St. Joseph Church Homilies

I know we’re past the halfway point of January, but we’re still at the beginning of a new year and along with a new year comes new hope. We know our world could be better, we know our lives could be better, we know we could be better. Holding that hope, many make New Year’s Resolutions so that something, anything, will be different, will be better by this time next year.

But while we know things can be better and have every intention to create and keep the greatest of resolutions, it turns out that free will is overrated. We’re not as strong as we had hoped and the majority of us can’t reach or keep our resolutions. Recognizing and respecting our limits, we proposed here that instead of making annual resolutions, it might be better to make new, good habits. Habits are different than resolutions. Instead of being one-off goals, habits are ongoing; they’re about continual, life-long improvement. Habits are behaviours we do automatically; we don’t even have to think about them. Maybe there’s some here who talk to themselves when they’re alone; you know it’s a habit when you have to work at not talking to yourself when there’s others around.

Unlike resolutions, habits offer daily opportunity for success because they’re formed through a cycle. First, there’s a cue, something that triggers the habit. Then there’s the routine, the habitual action, followed by the reward, something that affirms the habit. So, if someone gets into an argument with a spouse; there’s a cue. Stressed, they automatically head out to go shopping; there’s the routine. Then the reward: they feel better for having spent a few hundred dollars on stuff they didn’t really need. That may be a habit, though not a great one.

We’ve observed how God can use even the smallest of habits to bring big changes to our lives. Because of their small habit of observing the stars of the night sky, the wise men were guided to Jesus and were among the first to honour him. If God can do that, he can use our small, good habits to guide us too.

Last week, we reflected on how our habits ought to echo our call to holiness. Living in a Greek and hedonistic culture, the Corinthians, may never have developed the good habits needed to embrace the Good News on their own. But they weren’t on their own. The Christians of the city of Corinth accepted the strength offered by God present among them. God offers strength for his people and here, in the church, through the Eucharist, we accept his grace. Saint Paul, the Corinthians and each of us are called by God to be holy and the life of any holy person will always be marked by good habits. 

Often, the hardest part of forming a new, good habit is knowing where to begin. So, I’d like to suggest that the best place to begin forming a new habit is to consider your identity, who you are. In the Gospel today, we heard of the moment when Jesus revealed to Andrew, Simon, James and John, how they were called to be his disciples. Before their encounter with Jesus, as far as they could determine, they were called to be fishermen and the habits they developed reflected their trade.

It’s easy to imagine these men having the good habits of good fishermen. We can picture them habitually rising early each day and automatically checking the weather before setting out to sea. Jesus found James and John cleaning and mending their nets; I’m sure that was a good habit for fishermen to have. Maybe they had good habits that helped them be good Jewish men, good fathers and husbands and members of the community. They could have had habits that helped them be kind and generous, respectful to others and considerate of God’s law. But they were more than fishermen or husbands or fathers and before they could begin truly serving God, Jesus had to reveal to the disciples their true identity.

I know there’s many here who have made New Year’s resolutions. Some have done well in keeping their resolutions so far, others are struggling and I’m sure there’s more than one here who have already given up. You’re in good company if that’s you; stats show that most give up their New Year’s resolutions by the second Friday of January. Then there’s the realists among us, like myself, who know they won’t keep resolutions, so they don’t even try.

Regardless of where you fall, we make resolutions because of a deep desire we all have. We know our world could be better. We know our lives could be better. We know we could be better and so we set goals so something, anything will be better by this time next year. But, despite the best of efforts and intentions, few have the strength to keep their resolutions.

Reflecting on this, last week we proposed that instead of making annual resolutions, it might be better to make new good habits. Habits are different than resolutions. Instead of being one-off goals, habits are ongoing; they’re about continual, life-long improvement. Habits are behaviours we do automatically; we don’t even have to think about them. For some, they automatically hit up Tim Horton’s on their way to work; they don’t decide to go, they just instinctively head there. Some just can’t go to sleep without a book in their hands. I’ve heard there’s some strange people who automatically make their bed up each day. While resolutions provide happiness only when the goal is achieved, habits offer continual opportunity for success.

Habits are formed through a cycle. First, there’s a cue, something that triggers the habit. Then there’s the routine, the habitual action followed by the reward, something that affirms the habit. So, you’re driving and someone cuts you off; there’s a cue. Then you automatically share the one-finger salute; there’s the routine. Then the reward: you feel better for giving the free driving lesson, right? I’m sure none here have such a habit.

Last week, we reflected on how God can use even the smallest of habits to bring big changes to our lives. Because of their small habit of observing the stars of the night sky, the wise men were guided to Jesus and were among the first to honour him. If God can do that, he can use our small, good habits to guide us too.

