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Homily November 30, 2025: First Sunday of Advent
Happy New Year! Do you have your New Year's resolutions done? I've been working on mine. OK some of you may be thinking what is he talking about it's not the new year? but it is. It's the liturgical new year. We've started now into year A of our liturgical cycle so why not celebrate? At the end of December, we have the New Year's resolutions which seem to focus on making ourselves better. A lot of people do gym memberships, they go on diets they do those things to try to better themselves physically, or mentally. But why don't we do that for our liturgical new year and make resolutions that improve ourselves spiritually?
Here are a few examples of how we can do that: Bible in Year, Catechism in a year, read daily scripture, St. Roch leaves copies of the Magnificat for people to take, pray the rosary daily, do the liturgy of the hours which is the prayer of the church, use Bible apps to help you; I use Hallow, I Breviary, and Divine Office. Now I have heard and have used the excuse myself that I don’t have time. With the apps I use that excuse goes away because as I drive down the road, as I do housework, as I walk my dog, as I work out, I can listen to the prayers being prayed from a rosary being said, reciting the liturgy of the hours, listening to the Bible in a year podcast. We must stop letting our EGO get in the way and what I mean by EGO is Edging God Out. We edge Him out when we let excuses get in the way of prioritizing prayer or improving upon our faith life. In finding ways to grow spiritually and to come to know more of our faith we can see the rewards of putting our faith into action, which is truly what it is to be children of God.
The reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah talks about the mountain and going out to the highest mountain “come let us climb the Lord's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob”. To reach salvation we must climb and reach for Him. Hannah Montana put this to words of a song that relates so much to our faith life especially as we prepare for the four weeks of advent to Christmas and it can go on beyond that because we are always trying to climb
“every step I'm taking every move I make feels lost with no direction my faith is shaking but I gotta keep trying gotta keep my head held high there's always gonna be another mountain; I'm always gonna wanna make it move; always gonna be an uphill battle sometimes I'm going to have to lose; ain't about how fast I get there ain't about what's waiting on the other side; it's the climb, the struggles I'm facing the chances I'm taking sometimes might knock me down but no I'm not breaking."
Isn't that what we go through in our faith life we are constantly challenged in our faith we are challenged to do better and we make that climb we keep climbing up trying to reach the top, and we know what's at the top we were told about what's at the top in Saint Paul's letter to the Romans when he talks about putting on the armor of light, the armor of light is Jesus Christ the light that shines in the darkness awaits us at that top of that mountain but sometimes we slip and we fall or we get to the top and realize we're not there yet there's still more to climb and we get frustrated, we may feel like we are not worthy of the reward, or the burden is just too much. In those struggles put on the armor of light. The armor of light helps us to defeat evil and push away from sin. And that is what we must do constantly; fight to push away sin and evil; work our way up the mountain because Saint Matthew says we know not the time or the hour when the Lord will come so we need to always be preparing ourselves and those that we love.
With this being the first Sunday of advent we lite the first the candle, the candle of HOPE. Hope is defined as: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen” for us that is the coming our savior Jesus Christ. Hope can also take on different meanings, I looked up a few using the world wide web, who knew they had an acronym finder?! Here are a few that were listed: Have Only Positive Expectations; Helping Out People Everywhere; Helping Others Prepare for Eternity; He Offers Peace Eternally. Now those are good, but I decided to give it a try myself, to create ones that will help me and [possibly you) with my resolutions for the new Liturgical year. Help Our Pope Evangelize; by leading the way to action from his teachings to ours; for children Honor Our Parents Every day; let them see Christ in you. Lastly, Hear Our Prayers Emmanuel. God is truly with us. My Hope for you as you begin your faith journey this new year is as you climb you do not get discouraged by slipping but use that as a means to keep trying, keep reaching for the top. Steps will become easier the more you allow Christ to be shown in and through you especially in giving of yourselves to those in need. As Pope Leo told the youth in his talk at NCYC the church is made up of all of us and the youth are not only the future they are also the present. We all are God’s church called to be his disciples and through Hope, Peace, Joy and Love we can bring people closer to His Kingdom on that High mountain, It’s worth the climb but it is up to you to take the first step. Hope in Christ and you will find the strength.
Homily November 9, 2025: The Dedication of the lateran basilica
The Gospel and second reading reminded me of a little rhyme that I was taught as a child that went with some hand gestures. Some of you may know it, if so, feel free to help me out. Put your hands together: here is the church here is the steeple open it up where's all the people ohh here is the church here is the steeple open it up there's all the people.
