St. Joseph Church Homilies

I was actually hoping Brother Joseph could have preached this weekend, but he’s filling in elsewhere. I have to admit, I find the Ascension is one of the more difficult feasts to preach on. We all know the story of Jesus Ascending to heaven on a cloud; it’s a challenge to add much to what’s been said. At first glance, it seems that Jesus ascending into Heaven has little to do with us at all; it might even be considered a sad moment, like a goodbye, and we might wonder why Jesus Ascended. We might think how it would be easier for disciples today if we too, like those first disciples, could look on the face of Jesus, see the marks of the nails and hear his voice.

A key to understanding why it’s good that Jesus ascended can be found in the reaction of those disciples who witnessed him rise up. We heard in today’s Gospel that after watching Jesus ascend into heaven, the disciples left that spot, “…with great joy…”[i]. There’s no sign of sadness among them. No, instead they left rejoicing, like those shepherds who left the stable after seeing the newborn Saviour on the first Christmas.

The disciples were filled with joy because of their understanding of what the Ascension meant. They recognized how the ascension of Jesus wasn’t a departure from this world, but Jesus’ entry to the Kingdom over all to rule over all, not from some distant place but invisibly, from very nearby. The resurrection was great for Jesus, it reveals how death has no power over him. But through the Ascension the Resurrection becomes something for us; by ruling over all, Our Saviour conquers death not just for himself, but for all who follow him.

Had Jesus not ascended, yes, we could look on his face, but his voice and healing power would be limited to one place and he didn’t come to rule over one group or place; he came to be king of all he has made. It’s always been, ‘from high up’ where God has revealed his power. It was from up on a mountain where God gave his people the Ten Commandments. It was the top of a mountain where Jesus revealed God’s Kingdom and gave The Beatitudes. The Transfiguration of Jesus before Peter, James and John happened on a mountain and from the top of the Cross, Jesus offered forgiveness. God rules over all.

A real mystery of today’s feast isn’t that Jesus Ascended, he’s God and can do all things. No, a real mystery is found in how our Saviour exercises his rule over creation for all time.

First, the Saviour rules over all through his disciples. Today, we’re the ones to bring the healing of Jesus to the world. It’s through us that the Good News is proclaimed. It’s through us that 

Also, through the Sacraments. Baptism, Confession, Eucharist. This lifts us up and keeps our attention fixed on where true power comes from: not an earthly source but form God in Heaven. Focusing on gifts (including people) as source of fulfillment: we’re left unfulfilled. Focusing on life in God’s Kingdom: we know we will be fulfilled.

Our hope isn’t escape from this world, but to renew, to transform, to add to this world and existence. Ascension is about Heaven meeting Earth. We can get a taste of this when doing the work of God and through Sacraments. Hard work though, like climbing a mountain. Pray.

[i] Luke 24:52 NRSVCE

There are many mysteries in our faith; but there’s one that’s noticeable on a very practical level: we know the death and resurrection of Jesus has changed everything, that it’s somehow made things better for those who follow the Good Shepherd, and yet outwardly, it seems very little has changed. Disciple or not, everyone faces challenges in life and is left with questions about what Easter has changed. In short, we’re not yet at the end of the story. We live in that part of history between the climax and the ‘happily ever after’. Easter has guaranteed a joyful ending, but there’s still a more of the story to be revealed.

I’ve met some who can’t stand waiting to get to the end of a story, who want to know now how everything will be all wrapped up. This person isn’t bothered by spoilers and might read the last few pages of a new book before opening the first chapter. If that’s you, if you like to get a preview of the end, then the Book of Revelation, from where today’s second reading comes from, is for you.

The Book of Revelation reveals God’s final plan, it’s the ‘happily ever after’ God has arranged for his people, the last brushstroke of his masterpiece. This final book of the Bible is the record of a dream that Saint John had of that moment. So, while it does reveal truths about the end of time, it does so often using figurative language. By breaking down some of the symbols, we can get an idea of what God’s plan is, where we fit into it and how we might prepare.

