St. Joseph Church Homilies

For a couple weeks now, we’ve ben reflecting on the Jubilee Year we’re celebrating. Despite our best efforts, it’s easy for things to drift away from God’s plan over time; a Jubilee year is a moment to set things back in the right direction, towards God and the life he promises.

We started by considering how the Jubilee year calls us to both seek forgiveness of our debts and to forgive the debts of others. Debts, of course, don’t have to be just financial debts, but can take on any form. Then last week, we explored how the Jubilee year challenges us take on the mindset of a special kind of traveler: not that of a wanderer who has no destination or that of a tourist who expects a comfortable journey, but that of a pilgrim who recognizes how a journey filled with joys and struggles is preparation for a holy destination.

A Jubilee Year was also a year of rest. Where possible, God’s people would rest from their work; even the land was permitted to rest. It was never intended to be a year-long vacation though. The Jubilee Year is a year of resting, not a year of rusting. After-all, not all rest is equal; some rest is truly refreshing while other rest is more like rusting: a waste. An example of rest might be to go outside for a walk or take a break to read a book. An example of rusting might be spending hours doom scrolling, searching for the bottom of facebook or YouTube or whatever social media you’re into. Real resting gives opportunity for real growth; real rusting keeps us where we are; it’s searching for the bottom of a bottomless pit or stagnation.

We heard today about the Transfiguration. Jesus led Peter, James and John up a mountain and once they had reached the summit, they needed to rest; we’re even told how Peter, James and John, “…were weighed down with sleep…”[i]. Because they stayed awake though, they witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus and his encounter with Moses and Elijah. Having that glimpse of God’s plan for creation, Peter proposed that they, “…make three dwellings…”[ii], three places to live there on the mountain. Peter perhaps thought it would have been great to remain there for the remainder of his life, with no need for the exhausting trek back down the mountain.

That would have been rusting though. They weren’t to simply exist on a mountain; disciples are made to share in God’s work. Peter, James and John weren’t to keep the experience of the Transfiguration to themselves but to renew their commitment of sharing the Good News. That’s what real rest is about: renewal.

During a Jubilee Year, even the land was permitted to rest. Farmers wouldn’t plant, grow or harvest and during that break the nutrients in the soil would be renewed so future crops would better nurture God’s people. Likewise, the people would rest to renew their understandin of what it meant to live as God’s chosen people; they would take extra space to nurture their relationship with God.

Today, it’s probably not possible for most to simply rest from all work for the year. But maybe there’s opportunity for all for renew our understanding of what it means to be disciples.

Maybe this Jubilee Year is an opportunity to remember that we weren’t made for toil. It’s easy to get into habits that glorify work: to someone new we ask, “what do you do?” and to an old friend, we ask, “have you been keeping busy?” There’s more to people than work. Machines were made for toil, but people have been made for joy.

Maybe this Jubilee Year is an opportunity to examine balance in life, to evaluate what’s given to the various pressures placed on time and energy. Work, family, friends, finances, health, prayer, God: so many things to fit in; is one area neglected in favour of another?

Maybe this Jubilee Year is an opportunity to set goals, to aim for and take first steps for some kind of growth over the next one, five or ten years. It’s an intentional effort to avoid stagnation or rusting, to get out of those ruts or entrapments that are easy to fall into.

Maybe, this Jubilee Year is a challenge to introduce space in life for regular renewal, to eliminate habits that lead to rusting and instead encourage practices, like prayer or reception of the Sacraments, that build and strengthen disciples to share in the difficult work of God.

Peter, James and John weren’t supposed to remain on a mountain, but, renewed through a special encounter with the Saviour, were expected to journey back down to share in God’s work. Likewise, we’re not expected to remain in this building, but, renewed through our own experience with the Saviour, are sent out to share his Good News.

God of all, through your Spirit, may our brief rest in your presence here renew us. Give us purpose to guide our lives. Grant us courage to accept our crosses and assist other in carrying theirs and fill us with your strength to follow our Saviour and share in your work as disciples. We offer all our prayers in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[i] Luke 9:32 NRSVCE

[ii] Luke 9:33 NRSVCE

When thinking about Lent and where it originated, today’s Gospel is often what comes to mind. We connect this season to the forty days Jesus journeyed through the wilderness; or maybe some think of the forty years God’s people wandered through the wilderness as they prepared to enter the promised land. Neither of those journeys were easy. None of those who started the journey to the promised land made it. It was their children who completed the trek; and we’re told that Jesus’ journey through the wilderness was filled with wild beasts and temptation.

The image of a journey is a great way to describe Lent. There’s an origin, Ash Wednesday, a destination, Easter, and a plan to get there, our prayer, fasting and giving. But to get the most of Lent, it’s important to have the mindset of a pilgrim.