The readings are calling us to remember and reflect upon the church but more so the importance of the temple on which it was built. In the early church the temple was the most sacred place for the Jewish people. The temple was the main site for sacrificial worship and prayer. It was believed to be the earthly dwelling place of God, where heaven and earth met. It was also where the laws were made and judged by the Sanhedrin (Jewish high court) and where people could go to be educated on religious scripture.
So, in the Gospel Jesus destroys the temple because he is upset by the Greed and exploitation of the temple happening prior to Passover, people had to pay to get in. It was A place of worship that was being turned into a den of thieves and for people to make a lively hood versus to praise and honor God through prayer. But Jesus doesn't stop there he goes on and gives us the foundation of our faith the foundation of the temple on which our church is built. When he says “Destroy the temple and in three days I will raise it up”
The temple he is talking about is himself the ultimate sacrifice that he will make for us the foundation of our church is the sacrifice made on the cross fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy and from his side blood and water flowed flowing out for all water and blood, water symbolizing baptism and the blood symbolizing the Eucharist. Body and blood, the outpouring of grace, mercy and forgiveness which is the Holy Spirit being given to us. So, if Jesus is the temple and foundation where do we fit in?
Simply go back to that little rhyme, here is the church where’s all the people open it up and there’s all the people. We through our cleansing at Baptism and in the partaking of the eucharist are the church. As Saint Paul said, “you are God’s building”, we are God’s church. The building we are in is just that, there is no church. We gather here in community as brothers and sisters of Jesus we are chosen to be like Him in words and actions.
As we get ready to celebrate the Advent season, how is your personal church? Now I know little about construction to help fix things but I do know the Son of a carpenter that can fix anything. So is your church Is it in need of major repair? If so, reconciliation is always available, Is it in need of just some small brick work to sturdy it up? I recommend prayer and service. This year more than ever, there is a need in our community, for Volunteering at food pantries or at St Vincent de Paul. Visting with those who may be lonely. Giving of your time talent and treasure to be Christ to those who are in need. We are his Church and through us his love can flow.
HOMILY DECEMBER 8, 2024: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Peace be with you, shalom.
The second week of advent the candle represents Peace. Peace is one of those words we often use but can’t quite explain it very well. I don’t know if I will do much better at defining it, but I have a few insights. In Hebrew, the word for peace is shalom. Throughout the Bible, shalom is used in several ways. When people are feeling physically well, others say that they “are shalom” (Genesis 29:6). People who have shalom with God have his protection and blessing (Numbers 25:12). People who have friendships with each other or have recently reconciled, have shalom with each other (Judges 21:13). Merriam-Webster defines Peace as the freedom from war and hostility, a state of tranquility, calmness or quiet. Bible Study Tools defines peace in more theological terms as "to be complete or whole" "to be sound”, "to live well’ and “to be in harmony with yourself and your neighbors.”
Now that we have a definition, I feel like we should expand upon the word PEACE itself and see if an acronym can help our understanding. I have to admit at first, I tried to use an AI acronym generator (who knew they actually had something like that) but it came up with People Engaging in Acts of Compassion and Empathy. Now that is not bad for how we could see peace but I didn’t feel I good make a sermon out of that, so I tried one of my own. Prepare Equip Anticipation Celebrate Embrace.
P: Prepare not just presents, decorations, cards, candles or food but preparing spiritually for Christmas day, when Christ is born. We know how the story goes and should be preparing for that which this baby born in lowly estate will end up providing us with, the path to eternal peace.
E: Equip ourselves for Christmas through prayer and reconciliation. In order to have PEACE we must be open to being pardoned and in giving forgiveness to others. As in Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Before coming to the altar, we too must be willing to let go of hatred, jealousy, anything that pulls us away from Christ, and let Jesus bring us peace. For He is the Prince of peace.
A: Anticipation, at this time of the year we should be filled with excitement as we eagerly await Christ’s birth. It is a feeling of anxious suspense like waiting to open presents on Christmas morning or waiting for the word YES to a proposal from a job interview or a marriage. It is even like waiting to hear or see your school’s name come across the news with closed for a snow day.
C: Celebrate, “it’s a celebration to last throughout the year”. We are to celebrate for advent is our preparing for Jesus in not only his birth, but in the awaiting of his 2nd coming, and his coming into our hearts minds and bodies through the eucharist.