First, we discover that God’s ultimate plan is not to remove his people from creation or to destroy his creation. Instead, he introduces the New Jerusalem, the gift of a perfect city. Cities have always been problematic. On one hand, cities encompass the best civilization has to offer. The best schools, hospitals and museums are usually found in cities. Cities often hold centres of justice, healing and governance. The city of Jerusalem is where God was given right praise and worship in the temple and where his written message was preserved. But there’s also a lot that’s wrong with cities. At one point, Satan tempted Jesus by offering all the cities of the earth, implying that the devil has a lot of control in our cities. The deadliest crimes are often committed in cities and many social problems, like homelessness or hunger, are rooted in cities. 

It shouldn’t be a surprise because cities are constructed according to the designs of faulty human builders. The best cities ever conceived in the minds of the greatest architects will always contain faults. So long as our cities are built according to the plans of imperfect human beings, something will always be lacking.

The gift of The New Jerusalem is different kind of city, constructed according to the plans of God. We’re told that it radiates like a rare jewel; it’s a place of beauty. The citizens of this city never obscure the beauty of God’s city with graffiti or vandalism but complement it through harmony and united purpose, like different pieces of stained glass making one great image.

God’s city features a thick wall and many gates. While the gates allow God’s people to freely enter the city, there’s also a wall, not to be an obstacle but to set the identity of the city apart from the influence of the wilderness. The walls offer freedom to God’s people from the anxieties of survival and scarcity.

Finally, a key feature of God’s city is the lack of a temple. Our cities are often divided up, highlighting areas for working, entertainment, living and shopping; so many things happen in our cities, but not all these things are directed towards God or reveal his glory. Today, we need places of worship because of that shortcoming. In God’s city, however, there’s no need for a dedicated place of worship because all things, all activities and efforts give God praise. Because God’s presence is everywhere and in all things, God’s city has no night or shadows, dark alleys or areas to avoid. That’s God’s city built according to his plans and while we know we can’t do any better, maybe this image of the New Jerusalem presents a challenge to us to examine what it is we do build.

The New Jerusalem challenges us to consider how we build up our world through our care for creation. The New Jerusalem challenges us to question how we build up our nation and community through our concern for the wellbeing of others. The New Jerusalem challenges us to question how we build up our homes through the values we hold and the lessons we teach our children. The New Jerusalem challenges us to examine how we build up our lives by using the gifts God has given each of us according to his commandments. To prepare for the gift of the New Jerusalem, our challenge is to let go of our own plans, as good as they may be, to acknowledge, accept, adopt and praise the great plans of God. While waiting for the great end of the story, we long for the gift of God’s city by building reminders here.

We praise you, God of all, for revealing your plans for our redemption. Through the help of your Holy Spirit, may we adopt your plans so our world, nation, community, homes and lives would conform to your will and radiate your love. May the presence of our Saviour, received here, dwell in us, guide us and build within us a longing for the promised New Jerusalem. We offer all our prayers in his name. Amen.

Especially around Easter, we hear a lot about being redeemed; so it’s something we’ve been reflecting on over the last few weeks. There’s lots of ways the word, “redemption”, can be used, but the redemption our faith offers is, “the restoration of something that had been lost.” In today’s second reading, God’s ultimate plan is revealed; this is what God’s redemption looks like: “…God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more…”[i].

Clearly, we’re not there yet though. We know we’re far from perfect, that we’re disadvantaged by our own weaknesses and are not as we could or should be. We’re not saints, yet. We need God’s redemption because without it we’re just imperfect people striving for the impossible. But our Christian faith offers another way, a Saviour who redeems us from those weaknesses we cannot overcome on our own.

We’ve reflected on how Jesus redeemed Thomas. Instead of allowing doubt to remain a barrier, Jesus transforms doubt from an obstacle into something that urges us to seek out and come closer to God. Doubts no longer have to divide us from our faith but become a call to keep searching.

We considered the redemption Jesus offered Peter when forgiving Peter for his three-time denial; the broken relationship was restored and redeemed. Through forgiveness, Jesus redeems our relationship with him so we can live as his disciples.

Then last week, we explored how Saint Paul had to go through his own long redemption before sharing in the work of the Saviour. It would take him over a decade to be freed of qualities incompatible with God’s plan so his gifts, abilities, intellect, drive and courage could flourish. So, it’s no surprise when our own redemption takes time and patience.

