Homily - MCHS Graduation - May 2016 - The Parable of the Talents

HOMILY – MEMPHIS CATHOLIC GRADUATION MASS

JUNE 11, 2016

1.  Well, look at all of you.  Your family and friends are sitting behind you and they are so extremely proud of you. 

2.  Moms & dads, grandmas & grandpas, aunts & uncles, guardians, can you remember when you first held your graduate or the first time he or she spoke?

3.  Graduates, this is a VERY special day for you and you have reason to be proud of yourselves. 

4.  And, I ask you to look around for a moment and just soak in how many people have your back.  You are loved because YOU are YOU and for no other reason. 

5.  In today’s Gospel, we hear what might, at first, sound like a harsh message in Jesus’ parable. 

6.  “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away”.

7.  Every once in a while, Jesus’ message catches us off guard.  It doesn’t seem fair (unless we seek to understand his true message). 

8.  Remember, Christ used parables a lot to teach the people, AND, we love stories too. 

9.  So, what about these talents that the servants were given to take care of for their master?

10.  Maybe, one of your theology teachers shared this with you OR maybe this is new. 

11.  A talent was a large currency measurement in the days of Jesus.

12.  When we hear that the first servant was given 5 talents and then the second was given 2 talents and the third was given 1 talent. 

13.  I bet most of us, especially with our American culture, think “well what’s the big deal since it was “ONLY” 1 talent, that can’t be much compared to what the first two servants had?

14.  Well, let’s look at what a talent (in Jesus’ time) was worth. 

15.  My sources say that 1 talent = 6,000 denarii. 

16.  Okay, so what’s a denarii worth. 

17.  At that time, a day’s wages were worth 1 denarii.

18.  So, 1 talent would have been a HUGE amount of money! 

19.  But, we tend to focus on, not the worth of what we have, but on HOW MUCH MORE someone else has.

20.  Graduates, back to focusing on you – your history and your future!

21.  What talents do you have?

22.  I bet many of you are like me and get caught up in thinking that someone else’s great musical or athletic talents are so much greater than your own talents.

23.  But, let me share with you what I’ve observed over the years that I have shared with you.

24.  I’ve seen great communicators, I’ve seen you care for each other, I’ve seen you be creative, I’ve seen you tackle great projects at your workplaces and I’ve seen each of you show your love for God and in one way or another show God’s love to others.

25.  Some of you know some of the talents you have that you weren’t quite comfortable sharing with our school community, maybe that was in song or dance. 

26.  All of us have talents that we haven’t yet fully discovered yet.

27.  Jesus, in today’s Gospel, is telling us that God’s gifts (our talents) are of HUGE importance and value. 

28.  God gave these talents to each of us and He has a purpose for each of us.

29.  Think about it this way.  If I individually don’t use a talent, a gift that God has given me to use (to give away to someone), then some part of God’s plan goes undone. 

30.  You’ve each come from different backgrounds, from different hometowns, and your stories are diverse.

31.  But, you have gifts that God has given you and He wants you to explore them, to develop them, and to invest yourself in the lives of others.

32.  Graduates, I want you to do something for me right now and quickly but quietly. 

33.  Please stand and turn around to face your families behind you.

34.  Moms, dads, sisters and brothers, grandparents, guardians and friends --- would you please stand and look toward your graduate?

35.  As I pray this blessing over them, please think about the many talents that you have seen your graduate display and maybe some that they don’t even realize.  Please extend one or both of your hands toward the graduates as a sign of blessing:

·       God, our Father, you put each of us on this earth for a purpose, and you are helping us to discover this purpose.

·       We ask You to bless these young women and men and to strengthen each of them to trust in You and in the gifts that you have given them.

·       Graduates, we bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen!

36.  Please be seated.

37.  Graduates, we all love gifts and, over the years, you have received many gifts on birthdays, Christmas, Easter and more. 

38.  Some of the simplest gifts meant so much to you because you knew the giver of the gift.

39.  Some gifts of great value were special for a moment because you knew the $ value involved, but maybe you didn’t really know who it was from.