E: Embrace, we are to embrace the love of Christ and share his Peace, for peace leads to love and love of Christ leads to salvation. We do this at every mass when we offer each other a sign of peace whether a hand shake, a hug or a nod and so it should be to all those we meet. His peace is a peace to be shared everywhere.
Jesus tells us” “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” It is up to us to recognize the presence of Christ in one another.
I see wreathes of green with candles burning too, to prepare for the birth,---of our Lord for me and you. I see friends shaking hands Saying “peace be with you” and I think to myself OH what a wonderful Lord.
God’s peace be with you and your families.
Homily November 17, 2024: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Well, those readings don't make you feel warm and fuzzy a little bit of gloom and doom; at least from the surface but if we look at the deeper meaning and the lessons being taught it should build within us a sense of hope and yearning for the days to come. If we look at the beginning of Mark 13, Jesus talks about the destruction of Jerusalem and the final judgment. We see the temple being destroyed, we see darkness of the sun, the light of the stars and the moon going out. But amidst this darkness we see Jesus Christ coming in glory. There is so much imagery in these otherwise grim readings that lead us to hope. The readings give us direction on what it takes to reach salvation. In our first reading, the prophet Daniel tells us that the wise will shine brightly and those who lead others to justice shall be like the stars forever. So in order for us to reach heaven we must be like Christ, the true light, and bring others along with us.
In the Gospel, the darkness and destruction of the temple signal the end of a stage in salvation history. The end of the time where worship is centered around a building giving way for a time centered on each individual participating in the faith. The temple is never rebuilt, for in the Eucharist we ourselves become temples, giving our whole selves to God in Jesus Christ.
To explain how this relates to us and our lives I am going to use some visual aids, I apologize if you can’t see them from the back but I will do my best to speak through it so you can understand. This is our temple. Just like a real building over time we can weaken, and we can fall apart. And what makes us fall apart? Sin.
- Not treating others like Christ wants us to treat them,
- not being kind,
- not being loving
- not being understanding; quick to judge
- coming to church as just checking a box (well that’s done)
Many types of sin can erode our temple and make it fall apart. But the difference between our temple and the temple in Jerusalem is that we can never truly be destroyed. Christ will always be there to put each of us back together, piece by piece. This is the eternal gift he offers us. In return, we must recognize that Christ is building us up to be like Him, who sacrificed Himself on the cross. This ultimate sacrifice meant that we would always be able to rebuild, to take a new shape. To be symbols, as Christ is a symbol to all of us.
As in the parable of the fig tree, the changing of seasons is signaled in the leaves of plants, Our actions can also be the signs of change. To live like Christ is to show that His kingdom will come. We, are to be the symbols of hope to others.
We are called to rebuild our temples, our crosses, as beacons of light. There will never be a time when Christ’s sacrifice is not eternal, His salvation is everlasting and for that we can always rejoice. So let US build the city of God, let US turn the night into day by being lights for all those we meet.
Homily October 27, 2024: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
This time of year you can’t go anywhere and not realize what time of the year it is with all the Halloween decorations, Halloween candy, costumes and scarry movies on every streaming service. Seeing all of this and since it is nearly Halloween, I was reminded me about a movie that has witches, flying monkey bats, good and evil, it's got music and in its own wicked way started me thinking about today’s readings. In the movie there are three characters that were in search of something they desperately wanted. One of them wanted a heart, another wanted a brain and the third wanted courage. all of them following someone looking for the way home. Yes of course I'm talking about the Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow wants the brain so he can think and know and understand; the lion wants to have courage instead of always being afraid; the tin man wants a heart to feel to love to believe and Dorothy and her little dog Toto too is looking to find the way home. So, they begin the journey following the yellow brick road. The way they believe we'll lead them home to what they desire. In today's Gospel, Bartimaeus has all the characteristics that the four characters on the journey to Oz are looking for. He has courage; he is willing to stand up and despite of who may be around him mocking him asks the son of David to heal him. He has heart because he believes that he can be healed through the son of God and he has knowledge and understanding for to have a brain gives us the ability to know to understand, to see. He sees without seeing he knows who Jesus truly is because he has heard about him and has come to believe that through Jesus lies his way home to eternal salvation.
In our own faith journeys, most of us can probably relate to one of these characters or maybe all three of these characters as we are looking for “the way” home. In my own journey I know I lacked courage to defend the faith when others were speaking ill of the church especially as it related to the scandals. I have lost heart when things didn’t go thew way I thought they should. One particular time was when I lost my dad right when he was coming back into my life. Not only did I lose heart I lost my ability to believe, I could not see or understand. Like the scarecrow I could not keep myself from falling apart, I had lost “the way”.