Last week, we started reflecting on the Jubilee year we’re in and considered how the Jubilee year calls on us to both seek forgiveness of our debts and to forgive the debts of others. Debts, of course, don’t have to be just financial debts, but can take on any form.

The Jubilee year also challenges us to be pilgrims, a special kind of traveler. Now, some travel as wanderers. Instead of aiming towards a destination, wanderers simply accept what life presents, both the welcome and the not-so-welcome. Wanderers rarely make plans and instead keep expectations low, so they’re protected from both disappointment and accomplishment. Others travel as tourists. Tourists hold high expectations. They have a destination but, also focus on what’s been invested, they expect to be treated well during their journey, anticipating five star hotels and Michelin star restaurants.

Pilgrims are different. Like the tourist, pilgrims have a destination and want to get the most from their journey. But, like the wanderer, pilgrims aren’t disappointed by difficulties and instead recognize the journey, even a journey filled with struggles, as preparation for the destination. For pilgrims, Lent is preparation for Easter, a journey through the wilderness is preparation for the promised land and life, along with all its joys and struggles, is preparation for Heaven.

Originally, people would return to their homes during a Jubilee year. As decades passed, opportunities or challenges may have drawn people away from home. There’s so many in this community who know what that’s like, who have left their homeland for all kinds of reasons. Of course, we’re fortunate to enjoy all kinds of ways to keep in touch with loved ones, but when Jubilees first started, moving away from home may have meant losing contact with loved ones. During a Jubilee year, people would return home to reconnect with family, with their origins and identity.

Disciples know our true origins come from our Heavenly Father and we know our true home is Heaven and while we can’t really go to our true home until called by the Father, we can take on the mindset of a pilgrim and renew our longing for our eternal home.

One way to do that is to make a pilgrimage, a trip to a holy place, and I encourage everyone to make some kind of pilgrimage this year. A pilgrimage isn’t just a trip but practice for our journey through life to the Kingdom. I have one planned for myself in September, but over this Jubilee Year there will be lots of opportunities for everyone to make a pilgrimage.

First, on Saturday, March 29th, there’s the Lift Jesus Higher Rally in Toronto. If you’ve never been, it’s worth checking out and to make it easy, our parish is providing a free bus. The location might not be especially holy, but what happens there is. It’s a day of guest speakers, testimonies and worship; it’s good for anyone twelve years of age and up.

Our bishop has designated four churches as official places of pilgrimage and in short time they will announce different events worth joining. With a couple other priests, I’m finalizing plans for a five-day walking pilgrimage in August from St. Therese church in Courtice to one of those pilgrimage churches, the Cathedral in Peterborough with stops at a few churches along the way.

Our Bishop is also inviting everyone in our Diocese to make a pilgrimage in September to the Martyr’s Shrine in Midland and for this, arrangements are coming together here to make that pilgrimage affordable and easy.

Finally, if any are interested in making their own pilgrimage to Rome, but aren’t sure where to start, there are tour groups you can search out and, having been there a few times, I’m happy to give some guidance too; Rome is an easy pilgrimage to make and very worthwhile.

To get the most of Lent, it’s important to have the mindset of a pilgrim but the same is true for getting the most from life. It’s possible to go through life with the mindset of a wanderer, to keep expectations low and simply accept both the joys and struggles of life. This offers great protection from disappointment, but without a destination in mind, without an aim for heaven, it’s difficult to discover success too. It’s also possible to hold the mindset of a tourist, to be aware of our eternal destination while focusing on what’s been invested, expecting an easy and comfortable journey. When struggles arise, a tourist may be tempted to give up.

No, this Jubilee Year is a reminder that we are pilgrims. We have an origin, we have a destination and throughout this journey of life struggles become opportunities to join our Saviour who endured the dangers and temptations of the wilderness. Disciples know joys and struggles prepare us for Heaven.

Protect us as we journey through the wilderness of life, O God, and sent to us your Spirit so we would never forget our origin in you or our destination with you. Strengthen us to follow the example of our Saviour, who rejected temptation through trust in you. In his name we pray. Amen.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul encourages Christians to put on imperishability and immortality[i] and Lent is a season about doing just that; when powers try to hold our attention here, we devote a season to remembering that we have all been made for something truly great: eternity with our maker. It’s a reminder of hope, a great connection to the hope this Jubilee year focuses on. So, there’s a lot happening at our church over the next few weeks to help everyone get the most from the season of lent that begins on Wednesday.

There will be lots of food: between now and Easter, there’s plans for a pancake dinner, spaghetti dinner, potluck dinner, fish fry and even weekly soup and bread. Details about these things will appear in the News App and bulletin board. These moments may not seem especially spiritual, but they’re still part of putting on imperishability and immortality because, along with our worship and service, they give a taste of living in the community of God’s kingdom. You can be part of any community, but what makes a church community unique is how it helps prepare for life in the Kingdom.

