St. Joseph Church Homilies

Our countdown to Christmas begins today. For the next four weeks, the culture around us won’t let us forget about it. Even our prayer and worship here will be directed towards the upcoming Christmas celebration.

Maybe you count yourself among those who can’t get enough of this season: you’ve had your tree up for a month already, are well on your way through Christmas gift shopping and have a playlist of your favourite Christmas songs set on repeat. Or maybe you’re not so into the season. There’s no Christmas sweaters taking up space in your closet and you only have Christmas decorations because others felt bad for you and gave you some. Most of us probably fall somewhere in between those two extremes.

It doesn’t matter; Christmas is coming and it’s going to consume much of our lives with good things: dinners, dances and parties, concerts, shopping, wrapping gifts and opening gifts: all good things. The problem is fitting it all in. On top of all the Christmas, ‘things’, that will take up time and energy, all the usual duties of life remain. We must still go to work or class, clean the house, do the laundry, drive the kids and deal with all the challenges of life; those duties don’t go away just because Christmas is coming. The extra pressures of this season is a good problem to have, to be sure. It’s a sign of being blessed with family and friends; but it’s still extra pressure to say, ‘yes’, to so many things.

In many ways, Advent is a season of saying, ‘yes’. Many will say, ‘yes’, to invitations to dinner, visits and parties. The coming of the Saviour is God saying, ‘yes’, to us. We’ll reflect on the, ‘yes’, of Mary and Joseph and ultimately our own call to say, ‘yes’, to God. In many ways, Advent is a season of reflecting on how we respond to an ever-changing menu of options and choices that keep coming our way each day of our lives. Regardless of if we’re aware of it or not, our response to each choice, big or small, determines the direction of our life. So, we need a plan because no one can say, ‘yes’, to every option because not every option is good; and because time and energy are limited, sometimes it’s necessary to say, ‘no’, even to good things. We need a plan that helps us say, ‘yes’, to the right things at the right times.

St. Ignatius Loyola, who founded the Jesuits, developed a decision-making strategy called, ‘discernment’. It’s a strategy not only for sorting good options from not-so-good options, but also for discovering the best choice, the best place to say, ‘yes’, when life presents more than one good option.

The first part of this strategy calls on us to recognize how God wants to be involved in the life of each person, how he wishes to lead each person to have an abundant life. When God is involved in even the smallest of choices, each moment, day or season isn’t just a period of time to get through but a gift, an opportunity to be more like him. Saying, ‘yes’, to the right choice will mean laying all options before God and pausing to listen to what he has to say.

The second part of this discernment strategy is recognizing how each person has been specially made and given a special role in God’s plan. It’s easy to begin identifying by our careers, interests, abilities or accomplishments while forgetting that each of us have been made with a purpose in the mind of the maker. We recognize that we don’t create or invent ourselves, nor do we design our own purpose. God’s already done that for us. Saying, ‘yes’, to the right choice will mean choosing options that reveal and support who God made us to be, options that build us up in his image.

The third part of this strategy for saying, ‘yes’, to the right option involves making choices that support love. In today’s second reading, St. Paul encourages us, “…may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all…”[i]. Sometimes, this might require saying, ‘no’. Parents know how the most loving decisions sometimes require saying, ‘no’, to their children. Sometimes, saying, ‘yes’, to love requires saying, ‘no’. Saying, ‘yes’, to the right choice will come from first knowing what God loves and then loving what God loves above all else.

Fortunately, our faith is filled with all kinds of examples of how this is lived out. As Christmas approaches, we’ll reflect on the, ‘yes’, of Mary and Joseph. Both recognized how God wishes to be involved in the life of each person; when invited to become parents to the Saviour, they listened to what God wanted. Both understood how they were made to serve a part in God’s plan and didn’t hesitate to set aside their own plans to accept God’s. Both knew that right choices always involve saying, ‘yes’, to love and had no problem saying, ‘no’, to protecting their reputations and even safety so they could say, ‘yes’, to the Saviour.

As Christmas approaches, many of us will be saying, ‘yes’, many times. We’ll say yes to gift exchanges and dinners, parties and decorations, spending money and filling our lives. But to get the absolute most from this season of Advent, we ultimately must say, ‘yes’, to choices that promote love. If we’re not growing in love, Advent is just another season to get through. So, over the next few weeks, we’re going to look at how we can grow to love God, to love others, and inspired by that love, become the disciples God has made us to be.

God of all, your people are confronted with so many choices each day. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so we would be guided in making decisions that build up love and makes your presence known to all. As we prepare our homes for Christmas, may we also prepare our hearts to receive your Son, our Saviour, in whose name we offer all our prayers. Amen.

[i] 1 Thessalonians 3:12 NRSVCE

An older brother, fed up with his annoying younger brother, chased the younger down a hall and into a closet. After the closet was closed, the older of the two braced his foot against the door so his brother could not get out. He then realized a problem: while he didn’t want his younger brother to escape the closet, he also didn’t want to spend the day holding the door shut. But an ingenious little lie came to his mind that might free him of his younger brother without demanding that he spend the day holding the closet door shut. When the younger brother begged for release the older replied, “No, I found the key to this door and I’ve locked it. There’s no use trying to get out.” The lie worked. There was no way to lock the closet door, but the younger brother believed the lie and didn’t even try turning the doorknob. The older brother was free, at least till his parents came home.

Truth is important. Our choices, actions and decisions, are determined by what we believe to be true. The way we relate to others, how we earn and spend money and use the gifts God has given, the way we spend our time, even our spiritual efforts are all guided by what we believe to be true. So, we ask the question, “What is truth?”, because knowing what is true is important. It wasn’t the older brother who kept the younger brother imprisoned in a closet, but a lie; to be set free, the younger brother needed truth.

Lies hold us back: we’ve probably all experienced this in some way. There’s always that scam to watch out for, that person on the phone pretending the be the CRA hoping to grab our banking information. There’s always that fear that we could unknowingly be in the same position as that younger brother, believing a lie which keeps us locked away from some freedom granting truth. So, we ask, “What is truth?” But we had best be directing this question to a good source of truth, we had best be seeking answers in the right places.