40.  So, how do I expect you to discover your own talents and to use them as God meant for you to do?

41.  You must know the giver of these gifts, these talents!

42.  To know in the academic setting is usually a head trip. 

43.  To know Jesus Christ, yes, we need to study His word and the history of ancient times and throughout our own times. 

44.  But, to really know Jesus Christ and likewise His Father, each of us must allow ourselves to enter into a personal relationship with the Son of the living God. 

45.  You’ve done amazing work at Memphis Catholic and I trust that you’ve grown in your understanding of faith and religion.

46.  As you walk out of this Church today, please consider this.  At your baptism, you were called to be a member of the Church.  You became a child of God.

47.  If you have not yet been baptized, know that you are loved by your God and He invites you to die and rise with Him through the life-giving waters.

48.  Amen!

Homily - Eng/Span - 3rd Sun of Advent - Year A - 20161211 - What are you waiting for?

What are we waiting for?

¿Qué estámos esperando?

At times, we each go through struggles.  Maybe, it’s with our kids or spouses, or with our financial situation.  And sometimes, we’re told to just wait!  Wait and it will all get better.

A veces, cada uno de nosotros vaya a través de las luchas. Tal vez, es con nuestros hijos o esposos, o nuestra situación financiera. Y a veces, nos dicen que sólo esperar! Espera y se va a mejorar.

There are a few things that get “better” with time, if we just wait; a favorite choice of wine or waiting out the symptoms of a cold.

Hay algunas cosas que "mejoran" con el tiempo, si sólo esperamos; una opción preferida de vino o esperar a los síntomas de un resfriado.

But can we just wait on most things?  Can’t waiting without action turn into procrastination OR when we don’t see any positive turn in our situation, can’t we be pulled into despair?

¿Pero sólo podemos esperar en la mayoría de las cosas? ¿No se espera sin acción convertir en procrastinación o cuando no vemos cualquier giro positivo en nuestra situación, no podemos nosotros ser accionados en la desesperación?

Last week, we met John the Baptist in our Gospel reading.  All of Judea, we’re told, was going out to see him. 

La semana pasada, conocimos a Juan el Bautista en nuestra lectura del Evangelio. Todo la gente de Judea, nos dicen, fue ir a verlo.

The Hebrew people, remember, had experienced generation after generation of despair over the loss of their homeland to foreign occupiers.  But, they continued on working and living as families.

Recuerde que el pueblo hebreo, habían experimentado generación tras generación de la desesperación por la pérdida de su patria a los ocupantes extranjeros. Sin embargo, continuaron trabajando y viviendo como familias.

I’d like to focus on one family in this scene for a bit.  Nearly nine months ago, we heard of the announcement to Mary that she would bear a Son.  We know this Son as Emmanuel, God with us!  She would be the mother of Jesus.

Me gustaría centrarse en una familia en esta escena un poco. Casi nueve meses atrás, nos enteramos del anuncio a Maria que ella llevaría a un hijo. ¡Sabemos que este hijo como Emmanuel, Dios con nosotros! Ella sería la madre de Jesús.

And, Mary learns that her elder cousin, Elizabeth, is with child.  Two women in very unpredictable, one might say “impossible” situations with their pregnancies.  One a virgin, one an old woman thought to be barren.

Y María se entera que su prima mayor, Isabel, es con el niño. Dos mujeres en situaciones muy impredecible, uno podrían decir situaciones "imposibles" con sus embarazos. Una Virgen, y una mujer vieja piensa que es estéril.

Mary went to Elizabeth!  She had just learned of joyous, but troubling news of her own situation.  Betrothed to Joseph but not yet in relations, she is pregnant!  But even in this precarious situation, Mary’s heart reaches out to her cousin Elizabeth.

María fue a Isabel! Ella había aprendido sólo de alegre, pero inquietantes noticias de su propia situación. Desposada con José, pero todavía no en las relaciones, está embarazada! Pero incluso en esta situación precaria, corazón de María llega a su prima Isabel.

And what happens when Mary reaches Elizabeth’s house and calls out to her in greeting?  John, Elizabeth’s child, leaps in her womb with joy at his Savior approaching him.  At that moment, we would think that, at the very least, Mary and Elizabeth know who the Child in Mary’s womb is --- He is Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the World, the promised Messiah!