So many of the disciples had to be redeemed; they had real faults that could only be overcome with the help of Jesus and the words of the Bible highlight that. But today, we’re reflecting on someone who is only ever described positively in the scriptures. He’s described as generous, understanding and helpful, earning the name, “Barnabas”, a name meaning, “son of encouragement”. He’s a great example for those who know they have been redeemed, for those who are already close to Jesus and their faith.

When the Christians were afraid of Paul, Barnabas put his reputation on the line and vouched for him. When the Christians of Antioch faced a hostile culture, he encouraged them to remain faithful so they could assist other struggling communities and when Paul failed in his first attempt as a leader, Barnabas took him as a kind of apprentice to offer a second chance. Eventually, Barnabas would even mentor Mark, who wrote one of the Gospels.

In the first reading, we heard about a kind of tour that Paul and Barnabas went on. They moved city to city, working to establish a Christian community in each. Knowing the struggles these new communities would face, Barnabas encouraged them, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.”[ii] Knowing he was redeemed, that he was already close to Jesus, Barnabas spent his life encouraging others. He put his reputation and life on the line. He took risks by investing his time and energy into encouraging others, into lifting others up and as a result our Christian Faith spread rapidly.

I know each of us wants to make a difference in the world and some exert a lot of effort to make a difference. Indeed, whenever I witness the efforts of those who serve in our community, when I see those working in our food bank or with Kindred Spirits, Development and Peace or any of our service groups, I know there’s many who are making a difference. But the greatest contribution someone could make might come from encouraging others, from lifting others up.

When there are so many powers that tear people down, that proclaim a message of bad news that says, “you’re not enough”, maybe one of the greatest contributions a disciple might make is to be like Barnabas, to be a son or daughter of encouragement, and proclaim some Good News, a message of redemption, of a Saviour who died and rose for all. Sounds easy, but it’s risky work. It means giving a second chance to that person who maybe doesn’t deserve it. It means re-directing those workplace conversations that criticize. It means looking past those hurts caused by family members and reaching out. It means deliberately looking for the mark of our maker in each person and recognizing others as opportunity to love. This is the hard work that makes God present in our community, that wipes out tears and pain and divisions.

Redeem you people, O Lord, from all that divides. Free us from doubt and fear, from sin and hopelessness. Through your Holy Spirit, establish here, in us, a community that supports and encourages so all who enter this place would encounter our Saviour who redeems all through his love. In his name we offer our prayers. Amen.

[i] Revelation 21: 3-4 NRSVCE

[ii] Acts 14: 22 NRSVCE

For a few weeks, we’ve been reflecting on what it means to be redeemed; it’s a word we hear a lot in our faith, especially around Easter. The redemption offered in our faith is something very different from the act of redeeming a coupon or gift card for something we want. No, for us, redemption is, “the restoration of something that had been lost.” The ending of second reading describes God’s plan for us, “…the lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”[i]We’re still a long way from that ideal, though; clearly the world needs some redemption.

Last week, we considered the redemption Peter experienced when Jesus forgave him for his three-time denial at the cross. Through Jesus, the broken relationship was restored and redeemed, and Peter was then able to take up his role as our first Pope. Through forgiveness, Jesus redeems our relationship with him so we can live as his disciples.

We reflected on how Jesus redeemed Thomas from his doubt. Instead of allowing doubt to remain a barrier in Thomas’ faith, Jesus redeemed him by revealing himself. Jesus transforms doubt from an obstacle into something that urges us to seek out and come closer to God. Doubts no longer have to divide us from our faith but become a call to keep searching.

We love stories of redemption because we know we’re disadvantaged by our own weaknesses. We know we’re far from perfect, that we are not as we could or should be. We know we’re not saints, yet. Left to our own, we’re just imperfect people striving for the impossible. But our Christian faith offers another way, a Saviour who redeems us from those weaknesses we cannot overcome on our own.

Being Jewish themselves, the first disciples began sharing the Good News, that Jesus has risen from the dead to redeem us, from within their own Jewish communities. The Jews were God’s chosen people, so it made sense to begin sharing the Good News there. But the outreach had to expand as the first Christians discovered that not everyone welcomed the Good News or the promised redemption.

