1 30 Ord Time - Cycle C..................

Homily from Father Joseph Pellegrino Saints, Sinners and Catholic Reality This Sunday's Gospel tells the story of the sinner who sits in the back of the Temple seeking mercy and the Pharisee who sits up front reminding God what a great person he is. Discussion of the incident is often trivialized into thoughts about who sits where in Church. The parable is much deeper than a question of sitting in the back or the front. The parable deals with our perception of whom we are before God. The story reaches to the core of our relationship with God. God chooses us. He establishes the relationship. We haven't won this relationship with our prayers, or our actions. God has chosen us. And this has not been easy. It has taken an infinite struggle on his part. This struggle included the struggle for people in general, necessitating his becoming one of his people and showing them the extent of his love for them through the sacrificial love of the cross. The struggle also includes the Lord's continual effort to win each of us into his love as individuals. So often, God has had to be that Hound of Heaven that Francis Thompson spoke of. Do you remember that poem? It began: I fled him, down the nights and down the days; I fled him down the arche of the years; I fled him down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind; and in the midst of tears I hid from him," God has struggled to form a relationship with each of us. So often we have run from Him. When we realize that God has chosen us as individuals, that he loves each of us, and when we consider how we have resisted him, we realize that our prayer must begin with, "Mercy." The relationship with God that each of us have been gifted with flows through the Saved Community, the Church, yet it is unique since we are individuals. There is no connection between our relationship with God and another person's relationship with God. By that I mean that someone is not better or worse than another person in the eyes of God. Your children are not better or worse than each other. They are different. We are God's children. God sees us as individuals. He doesn't judge us as better or worse than another person. One of the ways that we tend to avoid accepting responsibility for our actions is to contrast ourselves with those whose actions appear to be worse than ours. The thought: "Look at that guy, he is a sinner and a tax collector. At least I'm better than him." is no different than the thought: "Look at that guy, he's a drug addict or an active gay guy and now he has AIDS. At least I'm better than him." Thank God, but that is not how God sees each of his people. He looks into our hearts. He sees all those hidden forces that have pushed us in one direction or another. He sees the times that he has directly intervened in our lives offering us his presence. And he sees the times that we have accepted his presence and the times that we have told him, "Not now, Not in this matter, Maybe later. You are asking too much." He judges us as individuals. He is not concerned with who is better than whom. He is only concerned with how well we each respond to his love. Catholicism is often accused of putting people on guilt trips. This is not true. Catholicism puts people on reality trips. Catholicism dares to speak about unpopular topics like sin. Catholicism dares to invite people to consider their own participation in sin and seek forgiveness. Is this really a guilt trip? Or is it a reality trip? I firmly believe that Catholicism fosters reality. It recognizes that our salvation is a process we are engaged in. We are not saved yet, we are being saved. It recognizes that we are human beings and that we can give in to temptation to sin. It tells us that the Lord was one of us. He experienced what temptation was and he understands our need for mercy. He gives the sacrament of mercy, penance, because he wants his mercy, not our guilt directing our lives. Catholicism is not concerned with guilt, it is concerned with mercy. Twice this week I have had people tell me how much they need the mercy of God. They are realists. We all need the mercy of God. As we come to a deeper understanding of all that God has done for us, we also come to a deeper understanding of how much we need his mercy

2 and forgiveness. The greatest saints are people who see themselves a great sinners because they have a profound realization of the extent of God's love for them and the many times they have not returned His love. The pilgrim's prayer is simple and profound. It is the prayer of the man in the back of the Temple who realized that he is totally dependent on God's love, a love that he had often rejected. The pilgrim's prayer, is the prayer that we all need to say with our hearts throughout our day, "O Lord, have mercy on me a sinner." A pharisee and a tax collector come into the Temple. Both are there to pray. Only one is a humble enough to recognize his need for the healing hand of God. Only one prays because only one realizes that he really needs God. And that one leaves in the embrace of the Lord's love.