The second reading today comes from a letter Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the people of the city of Corinth. I found you can add that name to pretty much anything to make something sound extravagant. I know the pews of our church need some work, but I bet you would feel special sitting in them if I said they were made of Corinthian spruce and maybe the robes I’m wearing aren’t made of polyester but of Corinthian wool; very fancy.

But while Corinthian spruce and wool aren’t real things, the city of Corinth was; it was a very prosperous city in Greece and at the centre of the life of that city was a temple to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sex. You can imagine some of the big lifestyle changes the people of that city had to make before taking on new Christian habits. Saint Paul wrote to encourage the people through the transition and there’s a simple word he used to urge them; he used the word, ‘called’.

About himself, Saint Paul began his letter saying, “…Paul, called to be an Apostle…”[i]. The saint knew he had been called. He knew his efforts and his various habits would only matter and bear fruit so long as they reflected God’s call for him. The same was true for the Corinthians. So, Saint Paul reminded them of how they were, “…called to be holy…”[ii]. Oh, the people had already been sanctified,

I was just reading a statistic earlier this week suggesting that less than one in ten people are successful in keeping their New Year’s Resolutions and most people give up on their resolutions by the second Friday of January. Now, I’m not the superstitious type, but this year the second Friday of January is Friday the 13th. Personally, I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions because I know I won’t keep them. But, I will say and extra prayer for those of you who have made resolutions.

One thing I do find interesting is how people in different parts of the world are inclined to make different kinds of resolutions. In North America, the top resolution is to exercise more. In Poland, the top resolution is to save more money. In South Korea, it’s to get a better job. In India, it’s to waste less time. I couldn’t find any stat for any place in Africa.

Though the differing values of different cultures may shape the resolutions people make, I think this practice of making resolutions points out a deeper desire all people have. We make resolutions because we know our world could be better. We know our lives could be better. We know we could be better. But despite the best desires and best efforts, few have the strength needed to keep their resolutions.

I wonder if keeping resolutions is so difficult because we aim too high. We know big changes are needed in life and in the world and because we’re impatient we’re tempted to set goals that are just too big. If you’ve resolved to go to the gym for an hour each day, I wish you all the best; but the realist in me is very sceptical.

So, for those of us who struggle with resolutions, for those of us who fall among the great crowd who will probably abandon their efforts by Friday, I’d like to suggest: instead of making resolutions, what about making habits?

Habits are different than resolutions. Resolutions have conclusions. Once the goal is reached, once the weight is lost, the money saved or the new job realized, the resolution comes to an end and then we can feel happy and satisfied. But in the meantime, while striving for the goal, the pressure, anxiety and sacrifice is just draining and a loss of focus fueled by fatigue easily leads to failure.

Habits are different, however. Instead of being one-off goals, habits are ongoing; they’re about continual improvement. They’re much smaller in scope, but continuous, often even life-long. While resolutions only provide happiness when the goal is achieved, habits offer continual opportunity for success.

A habit is something we do regularly and automatically; we don’t even have to think about it. You get in the car and do up the seatbelt without having to think about it. There’s lots of morning habits. Some instinctively gravitate to the coffee maker after waking. Others automatically check their phone for new messages; some, still half asleep, have a habit of doing both.

I don’t know if any of the saints made New Year’s Resolutions, but I know they all had some great habits. So this year, I’d like to encourage you to form one positive habit, to form one small practice that will hopefully become a positive automatic pattern in your life.

To do that, it’s helpful to understand the cycle that makes up habits. First, there’s a cue, then a routine and then a reward affirming the routine. So, for example: you change your clothes; that’s the cue. Then you put the dirty clothes in the laundry basket; there’s the routine. Then, your spouse doesn’t nag you for leaving dirty clothes all over; there’s a reward affirming the routine. It’s a cycle that can be used to build new habits.

Many habits may seem like tiny daily routines, but they can have a huge impact. In the Gospel for today,

While growing up, my family always had a cat or two, but I always thought it would be neat to have something a little larger, like a lion or a tiger. Of course, you can’t own an animal like that, at least not for very long. The instinct those large cats have to hunt and eat is just too great. One time while I was serving in Peterborough, people’s small dogs started disappearing after a lynx escaped from the zoo. There was no real mystery about where those unfortunate dogs went. For now, we just accept the existence of a food chain and wishing to remain at the top, we’re happy to respectfully admire many of God’s creatures safely from behind a fence. As we accept a food chain, we also accept conflict, poverty, natural disasters and death as part of our existence. But it won’t always be this way.