After God created Adam and Eve and revealed his greatness and goodness, the first couple began looking for truth in places apart from God. “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat?”[i] The couple believed the creature more than the maker, worst decision ever made, they traded life-giving truth for lies. Since then, we’ve all become so accustomed to accepting lies in place of truth that sometimes we can’t recognize truth even when it stands before our eyes.

During Pilot’s interrogation, Jesus proclaimed, “…I came into the world, to testify to the truth.”[ii] Before him stood God, but Pilot couldn’t recognize the truth. He had undoubtedly heard of the many miracles; those who sought death for Jesus didn’t deny the goodness or power of the miracles. The devil is shrewd enough to root his lies in some truth, often beginning with an attack on humility, on what appears weak. He tempts us to ask, “How could something small be something great?” How could a piece of fruit usher death into the world? How could a tiny embryo be a human being? How could suffering have value? How could two imperfect people ever be expected to devote themselves to each other for life? How could great sins ever be forgiven in a confession? How could God come into our presence under the appearances of bread and wine?

For pilot, one man seemed insignificant compared to the task of keeping the peace. For the crowds so caught up by the apparent smallness of Jesus, the miraculous evidence that testified to his divinity was forgotten. They wondered how Jesus could be God if he sleeps or eats or bleeds? How could Jesus be the Saviour if he allows himself to be arrested? How could he really be a king without a throne? The lies worked, and the crowds called for the death of God. Like Adam and Eve, so many were willing to trade life-giving truth for lies.

This is a path easy for us to follow too. We proclaim that Jesus is our king and that we have placed him first in our lives. But then we’re tempted. We’re told that words are small and then easily entertain gossip or adopt the language of those around us, even when it’s foul. Media proposes to be innocent; so, we unwittingly expose ourselves to whatever is recommended by algorithms when the screen should just be turned off. When we believe faith is small, attempts to publicly share the Good News or demonstrate faith are extinguished. When the call to love is suggested to be a suggestion, it’s easy to see others as obstacles instead of opportunity to honour God.

All this happens because, at least in brief moments, we look for truth in the wrong places. Pilot missed truth because he caved to the mindset of the crowds, allowing popular opinion to define truth. The crowds missed truth because they forgot about the greatness of Jesus and thought his human nature to be weakness. Adam and Eve missed truth because they stopped listening to our creator for truth and instead listened to one of his creatures.

This feast of Christ the King presents an opportunity to take a good look at where we go to seek truth, to look at how we might allow ourselves to be influenced and blinded by the opinions of others or by the culture we live in and how we might do better at allowing ourselves to be influenced instead by the love of Jesus, putting God first. To see truth, we might learn more about the life of Jesus, who is truth, by looking at his life, works and message in the scriptures. To recognize the presence of truth, we might examine how Jesus has been working in the lives of people today, including the lives of each one of us. To witness the power of truth, we might listen to the teachings of our church and the saints.

One month from now we celebrate Christmas, the moment when Jesus took on human nature and entered the world. Much closer than that, Jesus comes into our presence today, in this Mass. Let’s be sure that we can recognize truth. Let’s be sure that we don’t miss him but instead welcome him and truth today, at Christmas and everyday. Let’s be sure that we are never willing to trade the life-giving truth of God for lies.

King of all goodness, through your Spirit, open the eyes of our hearts so we can recognize your presence, power and love in this place. Through our worship, may we be made ready to receive you in the Eucharist, honour you in our acts throughout the week and witness to you in how we treat others. This prayer we offer in your name always. Amen.

[i] Genesis 3:1 NRSVCE

[ii] John 18:37 NRSVCE

In the creed we’ll all profess shortly, we’ll proclaim our belief in the second coming of our Lord; we know Jesus is coming again, we just don’t know when. I know some wonder if we’re living in the end times. We hear of wars, divides, hunger and struggles and wonder if this is, “…the time of suffering…”[i], Jesus mentions in today’s Gospel that’s supposed to precede his second coming.

In so many ways it would be great to know the moment of Jesus’ second coming. If it was known Jesus was coming tomorrow, it would be easy to spend the money and enjoy it now rather than save for retirement. If we knew Jesus was coming soon, maybe some would work to reconcile damaged relationships, quit a job they despise or give up going to the gym. Just imagine the lineup at the Confessional the hour before Jesus’ second coming.

If we knew the moment of Jesus second coming, the end of time, many would use time very differently because we give priority to things we know we have very little of. Spending habits are adjusted when the bank balance gets low. Diets are restricted when there’s not so much food in the fridge. When the pandemic shifted spending habits, the world seemed to run out of toilet paper.

Last week, we reflected on the natural inclination to grasp for control when things become scarce and how our Saviour challenges us to instead surrender control even of finances. We’ve been considering on the challenge to surrender control for awhile now. By the way, the full text and a recording of Sunday homilies given in our church are available on our website each week, so anyone can catchup or review what we’ve reflected on. Disciples are challenged to surrender control of attempts to earn eternal life and instead give priority to following Jesus. We’re called to surrender control of our ideas of what greatness is and instead accept God’s revelation that true greatness is rooted in service. Jesus challenges us to surrender control of caring about what others think of us and instead recognize how following him and receiving his healing matters most of all. Those with hearts focused on love surrender attempts to control others and that love influences the world.

Today, we finish our exploration of surrendering control with the biggest challenge of all: surrendering control of our time. Surrendering control of time is the biggest challenge because we know how limited it is. You can make more money or friends; food grows; it’s possible to learn more, go more places or have all kinds of experiences. But no one can make more time. So, we grasp for control of our time and then, we’re busy.

