world even as you are attached to the Kingdom.  The suffering is all around us in the form of sickness and infirmity; problems in relationships, job losses and economic difficulties and yes, even random acts of violence done to us.  None of us are exempt from the realities of suffering in this world. not even those who have all the money in the world.  The local news testifies to that.  We are like the people Isaiah speaks of in the first reading, “maggot Israel”- what a metaphor! 

Sometimes we feel like it too, for as Isaiah says: “The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain”.  And yet, we must never forget that the Lord is always there for us, and like anybody that is on a long journey, the goal is to get through all of the inconveniences, and yes, even sometimes pain, to get to the other side safely.  If we believe and trust in the Lord, then it will happen for us, and even as dramatically as Isaiah predicts this morning, because trusting in the Lord, all of us can experience the desert being changed into a marshland.   

 

Thursday of the 1st Week in Advent; St. Francis Xavier

1 Cor 9: 16-19; 22-23; Mark 16: 15-20

Dc. Larry Brockman

You never know.  You never know when you have impact on people.  In St. Francis Xavier’s case, he began a mission to the Far East at the age of 46 in the year 1552.  This mission took him to India, Sri Lanka, Japan, and China.  Three centuries later, even though Christianity was brutally suppressed in Japan in all that time, the Faith was still found there.  Indeed, you just never know what effect your efforts will have.   

Now all of us are called, as part of our Baptismal promise, to evangelize in word and deed.  Our working orders are laid out in today’s Gospel.  To profess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead.  And that’s how we proclaim the good news of Christ, the Gospel- by living our lives as Christians by what we say and by how we project ourselves in what we do.  Paul tells us that we are obligated to live and proclaim the Gospel. It is not something we should boast about.  It is simply our duty. 

And the great thing about that duty is that we just never know.  We never know when it will have an impact on those around us.  But you can be sure of this- others see how you act and what you do- in the grocery store; at the Christmas Party you attend; in the classroom; at the office; while you are working in the yard; in an emergency; and when you meet someone in need.  Indeed, our lives are full of opportunities to evangelize, just by being who we are, but in a Christian way.  Most of us will not have to go out and put our lives on the line in a strange land like Francis Xavier.  But all of us will be given these opportunities.  And, you just never know when you will have an impact.  But God knows, and he’s counting on you.   

Advent Reflection Service

Dc. Larry Brockman

Christmas Cards, visits to Santa Claus, Christmas Cookies, Holiday Office Parties, Erecting the Christmas Tree, Putting up the Outside Lights, Buying everybody a gift, wrapping the gifts, cooking the Family celebration dinners, and lots more- it’s all got to get done.  We’ve all got to do it.     

But wait a minute, where is Jesus in all this?  Well, that’s why we are here tonight, to put Jesus back into Advent and Christmas.  Where do we begin?  Let’s first ask the question- Why do we do all this Christmas stuff?  Is it because it’s just part of the secular ritual of the season; is it because it’s what everybody does?  Or is there a better reason?  Well, how about this reason?  We do all this because of the joy we feel over the fact that God loved us so much he sent his only son into the world in human form- God incarnate as man, fully human and fully divine. 

Think about that- I mean really think about it.  For thousands of years before the birth of Jesus, people believed in some higher being or beings.  But, they were transcendent- that is, distant and separate from us, unapproachable.  There was no way we could relate directly to God.  And then, Jesus was born into the world.  Jesus was born as all of us are- in relative obscurity, in an ordinary way (and in his case, among poverty).  But, Jesus was born as both fully human and fully divine.  Here was the image of the one true God, no longer transcendent, but visible and available in a way that all of us could relate to- as one of us.  Gone was the transcendence that separated us from becoming close to God.  In other words, God became immanent to us- as openly available as any other person at the time.  Wow! What a great cause for joy.  Because now, after thousands of years of mystical conversations with a transcendent God, here was a manifestation of God we could touch and feel and relate to, a manifestation of God that had the same likes and dislikes, habits and needs, temptations, and limitations as all of us.  If that doesn’t bring joy, it should, because there is nothing else like it; no other earthly religion that guarantees it, that God loved us so much that he showed himself as one of us;.and showed us that we could live a life that was pleasing to him even with all our limitations.   