We hear a bit about that in today’s first reading. On discovering that they were no longer welcome in some Jewish communities, Paul and Barnabas decided to take the message of the Good News to non-Jewish communities, to the Gentiles, who were very open to hearing about a Saviour: success was found! But this success didn’t come from nowhere. Before sharing the Good News of the redeeming love of Jesus, Paul had to go through his own redemption.

There’s actually more known about Paul than about most of those named in the Bible. While most of the first disciples came from modest backgrounds and had little to no education, Paul was different. His original name was Saul. He knew multiple languages and seemed to have been more educated than most. As a Roman citizen, he was privileged and, on the side, ran a successful tent-making business.

Paul was also Jewish, trained in Jerusalem. He was also a Pharisee, a kind of sect of the Jewish faith of the time who believed that God’s people would only be redeemed through a strict following of the Jewish laws, no exceptions. So, Paul was highly disciplined too. The idea that redemption was impossible without the Good Shepherd, a Saviour, directly challenged that belief and some, including Paul at first, were willing to take even violent steps to silence that idea.

After participating in the martyrdom of Saint Stephen and taking up the mission of arresting Christians, Paul had a vision where Jesus revealed himself. He was that lost sheep whom the Shepherd sought out. On seeing and hearing Jesus, Paul’s heart changed on the spot, though he lost his vision for a short time. That was the moment he received his new name and the work of his own redemption began, but it wouldn’t end there.

The work of accepting the redemption of Jesus would take Paul over ten years. It would have taken that time for Paul to win the acceptance of the Christian Community and let go of his ties to the Pharisees. He would have had to surrender any of his own ambitions and plans to adopt those of God. Paul had to let go of arrogance and intolerance to development humility, patience and charity. He was freed of qualities incompatible with God’s plan so that his gifts, his abilities, intellect, drive and courage were able to flourish. His redemption took over a decade while he was shaped from within. But after all that work and time, Paul became one of the most influential figures of history and of our faith.

This is how redemption often works: it takes its time to shape disciples, to transform qualities incompatible with God’s plan into qualities that build God’s kingdom. It can take a long time, but that shouldn’t be a surprise because when we look at the lives of the saints, we find that most did not become saints overnight; they had to work at it over a long period of time.

So, the first lesson we might learn about our own redemption is that it might take a lot of patience and time; there’s no rushing it. But it’s not a time of waiting. No, we can assist Jesus in his work of redeeming us. If we really take a good look at ourselves, we might find all kinds of qualities we know aren’t quite compatible with God’s plan, we know we’re not saints, yet. We all have habits, tendencies, sin, compulsions that hold us back. Maybe, one way to work on accepting the redemption of Jesus could be to focus on overcoming one, with the Saviour’s help, of course. Working on one issue is easier than working on a hundred. Pick just one way you know you could grow; do your part at working at it but also invite the support of Jesus by bringing it to prayer or even to the Confessional. Once it’s conquered, then move on to the next.

As Jesus helped redeemed sinful Saul by shaping him into saintly Paul, he can redeem and transform us too. So, we’re happy to offer him our prayers.

Kindly shepherd, guide us to the banquet of your Kingdom. Shepherd of love, guard us against powers that work to divide. Holy Shepherd, reveal to us your redeeming plan. Good Shepherd, never allow us to wander away from you. In your name we pray. Amen.

[i] Revelation 7:17 NRSVCE

We get to start with some great news. Our bishop has appointed Deacon Peter Bissonette as Associate Pastor after his ordination to the priesthood later this month. Br. Joseph will continue to serve our community till at least the end of June, but we’ll shortly be joined by the newest priest in our Diocese. By the way, especially if you’ve never seen an ordination, maybe this is the one to check out since the man being ordained will begin serving our community shortly after. The ordination will take place at the Cathedral in Peterborough on the evening of Friday, May 30th. Full details are in the News app or bulletin board.

There is something I need some help with: On the long weekend, a team of young adult missionaries from NET ministries are coming to our parish to lead a retreat for our youth. We all know of so many Catholic youth who aren’t always connected with their faith or Church; they’re in our families and schools. For those who are connected, faith can seem like something isolating instead of joyful. This team hopes to plant the seed of faith in the hearts of the youth of our community and let them know how our faith unites us and offers joy. However, while with us this team of missionaries needs a place to stay. If you have an extra room or some space in your home where you could host a couple of these missionaries, I’m eager to hear from you after Mass. They don’t need a bed, but a place to sleep and maybe some breakfast.