Now, surrendering control isn’t about just letting go and accepting whatever. For disciples, surrendering control means recognizing how we occupy only one tiny moment of a much larger history. We admit that our role in history is just one part of a greater story that we’re mostly unaware of. The story isn’t about any one of us, but about the ongoing work of our maker to build a great Kingdom. We surrender control by confessing that we don’t know how to build this Kingdom, we don’t know how to fix all the problems of the world. It’s not in our power to end injustice, destroy all evils or conquer death and that’s okay because we know our Saviour does have such power.

So, disciples have a huge responsibility: to surrender control of our time so God may work through us. We surrender control of time by recognizing the time we have as an opportunity to allow God to work through us. Doing things our way on our schedule only gets us so far. By trying our best, we can get glimpses of the paradise we long for, many might grasp for enough control to build mostly happy lives, but something always remains missing. There’s fear of losing what we have, we’re aware of the suffering of others and creation itself can seem like an obstacle at times. The answer, the solution needed to build the Kingdom of joy and peace doesn’t come through money or an election or any human effort but only through God.

We surrender control of our time by giving God the start of our week, by coming here. This is where we take a moment to set aside all the things that make demands of our time and attention and instead turn our attention to God. This is where we come to practice for Heaven. What we do here, we renew regularly through daily prayer where we invite God into the decisions made, the people encountered and the words said.

We surrender control of our time by examining what it is we aim for. We all have goals that probably started in our imagination. We imagine the life we want maybe in five or ten years and then we aim to make that happen. Of course, many of our plans don’t work out, unexpected things come up. But we’re still here, we make it through, though with some frustration. Disciples might also imagine the Kingdom of God, picture it and include it as part of our own plans. Through this we build a world, not in our image but according to God’s.

I know some wonder if we’re living in the end times and the truth is that we are. We don’t know when, but Jesus is coming. Between now and that moment, disciples use this time to prepare and practice for his coming. We willingly surrender control of so many things today so that when he comes, we’ll be ready to surrender all to him.

God of all, guide us through your Holy Spirit so our hearts would be open to the coming of your Son here in this Mass, at the end of our lives and at the end of time itself. As we surrender control of all we have to him, we ask that our small offerings would be magnified and contribute to your Kingdom and the salvation of all. We offer all our prayers in his name. Amen.

[i] Mark 13:24 NRSVCE

Among all the kings of Israel, one of the worst was Ahab. While he built temples and altars to idols, his wife, Jezebel, hunted and killed God’s priests and prophets. Before going into hiding to save his life, the prophet Elijah promised there would be no rain until his return. The severe famine during the prophet’s absence made it impossible for anything to grow, even trees dried up. Those who had money or possessions were able to trade for food and water, but the poorest were left with nothing but sticks.

While in hiding, Elijah was sent to live with an incredibly poor widow. When they first met, Elijah found her gathering sticks for food. She had already traded all she had and expected to die from thirst or starvation. Hopefully, no one here has been or ever will be in such a dire situation. But we all know how it feels when the bills form a stack, the bank balance has just a few digits and the credit card limit is tested. We’ve all been in spots when discovering a five-dollar bill in a jacket not worn since spring is a relief.

For the last month, we’ve been reflecting on the challenges of surrendering control. Jesus challenges us to surrender control of the idea that eternal life is something that can be earned and instead give priority to following the Saviour. We’ve been made for greatness, but disciples are challenged to surrender control of our ideas of what greatness is and instead accept God’s: true greatness is rooted in service because service makes us like the Saviour. There’s nothing wrong with wishing to be well thought of, but Jesus challenges us to surrender control of caring about what others think of us and instead recognize how following Jesus and receiving his healing matters most of all. Last week, we recognized how hearts that grasp for control push people away. But hearts focused on love surrender attempts to control others and that love is extremely influential. Disciples influence the world by listening, by recognizing our own need for growth and by inviting all to receive from God as we do. The challenge of surrendering control increases this week, as we reflect on surrendering control of finances.

Now to be clear, God isn’t against money. Many of Jesus’ friends were wealthy, many of the heroes of the Old Testament were rich and we venerate a great many saints who had much. Being a Christian doesn’t mean accepting a life of eating sticks. Money is a big deal for us, maybe because it’s a big deal to our maker too. Jesus often spoke about money challenging disciples to surrender control of money and possessions; to allow him to be involved in our finances.

Really, money is somewhat imaginary; it only has value because enough of us say it does; but it still has great power. Money gives the control needed to go most anywhere, do most anything and arrange life as you wish. Take control now by spending or save money to exert control later. The power of money is especially felt when it’s in short supply. When a job is lost, an emergency comes up and the car breaks down all at the same time, when it’s possible to relate to the poor widow from the reading, the natural response is to clutch and control whatever little might be left.

When Elijah introduced himself to the obviously poor widow, he asked her to offer all she had left; she was asked to give, not from an abundance or surplus, but from real scarcity. The prophet encouraged her, “Do not be afraid…”[i]. Surprisingly, and against any inclination many of us may have had in that same spot, the widow listened. Before looking after her own needs, she invited God to intervene in her financial situation by surrendering control of all she had.

Now, Christians ought to be generous, but there is no call here for any to be so generous that they risk skipping meals or losing their home. However, since at least the days of Cain and Able, God has called on his people to be generous, sacrificial givers and there are some serious lessons in today’s reading about Christian generosity, about surrendering control of our finances to God.

For Christians, generosity, our giving, is a priority; it’s one of the first items in the budget. The life of the Saviour is marked with generosity, so ours should be too. I found that automatic giving has been the easiest way for me to be generous. By giving automatically through my bank, I’m confident in my generosity, that I’m giving to God first; the convenience reduces stress and it all happens before I can find another place to spend what I know I ought to give.

Giving should be felt; a true sacrifice. Jesus gave no praise for those who gave only from their surplus[ii]. Christian generosity might call a disciple to skip ordering the appetizer, seriously consider if all the subscriptions are truly needed or pick up their own food rather than pay for delivery.