But you see here's The funny thing about God I guess funny may not be the right word, but you'll see what I mean. Do you all remember the game Marco polo? The premise behind the game is one person is calling out polo to the answer of Marco and as we call out Marco the goal is for us to get closer to the person who's calling polo now we can't see the person ( supposed to be blindfolded or eyes closed) we have to use our hearing we have to listen for him to call out polo that is how Jesus works with us when we call out Jesus he answers I'm here. Sometimes it's like he is very far away because that is where we have put him, but the goal is to keep calling out for him: “Jesus? I'm here”; Jesus? I'm here I have always been here and will always be here. By us calling out and us listening to him he will bring us back to the way for Jesus is the way the truth and the life he is the path or the yellow brick road to salvation. Now some may ask how do we know that he is here? That he hears us? That he wants to be with us? Just listen to the words the priest says at mass as he raises the Body and Blood “through Him with Him and in Him, O God, Almighty Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours forever and ever. Amen.
By partaking in Him we are with Him and He is with us and He gives us all the courage, all the heart, love and knowledge we need to find “the way” to salvation. Believe in him and let anything that blocks you from seeing him be taken away by his never-ending grace. There’s no place like home, in the heavenly Kingdom awaiting all of us who follow Him.
Homily August 25, 2024: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
A few weeks ago, you may recall I compared the meaning of the readings to an eye exam. When there is too much input or distractions around us our vision becomes blurred and we lose our way, we can’t follow the path God has laid out for us. Only when we allow our eyes to focus on God and the true path can we keep ourselves on target in our faith journey.
The readings we heard last week, and the readings deal with one of are other senses, the sense of hearing. Every year I have to have a hearing test which basically is sitting in a very quiet telephone booth with a headset on listening to beeps that are being transmitted either to my right ear or my left ear and I must click a button whenever I hear the tone as it goes up and down the range of tones. While I'm sitting there it is easy to get distracted because it is so quiet that through the headset, I can hear my heartbeat I can hear my breathing, and I lose focus on the tones. I must tune those distractions out and listen intently for the tones. Last week's readings Jesus opened the ears of a deaf man and this week we're reminded from the prophet Isaiah “the Lord God opens my ear that I may hear”. One thing I want to clarify is the difference between what it means to hear versus what it means to listen because sometimes we interchange the words hearing and listening and they are completely different. Hearing is involuntary it is something that just happens it is the process, function, or power of perceiving sound; specifically : the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli it's the act of sound waves sending the signal to our brain for us then to be able decipher those sounds. Listening is paying attention to a message in order to hear it, understand it, and physically or verbally respond to it. So first we hear something but to create understanding we must listen.
Now some of you may have heard this before of yourselves but it has been said to me many times that I have selective hearing, now there is a true diagnosis of selective hearing which is the ability to be able to focus completely on something even with other distracting noises around us. Most of us however use a different meaning of “selective hearing” when we have been told or we ourselves say something like “are you listening to me or did you even hear a word I said? Children also use Selective hearing an example being when they go to mom and ask a question about something they want or want to do then, after not getting the answer, they wanted will go to Dad and ask him the same question and when Dad asks what did Mom say they respond with “I’m not sure I didn’t quite understand what she was saying. It is not that they didn’t understand it’s more they didn’t get the answer they wanted, then acted like they didn't hear the answer. Now there are times when we're listening, we may not truly understand what is being said and that is sometimes true in our faith life when trying to understand what Jesus is trying to teach us. The words aren't making sense. I can recall Jackie Chan in the movie ‘Rush Hour” say “do you not understand the words coming out of my mouth and his costar Chris Rock who was not listening closely enough answered “no one understands the words coming out of your mouth” In order to understand what is being said we must be good listeners. In the gospel today Peter says the right thing he answers Jesus question of “Who am I” with you are the Messiah you are the Christ but when Jesus goes on and talks about how much he must suffer and die on the cross Peter does not like that and he pulls Jesus aside and says whoa whoa whoa you can't do that, that is not who you are, you are the Messiah and Jesus’s response was get behind me Satan. The reason he says that is because Peter, even though he was listening to God's words he was not truly understanding them. Peter’s image, his understanding of the Messiah was of one who was going to save the people take them away from persecution and lead them to salvation not someone who was going to be persecuted, suffer, and then die on a cross. That was not his will for His messiah, but we got to remember Jesus rebuked him for that because he was not listening, and Jesus became upset because all this time all these teachings Peter though hearing was not truly listening to what the message was. To have salvation he must suffer and die for that is God's will not the will of humans. As we pray in the Lord’s Prayer God’s will be done. Not mine but His.