How do we know all this?  Recognize first of all the promise, the promise in our first reading that a savior would be born, and His name would be Immanuel- God Saves.  And then we were told where it would happen- in Bethlehem, in our second reading.  In our third reading, Paul unlocks for us the mystery of the mission of God-made-man, the mission to dwell among us, suffer and die by fulfilling the Father’s will, and finally, His resurrection and coming to power.  And how does God send his Son amongst us?  Well, in our fourth reading we see that Jesus was born of a woman; a woman who said yes to the will of the Father; a woman who had dreams of a normal marriage and family, but was called to sacrifice herself for the will of her God, and she said “yes”.  This is a challenge we all face.  The challenge to say yes to whatever the Father sends our way, for better or worse, richer or poorer, or sickness or health.  And then, in our fifth reading, we hear the incredible story of Jesus birth told in the Gospe,.the promise fulfilled; the God-made-man a reality.  But it happened in the most humble of circumstances, as humbling as any of the circumstances of the least amongst us- so real; so earthly; so bazaar.  But wait, it gets better.  Because the promise of the messiah was made to the Jews. and Mary and Joseph were Jews.  So, in our sixth reading, we see the promise extended- extended to lowly shepherds who were the first to give testimony to the miracle of the incarnation.  This is a symbol of the universal gift- to all nations, not just the Jews.  And then finally, we hear what was called the last Gospel in the old Tridentine Mass.  John gives us a theological summary of the meaning of it all.  The Word existed from the beginning with God the Father, and became man.  That defines clearly that Jesus is both God and man.  And so, during the four weeks in Advent, we wait in joyful expectation of the coming of our savior.   

But why four weeks; why so long?  Because our role is not so much waiting for the coming as it is preparing for the coming.  You see, the coming of the Christ child is something that happened, and so we can relive it, we can remember it, and we can experience the joy.  Thank you Jesus   

But, that first coming, the birth of Jesus, is a reminder that He will come again.  Yes, there will be a second coming of Christ.  And that second coming requires preparation, .because with that second coming comes judgment.  The chronicle of John the Baptist’s activity in the readings during Advent is our clue.  Because his message is clear.  Repent and “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”. 

As Jesus said in Sunday’s Gospel, that second coming can come at any time for any of us-  It will most likely come when we least expect it.  Are you ready? Are you satisfied with the way you are living your life?  Or is there something about the pattern of your life that needs a change?  What is it that gnaws at you and says the track I am on is just not right.  It may be because you are too harried with job and responsibilities, always cutting corners to get as much into the agenda as possible; but never having enough time to do things the right way and to put things into the right priority.

Or perhaps you spend too much time absorbed in your own world, immersed in video games or football or telephone marathons with your friends.  These are addictions of a sort.  Then there are classical addictions: addictions to food or alcohol or drugs or pornography.  And as a result of your preoccupation with your interests or your addictions, your work or family or household affairs suffer the consequences. 

Or perhaps you have settled into a pattern of withdrawal, of non-involvement, where days and weeks go by and all of your activity revolves around yourself.  Perhaps its because of depression or older age, and it is so much easier to just not get involved, and so you don’t extend yourself by getting out and relating to others. 

These are all patterns that can harbor sin in a social context, because the life styles that foster them ignore the responsibility we have to participate fully in the world in the context that God has planned for us.  We need to reflect on our lives, and do what we can to steer them in the right direction.   

And so, I’m asking you to do something a little different this Advent.  Do enjoy the season- the Cookies and Tree and Santa, and gift giving and all of that.  But set aside some time each day, just a little time each day, to think about the direction your life is taking, and the impact it has on others- your family, your work associates, and society as a whole.  What can you do differently that makes a difference?  If you are harried; how can you slow down and feel the pulse of God urging you in His direction.  If you are in a slump; how can you respond to little urges to get involved or to make a difference?  If you are addicted, how can you clean up your act? 

In any event, don’t let this Advent pass you by.  Get ready for Christ.  He is coming. 