Giving is also how disciples worship. We give not just to keep this place running or to help those in need. The size of the collection doesn’t impact my pay or living conditions. We give generosity serious thought because it’s how Christians worship: with generosity. The basket that’s brought up with the water, wine and bread and set before the altar is a symbol for our generous sacrifice joined to that of our Saviour.

Some might wonder about how much to give. Of course, only God can judge generosity, but he always gives ideals to aim for. In the scriptures, disciples are urged to aim for sainthood. We know we fall short, but we still aim for this high goal. Regarding generosity, scripture mentions the tithe, the tradition of giving God one tenth of what is made. Now, this directive was given in a time when many didn’t trade with money but with the food they grew and because food grows on trees and money doesn’t, giving up one tenth of all income might be a different challenge today than it once was. Our Church doesn’t expect each of us to give one tenth, but the tithe is still a great ideal to look up to or aim for.

My own advice: a starting point could be an hour of wages, about thirty-five dollars weekly for a household of two minimum wage earners. That also happens to be about what the average household in Ontario gives according to the Canadian Generosity Index; when possible, disciples should aim to be at least as generous as those around us. Again, no one should skip meals or lose their home to contribute to the collection. But for most of us, offering up an hour of wages wouldn’t be an excessive burden. One final word: if your income has increased over the past year, your giving should too.

Regardless of your income or bills, how, what or where you currently give, the challenge remains the same: to grow in generosity. Money has power. Instead of using what we have to do what we want, we’re happy to surrender control of that power, to follow the Saviour by converting trust in the power of money into trust in the loving power of God.

Help us grow, O Lord, by sending the Spirit of generosity. Open our hearts to turn away from temptations to hoard. Inspire us to place before you a true sacrifice. As the sacrifice of your Son gives life, accept our small offerings and multiply them to reflect that same love. This we pray in his name. Amen.

[i] 1 Kings 17:13 NRSVCE

[ii] Mark 12:44

We’ve been reflecting on surrendering control and all the challenges that come along with that. We all like having control, it brings feelings of safety, security and strength. Feeling ‘in control’ is a relief, but when life feels, ‘out of control’, it’s easy for fret and worry to fill the mind. So, surrendering control is a real challenge; the idea often goes against natural instincts.

But that’s what Jesus does: he challenges us to surrender control. When a rich and faithful young man asked Jesus about how to inherit eternal life, Jesus challenged him to let go of the idea that eternal life is something that could be earned and instead surrender control by giving up everything to follow the Saviour.

Jesus challenged James and John, and continues challenging each of us, to surrender control of ideas of what greatness is. God made us for greatness, but success and greatness as any of us or the world might measure is very different than the greatness God calls us to. True greatness is rooted in service because service makes us like the Saviour who came to serve.

Last weekend, we heard about blind Bartimaeus, who didn’t let the opinion or expectations of the crowd hold him back from calling out to the Saviour. There’s nothing wrong with wishing to be well thought of, but the example of Bartimaeus challenges us to surrender control of caring about what others think of us and instead recognize how following Jesus and receiving his healing matters most of all.

One temptation all people face is the temptation to control others. No one want’s to be known as a controlling person, but anyone can be tempted to control the choices or behaviours of others. After a night of trick-or-treating last week, maybe there’s some parents here who felt the need to control the volume of candy their child accumulated. If you have older children, maybe you’ve been tempted to control what programs or courses they take in school. There could be some employers here occasionally tempted to not simply assign tasks, but also control how the tasks are to be completed. I’ve heard of some who are strongly tempted to complete the sentences or thoughts or wardrobe of their spouse. Sadly, religion and faith has been used too many times to control.

Truth be told, sometimes when I’m driving, if I feel the person behind me is pushing a bit, following a little too close, letting me know they wish I was going a little faster, I’m tempted to slow down slightly; it’s for their own good of course, a quick lesson on the virtue of patience and that may be the most difficult part of this temptation: it’s often motivated out of caring for others. It’s difficult to witness friends make bad decisions or to watch family members do things we know will make life more difficult. When loved ones appear out of control, there’s always the temptation to exercise a little control over them. But ultimately, it’s a temptation rooted in a desire to control others and, regardless of the best of intentions, leads to frustration and divides.

In the Gospel today, we heard about a moment when Jesus was asked by a scribe to summarize the commandments of God. Now, the scribes were the ones in charge of copying the scriptures. Before photocopiers or even the printing press, the scribes would make copies of the Jewish law, basically the first five books of the Bible, all by hand. To eliminate the possibility of mistakes while making copies, the scribes had to be experts in what they were copying.

With over six hundred commandments in the Jewish law, the scribes knew there was a need to summarize the law so it would be easier to remember, understand and live out. That’s what Jesus was challenged to do and he responded with a perfectly predictable answer; from the book of Deuteronomy he quoted, “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”[i], and from the book of Leviticus he quoted, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”[ii] The words weren’t new or revolutionary, but the connection Jesus made between loving God and loving others is. Jesus basically exposed how disciples cannot truly love him or follow him without loving others and to see what that looks like, we go back to the beginning.

God completed his work of creating the universe with the creation of beings made in his image and likeness, us. He could have created us to be like machines, forced to carry out his will and his will only. But our creator knew that creating beings in his image, with the capacity to reflect his love, required surrendering control, allowing us to have and use free will. Disciples who wish to reflect God’s love must be willing to do the same by surrendering all attempts to control others.

The message today though, isn’t a call to simply live and let live; that would be neglect. Parents ought to be involved in the lives of their children. Employers ought to care about the performance of employees and we should all express concern for those we love. Control is incompatible with love; influence, though, is different. God didn’t control his people, but he did call prophets to influence them. Jesus doesn’t control people, but his life, his words and his sacrifice has certainly influenced the world and he prompts his disciples to follow him by positively influencing our community, families, loved ones and world.

Hearts that grasp for control push people away. But hearts focused on love surrender attempts to control others and that love is extremely influential. Disciples influence the world by listening. It’s not to agree with every idea out there, but listening acknowledges thoughts and experiences. Disciples influence the world by recognizing our own need for growth, admitting how we carry the same questions, wounds and struggles as anyone. Finally, disciples influence the world, not by imposing but, by inviting. We share about gifts we’ve received, how God has influenced us or what prayer and worshipping here has given us and then extend an invitation for all to receive the same.