Homily from Father Andrew M. Greeley

Background: Biblical reflection One explanation of this wonderful story emphasizes the virtue of the Samaritan but the surprise of the injured man. In the kingdom of God's wonder there is always room for surprise. Jesus is less interested in our imitating the Samaritan then in showing us that the Samaritan is God for the injured man. When we imitating the Samaritan we are imitating God. Story: Once a parish had a new pastor. He was a very hard working, zealous man. He went to all the wakes, visited all the hospitals, appeared at every wedding reception, consoled all the mourners, preached a wonderful sermon, was pleasant to all the children, even enjoy TEENAGERS! One day some people came to him and said we need more classrooms in our school. They cost a lot of money, the pastor said. We'll raise the money they replied. All we want from the parish is your moral support. Grand said the pastor. The lay people worked hard and raised tons of money, enough so that the school would be paid for the day it was dedicated. But then as construction started, some of the people in the parish became bitterly opposed to the school extension. It cost too much, new rooms weren't really needed, the money should be given to poor parishes, half the money should be spent on religious education, they hadn't been consulted. The parish split wide open on the issue. Arguments raged after Mass every Sunday. The pastor tried to keep both sides happy (which is what pastors are for), but the pro-school people said that he was not supporting them strongly enough and the anti-school people said that he had sold out to the pro-school people. Finally the poor man collapsed physically because of the strain of the conflict. While in the hospital he resigned as pastor. Everyone was happy to see him go.

Homily from Father Eugene A. Thalman M.M.

30 Ord Time - Cycle C Tim 4:6-8. 16-18 FUK WAH VILLAGE KEEPS IT Supposing I live to be ninety-two. And one day my superior says: "Fr. Hoh you are too old to work. We think it would be better if you went back to our Maryknoll Infirmary in New York. After a nice going away party, I would then return to the United States. At the retirement home, I would sit in my wheelchair, say the Rosary and doze on and off throughout the day. The kind nurse would wake me for meals. Then one day someone might come from Hong Kong. He would say: "Father Hoh, do you remember me? In 1962, you baptized me at Queen of Angels, Fuk Wah Village." And I will say: "Yes, I remember." And then I will ask him one question: "Did the people of Fuk Wah Village, Queen of Angels Parish, keep the Faith?" And I hope that my visitor will say: "Yes, Father Hoh, not only have kept the Faith, we continue to have pass on the Faith to the next generation and to our neighbors." Then I would smile contentedly and think of the days when, as a young missioner, I helped Fr. Dempsey bring the gospel news to the people of Fuk Wah Village. How patiently these catechumens and new Catholics listened to my sermons. Mr. Yam Sun Keung, the catechist, told me one day: "Father Hoh, your sermons have improved recently. We didn't know a thing you were talking about for the first six years."

3 ST. PAUL'S POINT OF VIEW: In today's letter, Paul writes to Timothy. Timothy was the leader of Paul's beloved community in Ephesus. Paul is getting up in years and he thinks his missionary career will end soon. You see, he is a prisoner in Rome. Yes, Paul is in a "poor is me" mood. He is in Rome and the Christian communities don't know him very well. Nor did they do much to help him during his long days of imprisonment. To them perhaps he was just another "has-been" missioner. In addition, some of the very people to whom Paul preached the good news, took to disliking him. People criticized him. They liked more popular preachers who introduced new and exciting doctrine. Then, too, maybe Paul was too bossy, or garrulous, or he offended folks by straight talk. I don't know. Anyway Paul complains: "You know that all in Asia, including even Phygelus and Hermogenes, have turned their backs on me."(v.15: ) Paul got to thinking that even some of his dearly beloved Christians were ashamed of him for some reason. So he pleads: "Therefore, never be ashamed of me, a prisoner for his sake." (v. 8). Paul worried whether those to whom he introduced the Faith in Ephesus would remain steadfast in the Faith. Paul writes (in the preceding verse 4-5), "I find myself thinking of your sincere faith-faith which first belonged to your grandmother Lois and to your mother Eunice, and which (I am confident) you also have." Lois and Eunice must have been great Christians. (I am sure that you older folks could remember some of the great Christians from the early days in Fuk Wah Village: Mrs. Poon, Mrs. Tse, Mrs. Suen, Mr. Tse the catechist, Wong Peng, Fung Chung, Mr. Yip Do and so many others.) St. Paul also hopes that that the younger people have the same faith: "which (I am confident) [read hope!] you also have." Then Paul tells the Christians of the Ephesus community: "I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God bestowed when my hands were laid on you. ...Therefore, never be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, ..but with the strength that comes from God bear your share of the hardships which the gospel entails." RESPONSE: Many of the original members of Our Lady Queen of Angels, Fuk Wah Village, have already joined the community in heaven. They continue to be interested in us and pray that we preserve the Faith they have tried to hand down to us. It is at times of anniversaries that we recall the stories of their Faith and how they followed Jesus. We need to tell the stories to the children and to the grandchildren. Of course, some of those who were baptized in those years, no longer gather with us. Why? Perhaps, we baptized them before God gave them the gift of Faith. Perhaps they had no idea what it would require to follow Jesus. It makes me sad to picture those Baptism days at Fuk Wah Village. I see a group of Pius XII primary school children who with their parents came for Baptism. They were dressed in their best clothes. Yet I knew that once they completed Primary School, most of these children had no hope of getting a place in a secondary school. Many quit school in Primary V. And they went to work in factories. And that was the last we would see of them. There were others perhaps who had a fight with another Christian and no longer gathered with the community to praise and thank God on Sunday. For others, it was perhaps just too costly in loss of time, friends or money to follow Jesus. Yet, some of them later in life remember the Faith of their youth and return like sheep to the fold. Just last week I learned that a woman from those days in Fuk Way Village, now in her fifties, did just that--after an absence of about thirty years. I know that you give them a loving welcome like Jesus wants.