Thursday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time

1 Mac 2: 15-29; Luke 19: 41-44

Dc. Larry Brockman

Just because we don’t carry animals to an altar to be burned there, doesn’t mean that we don’t offer pagan sacrifices in today’s world.  Ok then, so what would it mean to offer sacrifices to the King today according to some decree?  A decree which runs counter to the long standing teaching of our religion?  I think that when we give significant time, talent, or treasure in support of any cause, then we are making a sacrifice.   

Now, we have been asked to offer time, talent, and treasure in some measure to our Church.  Father Ennis spoke about the treasure part of stewardship this past weekend.  He spoke about sacrificial giving- giving which is out of our needs rather than out of our surplus.  Well, the same thing applies to our relationship with the secular world.  Whenever we give significant time, talent, or treasure to the secular world, we are making a sacrifice- offering up our treasure out of our needs rather than our surplus.  And the fact is, that we have only so much time, talent and treasure to give, so that whether we like it or not, we are setting a priority on how we use our time, talent, and treasure.  And if we make our priority anything in the secular world that compromises our relationship with God then it is like the offering of sacrifices to the King in accordance with the decree because the “King” becomes something other than Christ.  We can offer such pagan sacrifices by supporting a blatantly evil cause- like Planned Parenthood; and by an addiction that depletes our time, talent or treasure, such as an addiction to pornography or video games or gambling, or drugs, or TV, or football, or even work.   

This is the time of year when we are being asked to reflect.  Reflect on the fact that at any time, the end could be near.  It is imperative that we have our priority straight on how to allocate our time, talent, and treasure.  Why?  Because you don’t want Jesus to say to you:  “They will smash you to the ground and your children within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation” 

 

Thursday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 8: 31b-39; Lk 13: 31-35

Dc. Larry Brockman

FDR once said: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”.  That sort of sums up Paul’s message to the Romans today.  Christians in Paul’s day were living in fear, fear of the things that Paul mentioned-  anguish, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and the sword because Christians faced persecutions from the state, and because the Jews experienced a severe put down from the Romans.  Yes indeed, they were experiencing fear.     

You know, this is an age where some of the things Paul mentioned all of a sudden seem to be taking on some meaning for us.  After a 60 year period of post-war prosperity, we now hear of impending dooms that instill fear, perhaps real, perhaps not.  But, there is no question that high unemployment, the massive bailout, the debate over health care- all of these things are instilling a sense of uncertainty in us- an uncertainty that could lead to fear.  Likewise, Religion is being attacked today- and that is evident in the breakdown of the family, declining public moral values, and increased crime.  This too, is something that we might experience some fear about.  And this is a fear that is new to most of us because we weren’t around during the Depression and the Great War.   And certainly, we have not lived in a society where Christian values have been under attack like they are today.   

But as Paul clearly states, fear is not something that we, as Christians, should become victim to.  Because nothing, absolutely nothing, not even fear itself, can separate us from the love of God.  Yes, we may have to suffer here in this age if our public society becomes less tolerant of our moral code and if our economy crumbles around us.  But in the midst of that suffering, we need to trust in God because all these perils count as nothing if we trust in God.  If God was willing to sacrifice his only son for us, and raise him up to everlasting life, and if we believe Jesus promise that we who believe will be raised on the last day, then we have nothing to fear.  Because God will certainly do whatever is needed to take care of us too. 

So let us take away a message of hope and joy from Paul’s message this morning- joy over the knowledge that nothing can separate us from the love of God.  Love, indeed, casts out all fear. 

 

Thursday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 6: 19-23; Lk 12: 49-53

Dc. Larry Brockman

Sounds more like a politician than Jesus- dividing brothers and sisters and separating dads and moms from their children.  Is that what Christianity is all about, setting the world on fire and causing divisions in families?  How can that be? 

