Normally when we think of voluntary poverty, we think of religious brothers or sisters. Indeed, the catechism tells us, “The life consecrated to God is characterized by the public profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience.” (CCC 944) However, it also tells us, “Christ proposes the evangelical counsels, in their great variety, to every disciple.” (CCC 915) Really? Yup. We hear it this weekend: “Whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Of course, we can’t all be mendicants, but the evangelical counsels have proven for two thousand years to be the surest way to perfection. Since we’re all called to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48), we’re also all called to some form of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

I’ve sought to do so in my own vocation through my priestly association, the Companions of Christ. For example, we pursue poverty by having a $200 spending limit. This means, if I’m going to make a purchase over $200, I know I’m going to have to run it by my fellow Companions. Sometimes that’s all it takes to discourage me from being so quick to spend money on myself!

This trifecta of holiness directly combats the three major temptations. Chastity fights the lust of the flesh, calling us to the selfpossession that frees us to make a gift of ourselves. Poverty fights the lust of the eyes (greed), calling us to the healthy detachment that frees us to store up our treasure in heaven. Obedience fights the pride of life, calling us to the humility that frees us to serve God rather than our ego.

For us, practicing obedience may simply mean a humble submission to the circumstances of life, trusting that “all things work together for good for those who love God.” (Rom 8:28) Chastity may mean googling for the “parents’ guide” before beginning a new TV show or movie. Poverty may mean setting aside a percentage of our income for OLM, the Diocese, and our favorite charities like Hesed House or Waterleaf. Each disciple’s circumstances are unique, but every disciple is called to the perfection
of heaven. Let’s ask God this weekend how He is asking us to live
out poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Father James

“Let us never assume that if we live good lives we will be without sin; our lives should be praised only when we continue to beg for pardon. But men are hopeless creatures, and the less they concentrate on their own sins, the more interested they become in the sins of others. They seek to criticize, not to correct. Unable to excuse themselves, they are ready to accuse others.” ~ St. Augustine

I am always drawn to this quote by St. Augustine, because it points to the fact without seeking God’s mercy and growing in humility, we end up falling into pride and judgment of others.  Have you ever noticed when you push down on in an object, you in return push yourself up?  I don’t know if we subconsciously know this or just out of our brokenness and sinfulness, but we love to pass judgment on others.  When we judge others or when we gossip about others faults, we lift ourselves up in our pride and we glorify in the fact that at least we are not like them.

Clearly this is sinful and we need to reject this inclination because this is contrary to the life and mission of Jesus Christ.  Jesus, who is the Son of God, had every right, as God, to push down through judgement, but he doesn’t.   From the power of his infancy narrative where Jesus comes not in majesty and power, but in simplicity and poverty.  Jesus enters into the midst of our lives not to push us down, but by his life, death, and resurrection, lift us up in his mercy and love!

That is what our readings are encouraging us to do; to continue to grow in humility.  By doing so, we not only find favor with God, as our first reading says, we act more and more like Christ.  When we humble ourselves, we allow God to exalt us.  May we be strengthened by our readings and the Eucharist to always seek to grow in humility, seek God’s endless mercy, and lift those around us up.

Father Michael

Congratulations to our two newest permanent deacons, Deacon ‘Bugsy’ Sindac and Deacon Doug McIlvaine, who were ordained yesterday at the Cathedral of the Diocese of Joliet! You’ve seen them up in the sanctuary as Eucharistic ministers, lectors, and visitors to the homebound, but now they’ll have their own chair in the sanctuary, proclaim the Gospel, perform baptisms, witness marriages, offer blessings, and even preach! Like for priests and bishops, the sacrament of holy orders is not just a position, or even an occupation, but a vocation—a calling. It’s a call to diakoneō, the Greek word for service.