For children, there are some Lent books at the entrance and if you’re not quite sure what you might give up for Lent, what your Lenten Sacrifice might be, there’s a few ideas in the News App to help discern. By the way, you can’t give up things you shouldn’t already be doing. One time, a young boy told me he was giving up hitting his sister for Lent. That won’t work; it’s not really a sacrifice to give up something you shouldn’t be doing anyway.

For twenty-four hours beginning Friday evening, our church will be open for anyone to come and spend time adoring our Saviour. Our bishop has asked all churches in our area to take on this challenge of prayer. There will be opportunity for prayer both privately and with others along with extra Confession times. Schedules for those hours are posted in the usual places. You’re free to just drop in at any time, but I hope you might consider committing to being here for an hour by signing up at the welcome desk.

Speaking of Confession: We’ll celebrate a day of mercy in April where a priest will be available in the Confessional for the bulk of the day. Also, the regular Confession times will be expanded and a priest will be available on Friday mornings now too, during the Holy Hour.

As usual, during Lent, the Stations of the Cross will be prayed here on Friday evenings, each week led by a different group, followed by some simple soup and bread.

After the March break, there will be a series of discussions here on overcoming fear. We all face all kinds of fears. So, we’ll take a moment to reflect together on how our faith conquers the thief of fear.

If you’re one of those who get distracted during Mass and start looking around, you may have noticed that we still have Christmas banners hanging. We’ve been waiting for new Jubilee banners, like the huge ones hanging out front, to arrive and when they arrive, hopefully this week, they will hang here for a year, as this twenty-twenty-five is a Jubilee year.

A little history on Jubilee years: Even in the days before the Temple, the Jewish people would observe a Jubilee year every fifty years. It was a way to ‘reset’ things, to provide fresh opportunities for many and to even ensure better nourishment. During a Jubilee year, people would return home, back to their roots, family and history. Throughout a Jubilee year, the people would rest and take a moment to reflect on what it meant to be and live as God’s chosen people.

The practice of observing a Jubilee Year was eventually forgotten until the 14th century when our Church, during a time of disease, war and political unrest, began observing Jubilee years once again, first at hundred-year intervals and eventually every twenty-five years.

The biggest challenge and sign of a Jubilee year, however, was the forgiveness of debts and the beginning of Lent is a great opportunity to reflect on this call to forgive debts.

Now when Jubilees first started, there was no Visa or Mastercard, few had access to banks and there was no way to declare bankruptcy. So, loans and repayment were usually arranged privately between individuals or families and if someone became so indebted that repayment was impossible, they might have ended up enslaved as the property of another. A jubilee year offered hope though; a time when debts would be wiped out and slaves set free.

Today, different ways of handling debt have been developed alongside ways to aid many in paying off financial debts. But there are still many who get trapped in debt. Internationally, there are nations of people indebted to other nations. This Lent, Development and Peace will urge us to encourage our leaders to forgive the debts of nations, to help grant freedom to those struggling in impoverished areas.

There are other, non-financial, ways to be indebted too. Some are weighed down by the debt of having hurt others. This Jubilee year may be a call for them to seek forgiveness. Some have been deeply hurt by others: this Jubilee year may be a call to offer forgiveness or at least to invite God to reveal his power and love by forgiving what seems unforgiveable. The Jubilee year may be a call for disciples to free those imprisoned by isolation or illness. Some have become slaves to sin, to bad habits, compulsions or practices that just don’t affirm our dignity as children of God: this Jubilee year may be a call to seek freedom beginning in the Confessional and continuing in daily life.

There are efforts underway to live out the challenge of the Jubilee year as a parish too, especially through the Works of Mercy. We’re trying to form a plan to take on a project, both financially and practically, that will make a real difference in our area over the next year and while I’m open to suggestions, the initial ideas are around doing something that supports affordable housing. I hope to have a concrete announcement for you about this for Easter.

Debt is incompatible with the immortality and imperishability that St. Paul calls us to take on because debt focuses on limits and scarcity. God’s Kingdom, however, declares an existence of joyful abundance and that’s what we’ve been made for. So, between now and Lent, I hope you might prepare by taking a moment to reflect on debts, in whatever form they may take: not just financial debts, but spiritual, emotional or debts of any kind. Consider how you might be indebted, how you may need to seek forgiveness of your debts and consider how you might forgive the debts of others. My prayer is that this preparation helps us all to make the most of this Jubilee year and season of Lent; to welcome both as opportunities to receive hope.

God of hope, fill us with your Spirit. Assist us in welcoming your hope, open our hearts to receive your hope and prompt us to share your hope so that, as we prepare for Lent and enter a Jubilee year, we would grow to become disciples able to aid others who seek your Son, in whose name we offer all our prayers. Amen.

[i] 1 Corinthians 15:54