Well, I think Jesus emphasis is on something other than dividing people. He is talking about the excitement he is feeling over his knowledge of the impending fulfillment of His mission on earth- his death and resurrection.  He is excited because his sacrifice will bring with it our redemption and our salvation with the reward of eternal life.   He is excited, because knows all of us can be saved; but not without the consequences.  And the consequences are the divisions among families and discord because the Kingdom of God and the secular world are at battle with each other.  Nowhere is this clearer than in our first reading.  Because we want to be comfortable; to feel good, and to be free of pain,.we cater to our bodies, to the flesh.  Paul advises us to put aside the flesh, because ultimately it leads to death.  Rather, we are to become slaves to Christ, and that leads to sanctification and eternal life. 

So, let us join with Jesus in his joy, the joy he feels over the success of his mission.  We have been saved through the saving work of Jesus.  And if we commit to a life that puts God first, rather than satisfying our bodily passions, even though that may alienate us from some of our families, we can rejoice in the knowledge that we have sealed our ultimate happiness. 

And if we take the message seriously, we can yet set the world on fire with our efforts to evangelize in fulfillment of Jesus desire.

 

Thursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

Mal 3: 13-20b; Lk 11: 5-13

Dc. Larry Brockman

Indeed, things haven’t changed have they?  The wicked in the days of the Old Testament just decide to ignore the Lord and do as they please, seemingly reaping the benefits of dishonesty and cunning evil.  It’s easy for us to get discouraged like the folks 3,000 years ago as we look around us and see people prospering, yet who are lying, cheating, and backbiting their way through life just to get ahead, people who seem fearless of the wrath of God.  Nothing seems to stop them; nothing seems to get in their way.  We ask ourselves, “where is God”?  Why doesn’t he reward those who are honest?  Why does he let these people who ignore his laws get ahead? 

And yet, Malachi tells us the time is coming when all the proud will be made stubble.  So there is this message of hope, hope for the coming of the Kingdom when all evil will find its true reward, and those who are honest and faithful to God are rewarded. 

Two things came to mind as I pondered these readings.  First, we must be firm in our resolve to be honest  and do what is right no matter how dishonest the people of the world are around us.  God will reward us in his way and in his own time. 

Recently, I went to a tire dealer to get a flat tire repaired.  I can think of few tire businesses where one can count on honesty.  But I found one a few years ago.  On my way, I passed a few shops that were nearly empty.  But I went to a particular shop because I trusted them.  Because I knew this shop would fix the tire right for a fair price, and they would tell me I needed a new tire, but only if I really needed one  They wouldn’t try to con me into buying new tires when I didn’t need them.  I had to wait quite a while, because the place was packed.  Now as I looked around, while I waited, I couldn’t help but be struck by the tremendous volume of business compared to the two places just down the street.  You see, people eventually find out who is honest and who isn’t.  And this man’s business was a living testimony to that.  In essence, he was receiving his reward, even in this world.  I know it wasn’t always that way for him, because I have been going there for many years, and they weren’t always so busy.  Sometimes it takes patience and resolve, but it can and does happen. 

Second, we must be persistent in asking God for what we need, especially when we are faced with injustice.  Jesus makes this point very clear in the Gospel.  That God will hear those who are persistent.  So, when you feel downtrodden, be a pest to God in your zeal for what you ask.   

The key thing is that we must trust in the Lord always,  Because he has only the best intentions for those of us who love Him. 

Thursday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus

Neh 8: 1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12; Lk 10: 1-12

Dc. Larry Brockman

Imagine for a moment that one of the 72 new disciples comes to you,  all fired up with the zeal of the Lord,  commissioned by Jesus, the Lord himself, just as we just heard in today’s Gospel.  This emissary knocks on your door, kind of like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormon’s come knocking at our doors today, preaching repentance, salvation, and the coming of the Kingdom.  For some, it might be uncomfortable.  But for others, searching for the truth,  wouldn’t that be something- hearing the message of the Kingdom of God  proclaimed by someone who had direct contact with Jesus!  That would be really special. 

Now just suppose that you look at this Gospel in a new light,  Suppose you imagined that the person proclaiming the message, the Word of God, every time you hear it at Mass,  was one of these 72 disciples?  You see, the fact is that we are all so very blessed.  Because we all hear the good news of the Kingdom of God proclaimed to us each time we come to Mass.  It is as if one of these 72 disciples is knocking on our door fired up and commissioned to tell the good news of the Kingdom to you.  The Priest, the Deacon, and the Lector all fulfill this role. 

