Sunday – July 5, 2026

 

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 
(Zechariah 9:9-10; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30)

Of all the symbols of the United States, none attracts more attention than the Statue of Liberty. This colossal monument was a gift from France, originally intended to commemorate the nation's centennial in 1876. It was placed on a small island near New York Harbor so that immigrants arriving from Europe could see it as they entered the country.

Now, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation, the Statue of Liberty stands as a tribute to the ideals of the United States. From its very beginning, this country has offered freedom, justice, and opportunity to millions of immigrants from every part of the world. It has given them the chance to participate in a society governed by the rule of law rather than by the privileged.

Inscribed on the pedestal of the statue is a poem that captures the spirit of the nation. One of its most famous lines is known by schoolchildren across the country: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." The poem was written by a Jewish woman who worked with immigrants. Her words inspired hope in the hearts of the poor and the oppressed, offering them the promise of a better life. They also bear a remarkable resemblance to the words of Jesus in today's Gospel: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

Of course, Jesus' invitation is far more than an offer of political asylum or material prosperity. Rather, it is a call to lasting peace and eternal happiness through a close relationship with him. Trusting in Christ frees us from the anxiety that afflicts so many people who make wealth, prestige, and pleasure the supreme goals of life. Although these values are not evil in themselves, they cannot give us the fullness of life that Christ won for us. Indeed, when pursued without restraint, they can even lead to ruin.

Jesus gives us that fullness of life when we accept his gentle yoke. His yoke—the beam that joins us to him—is his teaching. At times those teachings challenge us, as when he insists that we forgive those who have wronged us. But we should always remember that Jesus is at our side, helping us carry the burden. His friendship comforts us, and his strength makes our load lighter.

It would not be accurate to say that the United States is a Christian nation. Nevertheless, our country has incorporated many values inspired by Christianity, such as equality, freedom, and a welcoming spirit toward the poor and the refugee. On this Independence Day weekend, let us thank God for these principles. At the same time, let us pray that America will continue to live by them. They have been a source of our nation's strength and greatness. And as we strive to remain faithful to these ideals, may God continue to bless the United States.

 

Friday, June 16, 2023

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

(Deuteronomy 7:6-11; I John 4:7-16; Matthew 11:25-30)

One of the more popular saints these days is St. Monica.  She was the mother of St. Augustine who spent much of his youth resisting Christ.  Monica prayed intently for her son, and in time he converted.  Many parents today find themselves praying like St. Monica.  Their children, raised Catholics, have abandoned their faith.  Not only do they not attend mass, but in many cases have given themselves to the pursuit of alcohol or drugs.

Jesus hears the prayers of these parents.  His heart is “meek and humble” ready to share the burden of anyone who asks him.  He can convert sinners as well as cure the most troubling of illnesses.  He cured the paralytic at the Bethesda pool of the Jerusalem Temple who had no one put him into the water.

Today we come to Jesus with our special needs.  We want him to help those whom we love most on earth.  We ask him to heal them of evil, be it physical like the paralytic or moral like so many people who choose pleasure over righteous living.  We can pray with confidence because we are sure that he loves us.

Thursday, November 3, 2022

 (Optional) Memorial of Saint Martin de Porres, religious

(Galatians 3:26-28; Matthew 11:25-30)

St. Martin de Porres lived four hundred years ago in a provincial setting.  At least part of his spirituality, like flagellating himself with a chain, seems weird today.  He never attended a university nor received seminary training.  Could he mean more to us than a representative African American on the long list of saints?  Absolutely.  Looking beyond the peculiarities of his situation, we can see that Martin has much to say to the contemporary world.

Martin disciplined his body to seek the favor of the Lord, not his own comfort.  He slept over a cowskin with a torn pillow, much like Jesus with no place to lay his head.  Today’s world, in great contrast, seems geared to comfort and pleasure.  To reassure access to sexual pleasure, many are calling for abortion on demand.  Many, as well, are unwilling to make any sacrifice to conserve the burning of fossil fuel.  St. Martin shows how discipline does not lead to misery but to glory.

Martin, as a person of mixed race, had to endure prejudice and no doubt contempt at times.  Yet there is no record of his becoming resentful, much less rebellious.  He remained tolerant of all to the extent of caring for the dirtiest and most wretched.  No great end in itself, tolerance at least allows people to communicate with those whose manners or traditions they find repugnant.  There is need for public order, but its pursuit should not unduly restrict self- and, much less, cultural expression.

Martin's biographers highlight the fact that he not only cared for the sick but also cured them.  Searching for and using different herbs to create medicines, he may be considered a scientist as well as a healer.  He was also very attuned to nature because of his sympathy for animals. Martín teaches today’s world the need to protect the environment.  Plants and animals should be used for human good.  They should never be abused for profit or even entertainment.