4 And then there are those of you who continue to faithfully follow Jesus but who now belong to other Hong Kong parishes. You contribute some of the unique spirit of Queen of Angels to these parishes. The world is changing a great deal. It is very difficult to be a young person in Hong Kong. It is a struggle for many of our young people to be happy. I know that you parents and grandparents have tried to share your Faith with the next generation. When your children were small, you told them stories about Jesus. You brought your little children to Mass and Sunday school. You taught them to pray before and after meals. Like my mother, you would remind your children each evening: "Did you say your prayers?" Your kids remember that when they have kids. Perhaps during Mary's month you prayed the family rosary together. Yet, despite all your efforts, it sometimes happened that when your son or daughter reached their late teens, they did not keep the faith. I know that this grieves you parents and grandparents, godmothers and godfathers. You continue to prayer for them. You continue to love these young people dearly. You continue to give them good example. And perhaps one day they rediscover the precious gift of Faith. Then they too will pass this gift on to the next generation. FINALE: When I die and get to heaven, I hope to have a gathering with all the missioners who brought the Faith to Our Lady Queen of Angels, Fuk Wah Village: Fr. John Curran, Fr. John Tse, Fr. Simeon To, Fr. John McGinn, Fr. Arthur Dempsey, Fr. Frederick Becka, Fr. Stephen Leung. And I bet they will ask me the same question: "Did the Catholics of Our Lady Queen of Angels, Fuk Wah Village 'Keep the faith.?" And I will reply: "Yes, they have kept the faith." Homily by Fr. James Gilhooley 30th Sunday in Ord Time - Cycle C Luke 18:9-14 A priest gave a homily on this celebrated tale, says Arthur Tonne. At the end of the Liturgy, a man passing him said breezily "Boy, Father, I sure hope they get your point." Do you get the feeling he himself missed the message Jesus was giving? And, more importantly, do we? Do we believe church is a place where we go to find out how our neighbor might lead a better life. Have we become legends in our own minds? First the good news. The pharisee of the Gospel wasn't really a bad guy. He had a lot going for himself. The record shows he was honest and did not cheat on his neighbor. How are we in these departments? He fasted two times a week. Do we fast? He gave 10% of his income to God. The charts show that we in terms of income are more stingy than our parents. He prayed four times each day. When some of us come to Sunday church, we applaud ourselves. We feel that we are doing God a favor. A few of us even slip out before the Liturgy is ended. If in doing so we give bad example to young people, that is their problem and not ours. If the pharisee believed in the Eucharist as we say we do, we would not be able to dynamite him out of a parish church. Would that we had the chutzpah to imitate the pharisee in what Joseph Donders call the Big Three: prayer, fasting, and good works. The world about us would be a more delightful place to live in! And let's check out the bad news on this famous Gospel character. He was a proud prig. He was swept off his feet big time by his importance. William James reminds us: "A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices." His prayer consisted of trumpets to his humble self. The object of worship was himself. He was telling God there were only two perfect people - himself and God. And he was entertaining very serious doubts about God. We should reflect that the word humility was born from the Latin word humus or earth. Thus humilty demands that we stay close to the earth and, more specifically, reality.