Some not-so-great news: What was supposed to have been for extreme cases has now become commonplace as MAiD or euthanasia has become the fifth leading cause of death in Canada. As the sanctity of life continues to be challenged for the young, the infirmed and our elders, it’s become more important than ever for Christians to speak out and affirm the truth about life. This Thursday is the March for Life in Ottawa and a bus has been arranged to take those who wish to attend right form our parking lot. In Ottawa, participants will begin with Mass before taking a peaceful walk to proclaim what we know to be true. You can sign up through the News App, the poster at the entrance or see me after Mass.

Also this Thursday, at seven in the evening, we’ll celebrate a special Mass and Holy Hour for the election of a new Pope. On that day, Cardinals from around the world will gather in the Sistine Chapel to begin the difficult and important task of electing a new Pope and we can help them with our prayers. We ought to assist them with our prayers because, despite what a popular movie about the Conclave would have us believe, ultimately, the election of a Pope isn’t a political exercise but a spiritual exercise. For the last federal election, we assisted by becoming informed about the issues and platforms before casting a ballot. For the election of a Pope, we assist through our prayers.

Since Easter, we’ve been reflecting on what it means to be redeemed. It’s a word we hear lots around Easter and for our purposes, we’ll define redemption as, “the restoration of something that had been lost.” We started by exploring how we all love stories of redemption, stories of disadvantaged people overcoming great challenges in unexpected ways. We love these stories because we know we’re disadvantaged by our own weaknesses and long for a Saviour who leads us to overcome the obstacles in our lives. Last week, Br. Joseph examined how Jesus redeems doubt by transforming it from something that divides us from faith into something that urges us to seek and come closer to God; the doubts of Saint Thomas didn’t cut him off from Jesus but led him to keep seeking the Saviour.

This week, we hear about an encounter between Jesus and Saint Peter some time after the Resurrection. From his boat, Peter saw Jesus on the shore; but like many others, he didn’t recognize Jesus at first. Earlier, Jesus has told his followers, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”[i] Because of his denial of Jesus earlier, because of his own failings, Peter’s heart wasn’t pure so he couldn’t recognize Jesus at first. The Saviour would fix this though and bring redemption for the fallen Apostle; the relationship that had been lost would be redeemed and restored. This is another way Jesus redeems his people: he overcomes their limits and failings. We may turn from him at times, but he never turns from us.

This is important to remember as a new Pope is elected because whoever the new Pope turns out to be, he will have his limits and failings. He will be a sinner in need of redemption and that’s okay because that’s exactly what our Saviour came to do.

Many have asked me about who I think should be the next Pope. To start, I mostly stay away from Pope’s Cardinals and Bishops where possible. But I also think it’s the wrong question to ask. When we consider who we would like to be in charge, we can only consider human qualities, what we want. It’s a mistake because what we want always falls short of God’s plans. It’s a mistake because it’s a prideful attempt to build a kingdom in our image instead of in God’s image; this is what has led to the end of nations and empires. We want a Pope who is kind and generous and outgoing and merciful: all good qualities but maybe not always the kinds of qualities God looks for.

At first glance, none of the Apostles were especially impressive. They were faulty, sinful, cowardly. But God knows best and chose them anyway. They may not have been the best people or the strongest, wisest, kindest or smartest, but in God’s wise plan, they were the right people. The same is true today. God has a plan for his Church and we believe he guides the Cardinals in electing the right person at the right time. This is why we pray that the Cardinals will be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and see their job, not as a political function, but as a spiritual one. In the end, we will have a Pope who is full of limits and failings. But that’s okay because we know the Saviour redeems; he can overcome our limits.

For us today, maybe at this Mass, especially during Communion, take a moment to bring to the Saviour your own limits and failings. As Jesus redeemed Peter by offering to overcome his failings, he wishes to overcome our failings too and build within each of us pure hearts ready to see God.

Hear your people, O Lord, who cry out to you in need. Send your Spirit to open our hearts so we would trust in your power to redeem, to give back what has been lost through our failings. May the example of your Son and the disciples who turned to him inspire us to go to him always and long to recognize his presence each and every day. This prayer we offer in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[i] Matthew 5:8 (NRSVCE)