Only, we have to make a choice.  We can choose to reject the message, whether it’s by not paying attention; deciding that we’ve heard it all before;  or because we aren’t searching for the relevance.    Or do we open the door of our hearts to the scripture message-  eager to listen and take it to heart; yearning to find meaning in every word; and searching for the relevance in our lives?   

All scripture has meaning and relevance.  That is our challenge- to find it, to seek that which brings us to the Kingdom of God.  Lest, we hear it said to us  that “It will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day,  than for that town”.   

 

September 24, 2009

Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Hag 1: 1-8; Lk 9: 7-9

Dc. Larry Brockman

Years ago Johnny Carson used to feature a young fellow named Bob every once and a while who was the consummate procrastinator.  He would put off just about everything till later, and make a joke about it.  It was a great routine.  It was funny, but at the same time it often hit home, because all of us procrastinate, all of us put off some important tasks as we go through life. 

Herod was such a man.  Fascinated by reports of both St. John the Baptist and Jesus, Herod wanted to know more.  The Gospel says of Herod “And he kept trying to see him”.  So basically he procrastinated- he put it off. 

We can only speculate on the reason.  Was it because he was too lazy?  Was it because he thought he was too busy- preoccupied with his important position?  Or perhaps it was it because he wanted Jesus to come to him, a man of importance, rather than He, Herod, making the first step? 

Now sometimes we wait to do something important as well.  And we will use excuses like the ones above.  When you think about it, the three reasons boil down to this: laziness, arrogance, and pride.  That sounds kind of harsh, but when you cut away all the words around the excuses, these are what remain.  The devil knows how to use these human tendencies, and he is active and alive in procrastinators because the easiest of all things to do, is to do nothing at all. 

Yet, some of the things that we put on the back burner are important-  resolving problems with those we love; confessing our sins and making restitution; making changes that we know are needed in our lives; and lot’s of other things. 

The bottom line is this.  The Gospel is not just talking about Herod.  The Gospel is talking about us. 

September 17, 2009

Thursday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time

1 Tim 4: 12-16; Lk 7: 36-50

Dc. Larry Brockman

How would you feel if someone barged uninvited into your home while you were having a dinner guest, and upstaged you in front of your honored guest?  And to make matters worse, suppose the intruder was a neighbor who continually made trouble.  Chances are you would be upset.  That’s what happened to this Pharisee and he was upset.  So, why does Jesus take the intruder’s side? 

Now the Pharisee’s invite to Jesus was the in-thing to do.  Jesus was the talk of the town.  Everybody sought after him at that time.  How fortunate was this Pharisee to have his invitation accepted.  But in reality, the Pharisee lacks sincerity.   It was, after all, the message that Jesus preached that made him popular, and that should have been the substance of his meeting with Jesus.  But the Pharisee does not even seem to be aware of the message that Jesus was teaching.  Indeed Jesus scolds the Pharisee for not providing some of the customary honors due an important guest- no water to cool and wash his feet; and no oil to anoint his head.  So, the Pharisee is not displaying that he is honored by Jesus acceptance.  Rather, it is as if he feels that it is an honor for Jesus to be in his presence.  On the contrary, the sinful woman lavishes honor on Jesus and displays true humility.  She bathes Jesus with her tears, and anoints him with a fine perfume.  This woman was repenting- she had taken to heart her own inadequacies.  She was responding to the message that Jesus had proclaimed, and she was determined to lay it all out in sincerity to Jesus.  The Pharisee does not even seem aware of his sin or the need to repent.  Rather the Pharisee was preoccupied with his own importance, and not the opportunity to internalize Jesus message first hand.

How about you and I?  Are we here to honor Jesus and to repent of our sinful tendencies?  Or are we deluding ourselves by thinking that our presence sets us apart from our sinful neighbor?  Jesus is looking for our burdens, our sin, and our repentance.  He is not looking for a list of our perceived strengths.  Our challenge is always and everywhere to strive to be like him.  Or, as Paul put it in Timothy:  “Let no one have contempt for youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.”