Heavenly Father, we look to you in this moment humbly acknowledging our need for your aid in truly loving. Through the Holy Spirit, open our hearts so we would freely surrender attempts to control others and instead become disciples who influence the world after the example of your son, whose love has influenced us. We offer all our prayers in his name. Amen.

[i] Mark 12:30 NRSVCE

[ii] Mark 12:31 NRSVCE

Today’s Gospel introduces Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who is praiseworthy because he didn’t let the opinions of others dissuade him from calling out to Jesus. Many from the large crowd tried to silence him. The shouting from the beggar may have annoyed those who didn’t especially care about him. So, they told him to be quiet. However, the blind man found healing by surrendering control, by not letting concern for the opinions of others hold him back.

We’ve been reflecting a couple weeks now on the challenges of surrendering control. We all have something or several things we clutch to, things we feel we depend on and can’t let go of. Most of the time, the control we strive for isn’t a problem. But it can get in the way of a relationship with God. When a rich and faithful young man approached Jesus asking, “…what must I do to inherit eternal life?”[i], Jesus invited him to take a step beyond following commandments, to surrender control and instead follow the Saviour, trusting that eternal life, the treasure of heaven, is a gift to accept, not to earn and possess.

Last week we considered surrendering control of our idea of success or greatness. We all have our own ways of measuring greatness and while God did make us for greatness, success and greatness as any of us or the world might measure, is very different than the greatness God calls us to. True greatness is rooted in service because service makes us like the Saviour who came to serve. Disciples become great when they follow Jesus, build up others and the world and share the Good News.

Our image, how we project ourselves to the world, is something we like to control too. We all care about what others think of us. Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with wishing to be well thought of and every good reason to dress well for the job interview, shower before the date or keep the hair cut. But when vanity urges the projection of an image that isn’t real or derails efforts to follow the Saviour, faith is put at risk and extra stress burdens.

Maybe there’s some parents here who embellish on their child’s grades or extra-curricular achievements. Maybe some here would never post a picture of themselves on social media without first applying the right filter or doctoring the picture in some way. I’ve heard there are some wives who would never let their husbands go shopping for clothes on their own. If you’re like me, you want others to think you have it all together, so requesting help is a challenge. Maybe you’ve adopted an impressive but financially burdensome lifestyle or you’re forcing smiles today so no one could guess that you fought with your family on the way here all because you want to control how others see you; you want the world to believe you’re successful, have built the perfect family and life all while looking beautiful while doing it and that’s a lot of stress.

Blind Bartimaeus seemed to know a different way. As he called out for Jesus, many in the crowd told him to be quiet. As a beggar, attracting negative attention, becoming an annoyance, risked losing any pity the crowd might have had for him along with their generosity. If Bartimaeus had cared what others thought, if he was worried about his image or reputation, how he was perceived, he would have kept quiet. But that would have meant losing out on the greatest opportunity of his life. The blind man recognized this; he saw what many could not: that following Jesus and receiving his healing mattered most of all.

Bartimaeus disregarded the opinions of the crowd, kept calling for the Saviour and we witness a few changes. First, when Jesus finally acknowledged him, the opinion of the crowd instantly changed; instead of silencing him, they encouraged Bartimaeus. The latest trends and styles, opinions on the best way to spend time or raise kids, who or what’s popular or useful or a good measure for success: these things rapidly change; keeping up with the ever-changing opinion of the crowd is stressful and often impossible.

But God’s love never changes and this leads to another change in Bartimaeus. When he heard the call of the Saviour, the blind beggar threw off his cloak. The cloak is what kept him warm; it’s what he would have used to collect the offerings of others. According to Jewish law, the cloak was the one possession others were forbidden to take to take from him as payment. So, a beggar’s cloak was very much connected to the identity of a beggar and it held him back. Bartimaeus threw all that off, he tossed away any self-assumed or imposed identities and accepted a new, God given identity that set him free: he no longer worried about what others thought; he was a follower of Jesus. Finally, and most obviously, through Jesus, his physical sight was made to match his spiritual sight; By surrendering control of how others saw him, Bartimaeus was given sight.

For most of us, it’s not physical eyesight that needs healing, but spiritual eyesight. We wish to see what Bartimaeus saw before he was healed: that toiling to win the opinion of a fickle crowd just isn’t necessary when we’re following the Saviour.

Here’s the first step: fast from things that feed your desire to control your image or how others see you. For some, this might mean taking a break from social media or any media that fuel insecurities about image. For others, this might mean stepping back from those who pressure us to look, behave, live or be certain ways. Next, recognize that Jesus is passing by, be sure to call out for him. Build a habit of prayer, space to listen for him above the noise of the crowd. Come here to encounter him especially in the Confessional and in Communion. Know where you need healing and be ready to ask. Finally, throw off any identities you or others have created or impose. Our identity through God surpasses any other identity or label; from the moment of Baptism he’s called us to surrender control, ignore the crowd and follow the Saviour.

Open our hearts, O Lord, so we would recognize your presence as you pass by and, through your Spirit, strengthen our resolve to surrender control of how we wish others to perceive us so we’re free to call out to the Saviour who offers the healing needed to truly follow him. In Jesus’ name we offer all our prayers. Amen.

[i] Mark 10: 17 NRSVCE

Surrendering control: it’s something we all struggle with because each of us have things we like to remain in control of. In the days when a home had just one television, control of the remote was a real struggle. As it gets cool out, I know, in some homes, struggles for control over the thermostat are probably building. If I’m in a hurry and waiting in the express lane of a checkout, I know I’ve caught myself counting the items in the carts of shoppers ahead of me. During last week, someone told me how they have written numbers on the hangers in their closet as part of a system to guarantee they don’t wear the same outfit more than once a week. Maybe there are some here right now thinking that’s a good idea.