5 But many of us are pretty proud about our own correctness. If we ran our prayer through a computer, we would discover that oftentimes we pray not to God but to statues curiously resembling ourselves. This then is a parable that the Christ spoke years ago in Palestine not for the Bobs and Marys around me. Rather He was addressing my own sometimes less than honorable self. Was it Socrates or his first cousin once removed who said that each of us would do well to know ourselves? Were we to genuinely know our own selves we would be humble folk. And likely to remain so, for we would realize that we have much to be humble about. No one has yet improved upon the famous line that pride goeth before the fall. William Barclay tells the story of the woman tourist in Germany. The guide took a group through Beethoven's house. He showed them the piano on which the genius had composed his Moonlight Sonata. A woman in the group immediately sat down and played some bars from the sonata. The guide told the group that Paderewski had recently been shown the piano. The woman gushed, "And I wager he sat down and played just as I did." Archly the guide said, "No, Madam, he said he was not worthy to touch those keys." I have met few genuinely great people. One was Henry Mann, the president of an international company. He would not speak of himself. He wanted to know of my work. I was very proud to tell him at boring length. When I left him, I regretfully realized I had been the pharisee of this parable. He had been the protagonist. He said nothing about himself and allowed me to rant and rave proudly about myself. In so acting, he taught me much about myself. Mr Mann had made his own the line of Francis of Assisi. "The beginning of wisdom," said he, "is to know who God is and who you are." This parable would have all of us copy Henry Mann's style. Homily Outline from Fr. Weinlader 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C Our gospel today is about the sin of pride and how it leads to the sin of arrogance which is often even more sinful than the sin of pride. Many of us who attend mass regularly are exactly like the Pharisee in the gospel. We have established certain patterns to our life schedule which includes mass attendance. However, we come to mass not to have our beliefs challenged by the gospel and the homily; but, rather to have our beliefs affirmed by the gospel and the homily. This is alright if all of our thinking and all our conduct are in conformity with Christ's teaching and the Church's teaching; however, it is not alright if some of our thinking or some of our conduct is not in conformity with Christ's teaching and the Church's teaching. Either all or parts of Christ's teaching and the Church's teaching are being rejected by most of the the population of the United States. Many people reject Christ's teaching to such an extent that they do not even attend church at all. These people are often the people who commit a multitude of sins out of ignorance between right and wrong. They get their moral direction from a secular society which itself is proud and arrogant in its defiance of God's commandments. Other people attend church; but are what we call cafeteria Catholics. They select out from Christ's teaching and the Church's teaching what they choose to follow and what they choose not to follow. They make judgements on not only Christ's teaching in the

6 gospels, but even on the Church's teaching in the homily. They are even so arrogant as to question not only the Church's teaching but even Christ's teaching. They are the people who argue with the priest when the poor priest is only trying to preach what the gospel says. I guess they want the gospel preached so that it does not contradict their cafeteria Catholicism. Religion in America is no longer guiding our moral and ethical conduct; rather it is secular society in America that has taken over as the dominant force for what people believe and what people do. I can give you many examples of how this secularism has sold us out; but, let me mention a few of the most notable.

1. We have become a nation of lyars; we give it a fancy word called spin; but it is no
more than lying. The Catholic Cathecism clearly includes spin in its definition of lying; yet if you study public relations in many colleges or universities, you will be taught the art of spin. Even in a time of national crisis; we have so much spin that even the media complains of not knowing which line of spin to report. A democracy does not need spin; how can democracy function if the poeple are not told the truth? 2. We have become a nation of dishonest people. There is not a day that goes by that I do not receive either junk mail or junk e-mail that is not trying to sell me some kind of "snake oil" product. Even Andy Rooney from Sixty Minutes attacked this dishonest and deceitful junk mail last Sunday night. But it goes beyond the junk mail; dishonesty in business has become rampant as well as personal dishonesty. 3. We have become a nation of very greedy people. No one seems to think they have enough money and enough of the toys money can buy. Our greed has caused us to put material things ahead of people. Our greed has caused us to put material things ahead of even our spouse and our family. There is no turning back, in life, once we have traded money and personal comfort for service to God and fellowman. Our precious money and possessions are only with us for this lifetime. Our friends,our relatives,our fellowman will be with us into eternity. Yet - we concentrate upon the things that we will only have for a lifetime; while we neglect people who we will be with in heaven for eternity. 4. We have become a nation that is not even reproducing its people. The majority of the population are not even producing sufficient offspring to replace themselves. Birth control and abortions, secular society has given us, is literally preventing the American population from reproducing itself in sufficient numbers to sustain the country. A society which is more interested in freedom and sexual promiscuity than in families and children is a society destined to pass into history for it will commit genocide upon itself by eventually producing insufficient offspring for the society to continue. If we look back in history, this is exactly what God has permitted societies to do. God simply let cultures pass into history because of their sinful conduct. 5. We have now become a nation that has so many moral and ethical problems that it is hard to see how we are going to work our way out. Rome eventually collapsed, not from without, but from within; that is, from their own moral and ethical decay. Unless we get our act together, we are bound for the same destiny. What should we do? 1. Get your own thinking and conduct in line with Christ's teaching and the Church's teaching. 2. Become active in changing the world around you - before it is too late. 3. Pray