Y ¿qué sucede cuando María llega a casa de Isabel y llama a su saludo? Juan, el hijo de Isabel, salta en su vientre con alegría en su Salvador aproximándose a él. En este momento, podría pensar, en el lo menos, María y Isabel sabe que el niño en el vientre de María es---él es Jesus, el hijo de Dios, el Salvador del mundo, el Mesías prometido!

In our gospels, we only get a few glimpses into Jesus’ younger life.  We know that Joseph and Mary fled with Him to Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod. 

En nuestros evangelios, sólo obtenemos unos destellos en la vida joven de Jesus. Sabemos que José y María huyeron con él a Egipto para evitar la ira de Herodes.

And then Joseph returns with his Holy Family and we hear of a trip to Jerusalem for the festivals.  And, young Jesus stays behind with the elders in the temple and He’s found three days later.  Was John part of these family journeys?  Were the two cousins close as youngsters?  We don’t really know although many authors over time have hypothesized on Jesus’ life before He appears on the scene at the wedding at Cana.

Y luego José regresa con su sagrada familia y nos enteramos de un viaje a Jerusalén para las fiestas. Y Jesus joven se queda atrás con los ancianos en el templo y se encuentra tres días más tarde. ¿Fue Juan parte de estos viajes familiares? ¿Fueron los dos primos cercanos como los jóvenes? No sabemos realmente si bien muchos autores con el tiempo han presumido en la vida de Jesus antes de que aparezca en la escena de la boda de Caná.

But, what we do know is that John was called and he answered that call to prepare the way, to prepare the way for One greater than he!  Did John the Baptist know who his cousin Jesus was as the Son of God?

Pero lo que sí sabemos es Juan fue llamado y respondió a ese llamado para preparar el camino para preparar el camino para un mas grande que él! ¿Juan Bautista sabía que era su primo Jesus como el hijo de Dios?

We now come to today’s gospel and we encounter John, once again, but he is in prison for speaking out; speaking out against the sins of the ruler of Judea.  But John doesn’t simply wait for his coming demise, his death!

Ahora llegamos al Evangelio de hoy nos encontramos con Juan, una vez más, y él está en la cárcel por hablar denunciar los pecados de lo gobernante de Judea. Pero Juan no simplemente espera a su próxima desaparición, su muerte!

John continues to prepare the way as he sends his disciples.  He knows and he has said, “I am not the Messiah”.  He sends these followers to their Savior with a question.  “Are you the One”?  I would propose that even this sending is part of the preparation for the Lord’s coming.

Juan continúa preparando la manera como él envía a sus discípulos. Él sabe y él ha dicho, "yo no soy el Mesías". Envía a estos seguidores a su Salvador con una pregunta. "¿Es el?" Les propongo que incluso este envío es parte de la preparación para la venida del Señor.

John is GREAT in the plan of God!  John received the people in the desert.  He baptized them with water.  He heard and knew their fears, their despair.  And he baptized them, reminding them with his words and actions that Yahweh’s message is TRUE, just as true as in days of the Exodus with Moses and in the glorious reign of David!

Juan Bautista es GRAN en el plan de Dios! Juan recibió el pueblo en el desierto. Les bautizó con agua. Escuchó y sabía que sus temores, su desesperación. Y bautizó a ellos, recordándoles con sus palabras y acciones que mensaje de Yahweh es VERDADERO, tan verdadero como en los días del éxodo con Moisés y en el Reino glorioso de David!

And, WE know that Jesus is the ONE!  He is Emmanuel, God with Us!

Y sabemos que Jesús es el UNO! ¡Él es Emmanuel, Dios con nosotros!

So, what are WE waiting for?  You and I have journeyed with our Church through a Jubilee Year of Mercy and we’ve been reminded over and over again, “Go Out!  Go out and share Jesus with others!”

Así que, ¿qué estámos esperando? Tú y yo han viajado con nuestra iglesia a través de un año de Jubileo de la misericordia y nos hemos recordados una y otra vez, "Vaya! ¡Vaya y compartir a Jesús con otros"!