Sacraments, simply put, are visible signs of invisible realities, instituted by Christ, which give grace. While all of us are meant to be visible signs of Jesus in the world (we’re part of the Mystical Body of Christ after all!), and while all of us are called to some form of service, when it comes to deacons, they’re consecrated as sacramental signs of Christ the servant. They’re called from within the parish community to serve at the altar, at the parish, and at the margins of society in a uniquely sacramental way. Whether it’s at Mass, in our many ministries, or at Hesed House, their configuration to Jesus in the sacrament of holy orders gives them a special authority to act on behalf of both Jesus and His Church in various ways.

Of course, the only reason why bishops, priests, and deacons have any ‘special authority’ at all is because Our Lord Himself chose to share His authority with His Church in a sacramental way. He mirrored the structure of His new covenant after that of the old: with twelve apostles mirroring the twelve sons of Israel; and with bishops, priests, and deacons mirroring the three-fold hierarchy of the Temple: high priest, priests, and Levites. These structures are like the structures of the human body with each part relying on the other in for its own unique contribution. (cf. 1 Cor 12) So, just as the old covenant Temple system was meant to be a bridge between God and man, we look forward to the ways in which these men will be a bridge for our parish community to the God who “came not to be served but to serve”! (Matt 20:28) May God bless Deacon Bugsy and Deacon Doug!

Father James

Sometimes I fall into my autopilot responses.  When I am in conversation with my family such as my parents, sister, aunts and uncles, I can find myself ending our conversations with “Okay. Love you, Goodbye.” But you have to be careful with these responses, as they can possibly get you into trouble.  A few years ago, at my previous parish, the church secretary reached out to me about an upcoming funeral.  As we worked out the details and we were coming to the end of our conversation, I went into my autopilot response.  “Okay. Love you, Goodbye.”  I hung up the phone and then I realized I had just professed my love to my church secretary.  What I learned that day: going into autopilot responses can be dangerous.

I hope after the reading of our Gospel this weekend you didn’t just go into autopilot and say, “Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ.”  Jesus in the Gospel brings a difficult truth to the Gospel: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Did you pause to reflect on how this is in the Gospel?  How is this Good news?

What we need to come to realize is the division isn’t from God, the division lies in our own hearts.  None of us is perfect and we all need God’s mercy.  But, to receive that mercy, we need to acknowledge the need to change.  Change can be difficult and painful.  Hence, people’s rejection of change leading to division.

Why should we truly say “Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ” for this Gospel?  We should claim it all the more because the Lord loves us so much.  God desires to not leave us where we are at.  He desires to draw us to Himself.  He calls us to become a new creation in him.  Let us ask God for the grace, as St. Paul says to “rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.”

Father Michael

We live in a culture supposedly driven by science and results. So when it comes to hearing our second reading, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen,” it is easy to understand why some may be skeptical or quick to dismiss things of faith.  However, most people’s understanding of faith is misconstrued, not realizing that the God’s work in our lives is actually concrete and tangible.

Faith is experienced and encountered through relationships with another person.  I am able to have faith in my friends, my family, and God because I have experienced their faithfulness in my life in real and tangible ways.  Faith involves an act of trust, which is unseen, but not untested.  So, how do we come to grow in our faith and trust in the Lord?

I’d like to list just two ways. First, we look to the Incarnation; God becoming flesh.  Our Lord Jesus reveals our Fathers love for us in a physical and tangible way, as seen in his ministry ending in the cross. Coming to know Jesus allows us to have a deeper faith in God and allows us to trust in his promises of his presence in our lives and the promise of everlasting life!

Another gift as Catholics, are the Sacraments.  They allow us to experience the Lord’s love in very tangible ways.  For example, the Eucharist, his Body and Blood, allows the Lord to enter more deeply into hearts and souls as we are united into the mystery of God.  In reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we actually hear the words of absolution and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness.

So even though the act of faith is invisible, the Lord’s action in our daily lives are very tangible!  Let us not be too quick to dismiss. “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen!”

Father Michael