This week a word I would like you to meditate on is what Jesus said last week “Ephphatha” be opened, be opened to not only hearing but to listening which leads to understanding. Go out and by both faith and works change people's lives Not for your own satisfaction or for any type of pat on the back; but because you have heard his voice; listened with intent and focus which has led to understanding.
Ephphatha: be opened to listening and use your selective hearing to tune out all the distracting noise and focus on what God is asking of you; Which is to Deny yourself, Take up your cross and follow Him, for in doing so you will gain everlasting salvation.
Homily August 25, 2024: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Shakespeare: “to thee I do commend my watchful soul, Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes” The Eyes are the windows to the soul; Seeing is believing. Have you ever noticed how much of our faith is based on how we see things not by just physical sight but of how we comprehend or understand what Jesus has been teaching us.
The eye is the lamp of the body. You draw light into your body through your eyes, and light shines out to the world through your eyes. So, if your eye is well and shows you what is true then your whole body will be filled with light but if your eye is clouded or evil then your body will be filled with evil and dark clouds Matthew 6:22-24
“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” John 20:29
Many of us have been to an eye doctor for checkups for those of you who haven't let me give you a quick synopsis you go into a room and you sit in a chair and after the aerobic eye workouts of looking at letters on the wall covering one eye then the other to see how well you can see or focus from a distance the doctor comes in and has you look through these funky lenses. as you are looking through the lenses, he then asks you how clear does this one look then he moves the lever which changes the lens and asks is this one better or worse then he moves the lenses is this better or worse how about this one is it better or worse and that seems to go on forever. Next you out your chin and forehead into a rest and as you stare at this shape you get a sudden puff of air in your eye which is a wakeup call and you need to be really careful how close you are sitting to the wall because it may cause you to jump backwards and as I have found out from experience you can smack your head on the wall. Next you get drops that dilate your eyes. As your eyes begin to dilate it becomes harder and harder to focus there is too much being let in so everything gets blurry and is out of focus. We lose the ability to see not only what is up close but even that which is at a distance.
In life our faith journey is not always clear we need to put it into focus sharpen the image to form a clearer picture. Sometimes we waiver and pull away from God and let him fall away into the distance almost out of sight because we are shocked by what he is asking of us to do and believe. Like those who walked away from God in the Gospel for they found it too hard, to shocking like that puff of air that shocks us and we move and jump away because following Him is too difficult. Other times we lead our lives with eyes dilated, we lose our focus because there is just too much outside influences news, politics, social media, “reality” shows, movies etc. that blur our path, everything is completely out of focus. There is so much information coming in so many choices our senses are overloaded as we are pulled in so many directions with most of them not focusing on God, we find ourselves as it is described in psalm 38: “my strength fails me, even the light has gone from my eyes.” Darkness consumes us.
But we have a cure, you see (no pun intended) God is our eye doctor. He will put the lenses up to our eyes and asks us to choose which is better the path of righteousness or the path of evil? If we choose poorly the path gets blurrier so God, switches the lens and asks Now is this better? and as we choose to follow Him the path becomes clearer. This happens throughout our lives and each time we start to move away from him, our eyes get blurry and out of focus. But God keeps moving the lenses; he keeps adjusting us to see the truth and once we allow are eyes to focus solely on Him we will come to see the glory that is given to us by His sacrifice and in the Eucharist. Then when our eyes are opened and we come to believe in Him completely we, like the disciples, when asked by Jesus “do you also want to leave? We can reply with clarity of mind and sight: Lord my eyes are fixed on you, there is nowhere else I want to go. You are the means to everlasting life.