How do we prepare for the coming of our Savior?  We share Jesus as his cousin John did by sharing Jesus’ mercy with others --- with our families, our co-workers, and strangers.

¿Cómo prepararnos para la venida de nuestra Salvador? Compartimos Jesus como su primo Juan compartiendo la misericordia de Jesús con los demás---con nuestras familias, nuestras compañeros y extraños.

What are you waiting for?  For who are you John the Baptist; preparing the way for the Lord?

 

¿Qué estás esperando? Para quien eres tu, Juan el Bautista; ¿preparando el camino para el Señor?

Homily - Veterans Day Prayer Service - 20171110 - On His right or His left - Delivered at Memphis Catholic

Homily – Veterans’ Day Prayer Service – 20171110 – Memphis Catholic

Good morning!  Today, we celebrate and we remember.  We remember those we know as Veterans.  Veterans who are our friends, our family members, our teachers, our bus drivers, and women and men who we don’t even know, but who have served our country and the ideals that we hold as Americans.

And, we hear reflections and songs that help us to remember. 

This morning, we’ve again broken open God’s Word through the first reading from the Book of Ruth, our Psalm and the Gospel reading all of which we just shared. 

Let’s look at some of what these Scriptures might say to us this morning for just a few minutes.

We know the words of the song:

Our God is an awesome God he reigns; From heaven above with wisdom, power and love
Our God is an awesome God!

And, some of us get really inspired and fired up when we sing this song.  But, do we live it?  Do we live like God is the almighty, the Creator, the all-knowing, the all-loving, Redeemer and Provider?

As we read and listen to the words of King David in the first reading from the Book of Ruth, we hear David exclaim “The Lord is my rock”!  “My God is my rock, my shield”!  He goes on “I called to the Lord”.  This call to the Lord sounds like prayer to me!   

Do we take the privilege to pray for granted?  When your teacher ask you to offer petitions or prayers for loved ones, do you embrace the opportunity?  Or, do you let the opportunity pass by, because it’s just a silly prayer thing?  And, besides, you don’t want to be vulnerable around my friends.  Heaven forbid, that in a Catholic, Christian, school, we should let down our guard a little bit and acknowledge God as “My Rock”, “My Shield”!

And, David’s song goes on to share how “the waves of death” and his “enemies” are surrounding him and he is being overwhelmed!  Do you ever feel like that?  Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your family situation, your struggles with some of your academic work, the challenges you find in maturing into adulthood.  Or, maybe, a better question is how many times in the past week have you felt that overwhelming feeling and the weight of the world upon you?  We, like David, can call out to our AWESOME GOD and ask for His guidance, His love, His presence of calm in the storm.

In our Gospel, we see images of Jesus and the Father.  Images of “the Son of Man” seated on His glorious throne; the image of a shepherd separating the sheep from the goats; and, the image of Christ as “King” speaking to those on His right and those on His left.   How will we be recognized by the King when we die?  Brothers and sisters, we clearly know from watching all that is happening in our world from Las Vegas to New York City to First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, that we do not know when our own death will come, do we?  I pray that we all live long, loving lives, but we just don’t know. 

And, in our Gospel, there is confusion among those on the right and the left.  First, those welcomed into the kingdom, did not realize that they had been serving the King all along.  But, they were.  They were caring for the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters.  They weren’t deciding whether it was convenient or socially acceptable to care for the sick, the hungry, the naked.  No, they were caring for people everywhere and at all times! 

And, then there are those on the left, who are presumably “nice people” who ignore the needs of others.  They are self-absorbed, clueless of the plight of those around them.  Or, even worse, they are aware of the needs, but could care less to do anything about those needs.  Maybe, they think that their time to serve will happen someday “when I’m older and I have more money”. 

The reality, guys, is that someday never comes and when we are being separated as sheep or goats, our intentions won’t matter.  Did we serve Him?  Did you and I serve His people? 

So, back to the beginning to one of our favorite songs, yes, “our God is an Awesome God”.  He does reign with “wisdom, with power, with love”!  Do we glorify Him by caring for Him in His people? 

Today, I invite you to spend a moment hear, NOW, to think of where you stand?  Are you on His right or on His left?  Would you like to move over to the right? 

Come follow Him!