We just heard the prophet Isaiah present an image of how God wishes his creation to work. The prophet finishes his image saying, “They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain…”[1]. When God gets his way and all creation is restored, there will be no predator or prey, no injustice or conflict, it won’t even be necessary to guess at what’s in the minds or hearts of others. Those of us wishing to pet a lion will even have the chance to do so without threat. This image Isaiah presents[2], of animals and children all living harmoniously together without fear or danger sounds amazing. This kind of peace is what God has planned for his creation and I’m sure every person here looks forward to that peace.

But there’s great gap between that image and what we experience in life and each time we hear of some natural disaster or war, whenever we witness the effects of addiction, disease, poverty or any other evil, we’re reminded of this great gap. It’s an experience that’s in no way new. Those living during the earthly life of Jesus endured the very same experiences. Like us, they longed for that peaceful image of the prophet Isaiah to be realized and like us, they too wondered about what should be done while waiting for the restoration of creation.

Shortly before Jesus began his public ministry, God sent the greatest prophet of all, John the Baptist, and through this prophet, God gives those who wait for the restoration of creation some direction: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[3] In a couple of weeks, we’re going to celebrate a Reconciliation Service. It will be an opportunity for us as a community to pray and examine our conscience. Fr. Darlington, myself and a couple guest priests will be here to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is just how Christians, “Prepare the way of the Lord…”[4], it’s how we follow the serious command of John the Baptist and get ourselves ready for the coming of our Saviour.

“I haven’t really done anything bad since my last Confession.” We’ve all thought this. But, this thought dismisses the fact that we aren’t always aware of all the connections we have with others and the rest of creation. I think of those tradespeople who built the residential schools or those who unknowingly voted for politicians who upheld policies that supported residential schools. These people can’t at all be blamed for what happened. But, there was clearly a flawed system that every Canadian was connected to.

So, when I witness injustice or homelessness, lonely people who have surrendered hope or families who struggle through poverty, war or the effects of climate change, I have to wonder if I, or any of us, could be unknowingly connected to systems that uphold such evils.

The idea of a king, of being subject to a non-elected leader, is frightening. Those places with the least freedoms and useable resources are often overseen by someone not fairly elected and those who seek to be uncontested rulers often use violence, corruption and deceit: demonstrations of power that often create suffering, to get their way. This happens in nations, in workplaces and even in families. So, it’s strange that Christians would call out for a king, but that’s what we do. All but one of the first apostles were killed because they proclaimed that their king wasn’t Caesar, but Jesus.

Now, I don’t normally get political here, but I have to admit that, after an election, I’m not always happy with who’s chosen to govern; I guess not everyone votes the same way as I. Of course, sometimes I’m happy with the results of an election. But even when thrilled, it usually doesn’t take long for newly elected leaders to let me down.

But, I don’t lose much sleep over this disappointment because in short time another election will present new opportunities. This is a big difference between an elected prime minister and a king. Knowing that no one is perfect and that change in leadership is often needed to bring new opportunity, it’s a good thing we all have a regular say in who leads us. But, it’s still far from perfect. Injustice is easy to find and it’s incredibly sad when the basic needs of some aren’t met when we know there’s enough for all.

One of the easiest ways to discredit an opponent is to point out hypocrisy. We see this at almost every election: each side is quick to point out the failings of the other. Christians are no exception. We don’t always live up to the Good News we profess and it’s the biggest reason why we’ve not yet fulfilled the command of our King to Baptize all people of all nations, it’s why we need the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Jesus is different, however. Oh, many tried to find fault in him, to discredit him before his followers. But Jesus is the one king without fault. This is why the Gospel for Christ the King this year prompts us to reflect on the final moments of our Lord’s earthly life, on those moments leading to his death.

It’s from the cross where the power of Jesus’ kingship is demonstrated as something truly different than the power of any other ruler. The leaders scoffed at him[1]. The soldiers mocked him[2]. A criminal derided him[3]. When they all thought him powerless, Jesus did what no power could even conceive of doing. He lifted up the meek.

“Blessed are the meek,” Jesus had previously declared in The Beatitudes, “for they shall inherit the earth.”[4] Now, the meek are not who we might usually choose to lead. Those who wish to make kings of themselves work so hard to take and keep what they can and they appear strong, but the meek know that love calls for sacrifice and surrender. Those who wish to rule over all have to really want that power, so they appear driven, but the meek make no demands. To us, the meek can seem weak, made of no real leadership material. Perhaps his meekness is what blinded many from recognizing the divinity of Jesus at the time, despite all the miracles and signs.

The meek will inherit the earth because they know where true power comes from. History has shown how earthly powers, nations, armies, how even great empires come and go, despite efforts to endure for all time. But the meek accomplish what great empires can only dream of; they always remain because the meek recognize h...