Now, most of the time, the control we strive for isn’t a problem; that is, until it gets in the way of a relationship with God. Last weekend, we began examining the challenge of surrendering control by reflecting on a moment when a rich young man approached Jesus asking, “…what must I do to inherit eternal life?”[i] As far as anyone could tell, the rich young man had everything together: he was prosperous and even succeeded in keeping the commandments of God. But he knew something was missing. Our faith is about more than following rules. So, Jesus invited the rich young man to take a deeper step, to surrender control and give up trying to possess or ‘own’ eternal life as though it were something to be bought and controlled and instead surrender control to the Saviour, to trust that eternal life, the treasure of heaven, is a gift to accept. Sadly, the rich young man chose to maintain his control, clinging to the very thing that had failed to satisfy his heart.

Today, we’re looking at surrendering control of our idea of success or greatness. Of course, we all have our own unique ways of measuring greatness. Some feel successful when free of worry. Others feel accomplished when they have what’s needed to be comfortable. Some like having lots of people around while others like having their space. Some feel great when the bank balance has enough digits while others feel greatness comes from having influence over others. Generally, we feel we’re successful when life goes according to our plans and we can say we’re in control. But when things don’t go our way, it’s easy to feel that life is out of control.

There’s nothing at all wrong with wanting to be comfortable or safe, financially secure or influential; we’ve been made for these things and will enjoy them in God’s Kingdom. But success and greatness as any of us or the world might measure, is very different than the greatness God calls us to.

In the Gospel today, we heard about a moment when two Apostles, James and John, asked Jesus for a favour, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one on your left, in your glory.”[ii]. They wished to be great and powerful in the promised Kingdom, to have the control needed to shape their lives and maybe even make the world a better place. The other Apostles were understandably angry over the grasp for control, but not Jesus; he knows those who follow him often start doing so because they want something from him. The Saviour knows some of us are here hoping he’ll sort out some mess in our lives or grant some favour or somehow give more control. That’s okay, he can work with that.

Like James and John, maybe you’re here looking for the control or greatness needed to improve your life or the lives of your loved ones or even our community or world. That’s okay because Jesus isn’t against any of that; to James and John’s request for greatness, he responded, “…whoever wishes to be great among you must first be your servant…”[iii]. Jesus doesn’t criticize the desire for greatness or success. In fact, the Saviour wants us to be great and successful; he wants us to want that too, for ourselves and for our loved ones.

But there is a catch. God made us for greatness and Jesus wants us to wish for greatness, but he also directs this desire for greatness according to God’s vision of greatness, away from authority and towards service. This is where we’re asked to surrender control: by proclaiming how greatness comes, not from authority but, from service. We’re made great when we contribute to our Church and community. We become great when working to build others up. Greatness comes from calculating what can be given. Greatness is rooted in service because service makes us like the Saviour who came to serve.

Through service, by surrendering control even over their own lives, James and John have been made great; they’ve influenced continents and lead a countless number of people to the Saviour. Their letters have endured through time. Through service and surrendering control to Jesus, James and John have accomplished more than any ruler has ever imagined. Their lives, however, present a challenge to how greatness is measured.

So, during this week, maybe take a moment to reflect on how you measure greatness. What do you envision when you imagine a great life? How would your life, the lives of your loved ones or the world be better through your greatness? Then the hard part: where does service fit into your vision of greatness and what control might the Saviour ask you to surrender to become truly great after his example?

God of all power, through the service of the Saviour, your Kingdom has been revealed and opened to those who follow your Word. Increase our longing for greatness and direct it, through your Spirit, away from authority but towards the kind of service demonstrated in the life of Jesus, our Lord, in whose name we offer all our prayers. Amen.

[i] Mark 10: 17 NRSVCE

[ii] Mark 10:37 NRSVCE

[iii] Mark 10:43

I have to admit, one thing I struggle with at times is giving up control. I might not go so far as to say I micro-manage, but I like things to be my way on my time; it’s sometimes a challenge to delegate even if it might help. I know I’m not the only one with this problem though. I’ve heard of some who are very particular about where Thanksgiving dinner will be celebrated, what will be served and even where everyone will sit at the table. A wonderful team of people spent a great deal of time and love setting up the decorations in front of the altar. Each object has its place, I’m sure, and I know there could be trouble if I were to make adjustments. It’s still a couple months away, but some have already admitted to me that they like to control the Christmas tree decorations and how gifts are arranged beneath. Maybe you’re the kind who alphabetizes the spices in the kitchen or is bothered when someone gets to your favourite pew first. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a hard time remaining a quiet passenger when the driver takes a more scenic route then needed.

The Gospel reading this weekend introduces us to this nameless rich young man. We’re not told how he became rich; he may have been part of an influential family or maybe made some good business ventures; perhaps he won the lottery. As far as anyone could tell, he had life all figured out while still having a lot of life to live. On top of that, he was very interested in living rightly, in doing the right thing; he worked hard all his short life to keep the commandments. So, there’s plenty of reason to envy or admire him. Maybe there are some here who can relate, who recognize, on this Thanksgiving weekend, how they are similarly blessed with respect and love, financial security and health. Maybe you’ve also worked hard to keep God’s commandments and generally avoid doing the things disciples know we ought to avoid.

Despite all the good things he had going for him, the rich young man knew something was missing; there was something he still longed for, something neither his possessions nor his commitment to the commandments was fulfilling. Our faith isn’t just about following a set of rules. Of course, the commandments and the teachings of the prophets, Jesus and our Church instruct us in sorting the good from the bad because there are certain actions that simply aren’t compatible with living the kind of life God wishes to give us. But faith isn’t just about following a rulebook and whenever it’s reduced to that, we’re left, like the rich young man, wanting more.

So, before Jesus was about to move on to another community, the rich young man ran, knelt before the Saviour and asked, “…what must I do to inherit eternal life?”[i] We all want eternal life; it’s what motivates us to get our children Baptized and to send them to Catholic schools. We know eternal life is about more than living for all time; it’s also about sharing in the peace and joy of God; it’s a priceless treasure.

