Are You Holy?

If someone asked me that question, I’d roll my eyes and say “Not really”.

Recently Pope Francis released an Apostolic Exhortation on Holiness.  It is a 34 page letter which is both readable and down-to-earth.  Check it out.  A basic message is that holiness does not imply perfection.

Two weekends ago I started the homily by asking people to raise their hands if they think they are holy. At the 1st mass 1 person raised a hand.  At the 2^nd mass no one raised a hand. But at the 3^rd mass, 14 people raised their hands. I was delighted.

Two families raised their hands.  Both families have 3 children…some younger ones and some teenagers. And every member of each family ‘tentatively’ raised their hands. (Their hands were up but not real high.) I liked that. They see that they’re on the way.

Pope Francis says: “Holiness is present in parents who raise their children with love; in men and women who work hard to support their families; in the sick and elderly who never lose their smiles; and in next-door neighbors and those living in our midst.”

Two concrete actions: 1. Answer the question for yourself: Are you holy?  2. Name a holy person you know. Talk to him/her about that.          

                                                                 Spiritual DNA

Last year I received a gift certificate to do a DNA search through Ancestry.com.  I assumed my DNA would show my strong German background…having 3 German grandparents. To my surprise it was my Polish grandfather’s DNA that dominated my profile. In hindsight that makes sense to me.  I look very much like him.  And our personalities are similar too.       

Recently I chose the text of 1 John 3:1-2 as a reading for a funeral.  That text begins with this sentence: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.”  And that got me thinking about something I’d call spiritual ‘DNA’. 

What qualities have we inherited from God our creator? How are we God-like?

In the instance of that funeral homily, I mentioned the deceased’s 'tender heart', 'playful spirit' and 'love for the natural world' as his God-like qualities.  

Take a few minutes to think about God-like qualities that are embedded in your spiritual DNA.  What qualities have you inherited from God?  Think of a person you love.  What God-like qualities do you see in him or her?  Tell that person what you see of God in him or her.     

                                         Repent and Believe the Gospel

On Ash Wednesday, when the ashes are put on our foreheads, the minister of the ashes can say: “Repent and believe the Gospel”.  These words are part of Jesus’ mission statement in the Gospel of Mark. (Mk 1:15)     

The Greek word ‘metanoia’ is translated ‘repent’.  It means that we are called to face our sinfulness and to change our minds and our hearts.    And the Greek word ‘evangelion’ is translated ‘Gospel’. And it means ‘good news’.  And, for my part, the best ‘good news’ is that God continually gives us second chances.

I’ve received ashes on my forehead since I was a baby.  And I’m 70 years old now.  That means that God has given me 70 Lents to get things right.  And I try.  But I always fail.  So next year, if I’m still alive, I trust that He will give me my 71^st chance to get it right. Maybe the 71^st chance will be the charmer…but I doubt it!  

How many times have you received ashes on your forehead? 

Blessed are we to have a God who is so loving and forgiving!

                                       What’s Your Favorite Name?

In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus changed Simon’s name to Cephas, which is translated Peter and means ‘the rock’.  Although Peter wasn’t immediately a ‘rock’, he became a rock over time. And I bet ‘rock’ became his favorite name. 

Peter had other names too. For example, He was called ‘son-in-law’ by his mother-in-law, whom Jesus healed. And since Peter brought Jesus to her home, maybe he was her ‘favorite son-in-law’!   He was also called Apostle and Disciple.

By what names are you known?

Besides being called ‘Ron’, I’m also called Father. That name was awkward for me in the beginning.  But I’ve grown into it and now I’m comfortable being ‘Father’. Are there some names you’ve grown into? 

Ok. There’s one other name I guess I should mention. Some friends call me ‘Old Fart’… but don’t tell anybody! And, yes, I’ve become that too.J

In the end, I think my favorite name is: ‘----- -- ---.’ Can you guess what that is?  If you’re right, you could win a prize.  What’s your favorite name? 

                            National Migration Week – Jan. 7-13, 2018

For nearly 50 years the US Catholic Church has celebrated National Migration Week.  This year’s theme is: “Many Journeys, One Family”. It reminds us that each family has a migration story.  And it calls us to live in solidarity with one another.

Take a few minutes and remember your family’s migration story. 

Immigrants look for safety or better lives for their families.  They face challenges, rejections, and warm welcomes too.    

Are there immigrants in your neighborhood?  Have you met them?

Last fall our Bishops urged Congress ‘to find a durable and permanent solution on behalf of DACA youth’.  Read about it online: USCCB statement on DACA.

In the past our Bishops offered these 4 principles to guide immigration policies:

1.      People have a right to find opportunities in their homelands…

2.      People have a right to migrate to sustain their lives…

3.      A country has the right to regulate its borders and control immigration…

4.      A country should regulate its borders with justice and mercy.

A longstanding Catholic moral teaching calls us to work for the common good of everyone. How hard is it for you/me to fully embrace that teaching?   

                                                         

                                        Points to Ponder as We Start a New Year

What were the 2 or 3 biggest blessings you received last year?

Last year, what brought you the most joy? 

What was the biggest mistake you made over the past year?

 On an average day last year, how much time did you take to pray?

What spiritual resolution will you set for yourself this coming year?

Name a particular sin that you want to face and stop in the New Year.

In this first week of the the New Year, name one thing that you’d like to do to make you life a little holier.

Celebrate the New Year by naming 3 things that God has always loved about you.

(Sorry I couldn't figure out how to get rid of the '8.' below this line.  Lord, have mercy on my computer in 2018!)

                                                    Are You a Holy Person?

Imagine a church full of people on Sunday morning.  If I asked the congregation to raise their hands if they see themselves as holy people, what do you think would happen?   What percentage of people would raise their hands? 

I’m probably going to test this out. If I do, I’ll let you know what happens.

My guess is that maybe 25% of the congregation would raise their hands.  I think most people wouldn’t, because I think we have a distorted sense of what it means to be holy.  Holiness is not perfection. It is a basic path or orientation to Jesus Christ in life.  And a holy person who falls, knows how to get up and continue on the Way.

St. Paul addressed many of his letters with words like these : “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus, faithful to Christ Jesus…” (Eph.1:1). Who are the ‘holy ones’? People who were part of the Christian Community, engaged in the daily struggle to live faithfully. 

In this light, are you a holy person?