Above all, Martin de Porres was a humble servant. For this reason, he is associated with the broom he used to clean the priory in which he lived. Like Jesus inviting people to come to him in today’s gospel, Martin was willing to help everyone, no matter a person’s ethnic background or social class.  Today, when public service is almost a joke, Martin provides a model to imitate.

As a last characteristic to instruct contemporaries, Martin prayed constantly.  He spent most of the night standing before a crucifix or a statue of the Virgin Mary.  No doubt, he prayed for the people to whom he ministered, but also he likely prayed for himself.  Martin was aware of sins that people would think are not more than foibles today.  Especially Americans are preoccupied with self-improvement.  Martin’s life tells them to go to God first.           

Martin left no books, articles, speeches, or sermons behind to give a clear picture of how or what he thought.  The testimonies of his life indicate that he was an exemplary religious and humanitarian.  From all that is known of him, we see virtues to be emulated and sanctity to be beseeched.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

(Deuteronomy 7:6-11; I John 4:7-16; Matthew 11:25-30)

With all the attention given to long-distance learning we might think that human teachers are becoming obsolete. But, of course, this is not the case. As much as computers abet instruction, students often need physical contact with a person to learn. They have questions that computers cannot understand and difficulties that only human intuition can ascertain.

In the gospel today Matthew presents Jesus as the “teacher of the ages.” Jesus’ meekness will not reject anyone. He never says one thing then does another but instructs by example. The yoke that he lays on apprentices – the lessons they are to follow – is not onerous because he supplies the strength to bear it. It is simply that they love another as he loves all.

The heart of Jesus, pierced and aflame, symbolizes all the richness of this gospel nugget. Its ardor reaches all people without exception. Its vulnerability knows the trials of the weak who in some manner include everyone. It invites each of us to enter its chambers where we might be renewed for the journey heavenward.

Homilette for Friday, May 30, 2008

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

(Matthew 11:25-30)

With all the attention given to computer learning we might think that human teachers are becoming obsolete. But, of course, that is far from the case. As helpful as computers are, students need a person to assist them in acquiring knowledge. They have questions that computers cannot understand and difficulties that only human intuition can ascertain.

In the gospel today Matthew presents Jesus as the “teacher of the ages.” Jesus’ meekness and humility will not reject anyone. He does not say one thing and do another but instructs followers to learn by following his example. The yoke that he lays on apprentices – the lessons he gives them to follow – are not rigorous. They only have to love another as he loves all.

The heart of Jesus, pierced but aflame, symbolizes all the richness of this gospel nugget. Its ardor reaches all people without exception. Its woundedness knows the trials of the weak who, in some ways and at some times, include everyone. It invites each one of us to enter its chambers where we might be renewed for the long journey heavenward.

Homilette for Thursday, November 4, 2007

Memorial of St. Francis Assisi

(Matthew 11:25-30)

In 1219 Francis of Assisi joined the Fifth Crusade. He traveled to Egypt where the Christian army was preparing to attack the Muslim forces. But Francis did not join the battle. His intention was to convert the Muslims to Christ. After the Christian armies suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Malik al-Kamil, the Sultan of Egypt, Francis seized his opportunity. He sauntered over to the Muslim camp asking to see the Sultan. Evidently, Malik took Francis as a deserter who wanted to convert to Islam and granted him an audience.

The Sultan challenged the friar to walk on the image of a cross woven into a carpet. In some circles this was considered a desecration of Christianity’s most sacred image. Francis, however, did not possess a scrupulous conscience. He walked on the cross reminding the Sultan that there were two other crosses raised on Golgotha and he was only trampling the cross of the “bad thief.” Then Francis challenged the Sultan. If he walked over burning coals unharmed, the Sultan and his people would have to convert to Christianity. At this the Sultan demurred saying that if he converted to Christianity, both he and Francis would be massacred.

The encounter with the Sultan evidently had an effect on Francis. When his friars established the norms for missionary activity among Muslims, Francis insisted that they prohibit any attempt to use weapons as a means of conversion. Nor were they to taunt Muslims into making martyrs of them. Rather, either they were to subject themselves to their adversaries as a model of Christ’s forbearance or they were to proclaim the gospel openly but without any demonstration of force.

We should understand that when we look at St. Francis of Assisi, we see an image of Christ, the image of God. Because he took Jesus literally -- shouldering Jesus’ yoke and learning from him, the people of his age recognized him as a “new Christ.” Christ himself seems to have confirmed this likeness by transferring to him the wounds of his crucifixion. In the gospel today Jesus also says, “I am gentle and humble of heart.” He will not attack others but recognizes the dignity of all human beings. So Francis did not promote battling Christianity’s enemies but dialoguing with them so that they might see the virtues of Christ.