The rich young man may have been doing his best to follow all the commandments, but his question to Jesus reveals an attitude that holds him back from receiving the treasure of heaven. His question reveals someone wanting to possess or own eternal life, to control it perhaps as he controlled his wealth and other possessions; the rich young man wanted to ‘get’ eternal life for himself, through his own power. To help heal his heart, Jesus urged, “…come, follow me.”[ii]. It was an invitation for the rich young man to surrender all control, what he had trusted in for so long, and instead submit to God.

There’s nothing wrong with having money or possessions. But there is a problem with striving to control so much here that the promised treasure of heaven is forgotten or depreciated. Jesus invited the rich young man to surrender control and instead let the Saviour take control, to trust that eternal life, the treasure of heaven, isn’t something earned, but something accepted. The message isn’t about money, though we’ll get to that in a few weeks. No, the message is about opening the heart to accept the treasure of heaven by surrendering control to God.

On hearing the invitation of Jesus, we’re told the rich young man, “…went away grieving…”[iii]. He knew faith had to involve more than following rules. But surrendering control, sacrificing attitudes and efforts that had served him so well in this life was just too much. The rich young man chose to maintain his control, clinging to the very thing that had failed to satisfy his heart.

The sadness of the rich young man is a prompt for each of us to examine what control we might cling to and how grasping for control might direct focus away from following Jesus and accepting the treasure of heaven. We all know how difficult it can be to surrender control. We like to control what others think of us. Some like to influence the thoughts, opinions and choices of others. Others strive hard for financial control and security.

For the next few weeks, we’re going to look at all the ways we’re challenged to surrender control. To prepare for this, take a moment this week to reflect on the control you have and what control might be difficult to surrender. What might Jesus ask of you that would make you walk away as the rich young man did? We all want to follow Jesus, we all want eternal life; let us pray that what we receive here today would open our hearts to surrender whatever might hold us back from following the Saviour and accepting that treasure of heaven.

Like the rich young man, we come before you, O God, longing for more than what wealth, pleasure, honour and control can offer. With the help of your Holy Spirit, help us to keep focused on your gift of eternal life, the treasure of heaven. May the example of our Lord inspire us to surrender our need for control and prompt us instead to follow him. We offer these prayers in his name. Amen.

[i] Mark 10: 17 NRSVCE

[ii] Mark 10: 21 NRSVCE

[iii] Mark 10: 22 NRSVCE

Alright, before the break of last weekend, we were reflecting on a question most everyone is haunted by, “am I enough?” Despite best efforts, it often seems impossible to be enough for all the demands and pressures of life, for family, school and work, finances and health, faith and friends. Yet we try our best to do enough, be enough, love enough, have enough because we want to be happy and bring happiness to the lives of those we care about.

We started by looking at a moment when Jesus healed a deaf man who may have worried that his voice wouldn’t be enough to be heard over the voices of others, that his impairment would be a barrier to communicating with the Saviour. Through Jesus we learn, however, that God’s people don’t have to worry about being enough because God is more than enough and meets us where we are.

Since God is more than enough, maybe, ‘enough’, isn’t the right goal at all. Doing just enough to get by at work, in school, with your relationships, is no way to find success or happiness; love always aims for more than just enough. Jesus revealed, instead, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow me.”[i] Disciples truly follow the Saviour when they deliberately choose to go where he goes, even when that means going to the cross. When our crosses declare that we’re not enough, disciples follow the Saviour who is more than enough and transforms crosses.

But what about when there just isn’t enough of something? So many suffer because there just isn’t enough time, cash or energy. But, even when in these difficult situations, even when there just isn’t enough of something, the goal of disciples always remains the same: to follow the Saviour. St. James observes, “…you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts.”[ii] When there isn’t enough, the temptation is to turn our attention to others, longing to get what others have or relying on lawmakers and politicians to look after us. Both options direct our attention away from following the Saviour. Instead, St. James encourages disciples to ask God first and follow the Saviour by making the best use of the time, financial resources and energy we’re already given.

The story of creation has something to say about being enough too. While the story of creation in the Book of Genesis does use a lot of symbolic language, it does so to revel some deep truths about who we are. As God created everything he pronounced it good. From the start, there was no sin or war, hunger, death or disease, just paradise. Adam, the first man, is placed in paradise and given a purpose, a share in God’s work, “…to till it and keep [the garden of Eden].”[iii] Though Adam was surrounded only by goodness, something was missing, “…It is not good that the man should be alone…”[iv], God declared. Adam may have had a great relationship with God and with creation, but something was missing: a community of faith, a Church.

Adam had all of creation at his disposal. He had purpose and was free of all fear. But he needed a community of faith, others with whom he could give right praise to God and share love. Catholics often begin and end prayer with the sign of the cross and in this sign we profess that God is a community: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It makes sense that human beings, made in the image and likeness of God, should also be called to be community. Without community, without Church, prayers and sacrifices, the sharing of the Good News and worship offered to God won’t be enough. So, God created Eve and the possibility for God’s people to be in community.

This is important today because there are all kinds of powers that work to divide God’s people. Of course, wars come to mind, but even differing ideologies that can divide families. All kinds of labels are applied to divide and I’m not convinced that the upcoming elections on this continent will be triumphs of unity. That’s not how God works, though. In the Old Testament, God worked to unite his people through prophets, the establishment of a great nation and worship in the Temple. Jesus continued that work through the Eucharist, the cross and Apostles, who we call bishops today.

In the Gospel for this weekend, Jesus asked that even little children be brought to him, a sign of how even the weakest and smallest have a place in God’s community and in our Saviour’s challenging teachings on the permanence of marriage, disciples learn how important and serious the unity God wishes for his people truly is. 