Homily August 3, 2024: 18th Sunday in ordinary time
In today's readings it is not hard to see the theme that flows across the Old Testament and the gospel and even in the responsorial Psalm. The theme is the Lord will provide he will give us what we need. In the Old Testament the Israelites were grumbling they were hungry, so Moses prayed, and God provided. God provided the food from heaven “the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.” In the gospel those that followed Jesus were those who had been fed by the miracle of the loaves and fish. Not just physically fed but spiritually fed as well through His teachings. However, they still hungered for more. So Jesus fed them. We hear Jesus defining the rewards of partaking of the Eucharist. “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Now as I read the readings yes, they are about being fed and that Jesus is the manna from heaven but the readings are also about prayer and the importance of prayer. If we look at the Old Testament Moses prayed to the father and when he prayed to the father, the father answered. If we recall the miracles Jesus did, he prayed to the father and the father answered as we are reminded of today in the mentioning of the loaves in the Gospel; Jesus taught the disciples to pray to the father. That prayer which we pray ourselves most likely multiple times a day but definitely at every mass. The question I have for you is when you pray the Lord's prayer are you truly praying it with full sincerity and understanding or are you saying the words? I know at times I'm guilty of just saying the words when I pray, especially when doing a rosary. I can win a speed reciting record with how fast I pray, or I mean say, the Hail Mary (give example). Sometimes we need to slow down, reflect and recall the meanings behind the prayers. An example of how we can do this is in one of my classes, we were instructed to take a prayer and recite it multiple times, but each time we were to put the emphasis on a different word in the line to see how the meaning could be seen in a different light. Another way is one that I would like to do with you today. I am going to read a line and if you would please repeat it, then I am going to offer a small reflection on the line then we will repeat. I promise it will make sense when we begin and it won’t take but about 20 minutes to complete. Just kidding it won’t be long but my hope is that you find it at least a little bit helpful in enhancing your prayer life.
Homily May 13, 2024: The Ascension of the Lord
When I first joined the fire service one of the classes, we had was ladders 101. I thought this wouldn’t be that bad, I mean a ladder is a ladder. Boy was I wrong. There are Step ladders, Attic ladders, A-frame ladders, Roof ladders, Pompier ladders, extension ladders, Bangor ladders that can be 40-55 feet long, and standard single frame ladders. Not only did we need to know the different types of ladders we needed to learn the parts of a ladder and the importance of each part. For example on a standard 28ft straight ladder you have the butt end or bottom with spurs or feet to keep the ladder grounded; you have the beams, that provide structure and stability to the ladder and you have the rungs or steps which are supported by the beams and provide footing and a place to hold onto; lastly the tip which is the top of the ladder which by focusing on that we are kept oriented to our direction.
Now that is a lot of information about ladders, but all ladders have the same general purpose; they allow us to climb up, to reach for something higher, to ascend. In Genesis we learn of a different ladder, Jacob’s Ladder. In Jacobs’s dream he saw: a stairway or ladder rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s angels were going up and down on it. And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying: I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. There have been many interpretations by biblical scholars on the meaning of this dream. One of them is reflections by St. Francis de Sales in which he describes Jacob’s ladder, as “a true picture of the devout life. The two sides between which we climb upward and to which the rungs are fastened represent prayer, which calls down God’s love, and the sacraments which confer it. The rungs are the various degrees of charity by which we advance from virtue to virtue, either descending by deeds of help and support for our neighbor or by contemplation ascending to a loving union with God” These virtues are
- Chastity: to be morally pure in your conduct, behavior or intentions eg: not indulge in the love of money, in material things
- Temperance: emotional restrain or self control forgiving. Not lashing out. Put yourself in their shoes Example: crying or noisy child at church, cell phone goes off (do you know the why)
- Charity: giving of oneself to help others: giving someone a ride to church even though it will take extra time from your day.
- Diligence: stay steady and consistent don’t let your faith be idle
- Patience: not giving into anger or despair when things are not happening as we feel they should. My timeline versus God’s
- Kindness: showing love to everyone even those that may have wronged us. Giving freely of our time talent and treasure without expecting any sort of pat on the back for it
- Humility: put other’s needs before your own. Not for a physical reward but because it is what needs to be done.
This weekend we celebrate the feast of the Ascension. Jesus Christ rose up into heaven opening the gates for us. He lowers the ladder of salvation down to us and waits for us to begin the climb. Climbing the ladder is not going to be easy we must remain balanced; we must focus on the rung we are standing on and the rung we are reaching for while not losing site of what awaits us at the top. It is a balancing act of climbing and trying not to slip. In my life this climb is more like the Chutes and ladder board game where if you do good things, you advance upwards but if you make bad choices, you slide down and start again. The way to climb is to humble yourself and trust in the Lord, remember his teachings, be an example of Christ to others by helping them reach the next rung because to climb is not always about going up but it is also about climbing down to lend a hand to someone who needs help climbing up. Jesus is there to steady the ladder, set you feet, reach up and begin the climb by being like Christ in the lives you lead.