So, to build the community God desires, to make sure the prayers, praise, sacrifice and worship we give to God is enough, first we come to Church. We set aside the divides and labels the world proposes and come here to be a united community of faith, Church. Then we take what we do here and strive for the same in our families and the larger community. Disciples know our prayers, sacrifice and worship are enough when untied to the prayers, sacrifice and worship of God’s community of faith.

So, this week, maybe take a moment to look at where you work to build community, the unity God wants for his people and also examine where you may contribute to the divides that weaken the unity of God’s people and ultimately our prayer. Next, invite God to being healing to those divides and to touch our hearts so we would be his instruments of unity in our world today.

God of all creation, open the eyes of our hearts so we would recognize those places where divides exist and healing is needed. Inspire your people through your Spirit, so disciples would unite in the work of building your community of faith, your Church. May we follow the example of our Saviour who, by being more than enough, accepted his cross and transformed it. In his name we pray. Amen.

[i] Mark 8:34 NRSVCE

[ii] James 4:2 NRSVCE

[iii] Genesis 2:15 NRSVCE

[iv] Genesis 2:18 NRSVCE

Am I enough? It’s a question we all ask, a question we’ve been examining for a couple weeks now. It’s a question that often haunts because it seems like, despite all best efforts, it’s impossible to be enough for family, school and work, finances and health, faith and friends. Yet we try our best to do enough, be enough, love enough, have enough because we want to be happy and bring happiness to the lives of those we care about.

We started by looking at a moment when Jesus healed a deaf man. It’s easy to imagine the deaf man worrying that his voice wouldn’t be enough to be heard over the voices of others or worrying that his impairment would be a barrier to communication with the Saviour. Through Jesus we learn, however, that God’s people don’t have to worry about being enough because God is more than enough and he meets us where we are. Jesus took the deaf man aside, away from the noise of the crowd, and healed him through touch and gestures.

Since God is more than enough, maybe, ‘enough’, isn’t the right goal at all. Certainly, love never stops with being enough. Doing just enough to get by at work, in school, with your family, is no way to find success or happiness. Jesus revealed, instead, what his followers should aim for: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow me.”[i]Disciples truly follow the Saviour when they deliberately choose to go where he goes, even when that means going to the cross. We all have crosses to carry that often tell us we’re not enough. As disciples, though, instead of carrying the constant worry of not being enough we follow the Saviour who is more than enough and transforms crosses into something life giving.

While we can agree that aiming for, ‘enough’, isn’t the right goal when God is more than enough, there are some moments when there just isn’t enough of something. Maybe some here struggle financially and make sacrifices in diet to pay the rent. We know there are dozens in our community who don’t have enough shelter. Maybe there are some who simply don’t have enough time to give to family, work and friends and end up depriving themselves of sleep. I’m certain there are some here who don’t have enough energy for all the demands of life and have developed unhealthy strategies to cope with the stress. Of course, I can’t tell you how to get more money or time or energy. But, even when in these difficult situations, even when there just isn’t enough of something, the goal of disciples always remains the same: to follow the Saviour.

The second reading today comes from a book written by Saint James, a cousin or step-brother of Jesus. I like Saint James because he’s very practical. He even has advice about following Jesus even when there isn’t enough of something. First, he observes, “…you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts.”[ii] When there isn’t enough, the temptation is to look at others and even blame them, to covet what they have.

It’s easy to think that if we just had their resources, their money, their abilities, their job or family or friends then life would be so much better. It’s easy to feel there’s an injustice or that others are obstacles to happiness, success or well-being and that’s when conflicts arise. This is when gossip starts in the workplace or siblings quarrel; spouses might blame one another for problems at home or those in more fortunate positions are accused. In short, we turn our attention to others, looking to get what they have, and begin drifting away from following the Saviour.

Instead, this is what we’re to do: Saint James says, “You do not have, because you do not ask.”[iii] When there’s not enough of something, ask God to provide. It’s easy to blame others or covet what they have, to forget that God does exist and cares and has made all things. Sometimes, we don’t ask God and rely instead on lawmakers or politicians to look after us.

So ask, but be specific. The problem with vague prayers is that it’s difficult to know when God has answered them. Children know how to make specific prayers. They don’t just ask for food; they ask for iced cream. They don’t just ask for a pet; they ask for a new puppy. Adults can be specific too. Instead of praying for more time, energy or money, maybe pray for a better work schedule, job opportunity or a stronger relationship with a friend.

Saint James continues, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.”[iv] Sometimes we don’t receive because we waste what we’re given. Maybe, not having enough time is a call to examine how time is used. Is there an imbalance, too much time spent at work or on screens? Maybe not having enough energy is a call to explore how energy is expended. Are there any values or priorities out of place? Is energy used to support things that aren’t so important? Maybe, not having enough financial resources is a call to look at how the paycheque is divided, to work on a budget, seek advice or question if there’s one too many streaming subscriptions draining the bank account.

This will take persistence in our prayer; don’t give up. Sometimes, we’re called to wait as our hearts grow or maybe the timing doesn’t fit God’s plan or in God’s wisdom we’re to increase our desire for his gifts. Parents know the value of a request made persistently; they know not to buy a puppy the first time a child asks for one; they know the importance of making sure there’s enough desire and maturity in their child first, to make sure the time is right.

So, this week, maybe consider taking a moment to reflect on where you don’t have enough; maybe there’s not enough time or cash or energy. Instead of looking to others, to what they have or to how they might contribute to the situation, take it to God in prayer; ask. Be specific and persistent until God answers your prayer or leads you in another direction. Asking God for what’s needed, depending on him above all else, is a central part of the life of any disciple that keeps us focused on our Saviour who has more than enough.

God of creation, we praise you for the gift of the Saviour. Open our hearts through your Spirit to entrust our needs to you. Increase our perseverance in prayer so we would never become distracted and lose sight of the Saviour who leads us to your kingdom. In his name we offer all our prayers. Amen.

[i] Mark 8:34 NRSVCE

[ii] James 4:2 NRSVCE

[iii] ibid

[iv] James 4:3 NRSVCE