Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

Today is familiarly called Palm Sunday; so named because of the procession of palms welcoming the triumphant Jesus into Jerusalem.

One moment he is welcomed as a king; not long after the mob shouts out —

“Crucify him!”

So, we carry our palms to get into it not just with our brains, but with our hearts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors.

Let us not be too quick to judge the people shouting against Jesus. As the many different versions of the Way of the Cross describe it, we may not have done anything differently than some of those chanting people.

The proof? Look at the way we deal with people today.

Further, look with the eyes of Jesus who contextualizes the way we deal with people in Matthew 25:40 —

“Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me. Whatever you fail to do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you fail to do to me.

The power of the cross

Today is also titled Passion Sunday, because we begin the celebration of Holy Week (our holiest week of the year) with the proclamation of the Passion of the Lord.

This is Year C (the year of Luke), and it is Luke’s passion that is proclaimed.

Good Friday never changes; it is always the passion of John. Of course, Luke’s passion is made up of many parts, including the last supper, agony in the garden, arrest, trial, scourging, carrying of the cross, crucifixion, and the climactic death of Jesus on the cross.

In Luke’s Gospel, often referred to as the “Gospel of Compassion,” a simple and most profound climax is expressed in one simple phrase uttered by Jesus before he dies.

As he hangs upon the cross buffeted by insults, he finds within himself the unimaginable freedom to say —

“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

The cross is wood. The cross is a hateful killing. The cross is the pain and suffering described in the passion. But this climactic phrase spoken by Jesus is the power of the cross!

Anyone could die on a cross; others died before. Others, with Jesus.

But how many could ever be so in touch with God, so in touch with a lifelong belief in and preaching of forgiveness, and to be able to reach within the midst of suffering, to find such forgiveness?

How many have allowed their spirit to be formed and shaped by God’s Spirit to be able to speak forgiveness in the face of so much hatred and injustice? How many have this inner freedom of Jesus?

How many could recognize such a moment of grace in the midst of such a storm?

This is such a profound week, and a week of grace! So, we carry our palms to get into it not just with our brains, but with our hearts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors.

Quote of the week |
“Fear does not stop death, it stops life!” — Naguib Mahfouz (1911-2006).

Father Perry D. Leiker is pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142, Ext. 112; email father, at perry.leiker@gmail.com.

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

(In these Masses, the Cycle A readings are proclaimed, and the scrutiny of the elect is proclaimed and celebrated.)

In the Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, we understand that as Jesus draws closer to his own death, it is really all about giving life, being raised up —

“This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God.”

But it is not just life and new life that we receive; it is also freedom from the power of enslaving sin and death.

It is also to be freed from the many things or powers that bind us, that “tie us up” and restrict us from being the grace-filled and free people of God we have been invited to become.

Jesus’ command is the ultimate command of liberation —

“Untie them and let them go” free.

Do we experience grace freeing us from the enslavement of sin?

If so, how, when, where?

The Cycle C psalm refrain today simply says —

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.”

This refrain is clearly echoed in each of the readings.

Isaiah is able to think back to Moses’ and the Israelites’ incredible escape from slavery as God led them through the desert and through the waters —

“See, I am doing something new!”

Paul speaks of the great things God has done for him in Christ Jesus —

“For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

But, could we ever imagine that the woman caught in adultery would walk out of the temple area having been freed by Jesus?

“Has no one condemned you?”

She replied —

“No one, sir.”

The Pharisees were using her as a pawn in an effort to capture Jesus in their “inescapable trap.”

Jesus would either stand for the Law of Moses, in which case all of his preaching about mercy and forgiveness would pretty much be a sham. Or he would stand on his preaching about mercy and forgiveness, and in doing so would negate the Law of Moses.

Finally, they had him! But Jesus, as always, went deeper.

He offered the woman forgiveness and mercy. He challenged all not to judge. He demonstrated simply that all were sinners and in need of God’s mercy. He invited all to see how mercy and forgiveness, not judgment and condemnation, change people’s lives.

We have almost completed our Lent. Only Palm Sunday separates us from today and Easter.

How have we grown? How have we changed? Did we experience God’s mercy and forgiveness in any noticeable way this Lent? Were we a little less judgmental of others this Lent?

Imagine the powerful responses we might hear to any one of these questions if we belonged to a circle of faith. Imagine what we and others might be saying about our experience of Jesus in our own lives.

Let us all taste together the joy of those words coming from the lips of Jesus to each one of us —

“Neither do I condemn you.”

If we truly hear those words, then we, too, can echo the refrain of today’s psalm —

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.”

Quote of the week |
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” — The Buddha.

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

In these Masses, the Cycle A readings are proclaimed, and the scrutinies are celebrated.

In the Gospel, we are given the example of blindness that leads to seeing, and seeing that is really blind; ultimately, Jesus is offering us the gift of real vision —

“Do you believe in the Son of Man? You have seen him”

The Cycle C readings recall the amazing story of a father and his two sons.

It has been forever entitled by scripture editors as the “Story of the Prodigal Son.” But it is so much more.

True, a spoiled son — the baby of the family — has the audacity to ask for his inheritance.

And this before his father had died!

The father, without even blinking, gives all of the inheritance to the boy who goes out and blows it all on less-than-decent living.

When broke and friendless, he works for a bit on a farm but is miserable. “Coming to his senses”, or, rather, realizing that he has to go back and beg daddy to take him back, he does just that.

The father runs to him in love, and embraces and kisses him in love, and takes him back, in love, without even a question.

So the story in later times has been renamed by some as the “Story of the Loving Father.”

But we are just beginning.

The older son comes home after working all day to discover a big party being thrown for his spoiled brat of a brother.

He is so jealous, and so resentful, and so angry that he won’t even go into the celebration.

The loving father comes out to his older son, in love, and begs him to come into the celebration, in love, and contextualizing, in love, all that has happened —

“Your brother was dead and has come back to life!”

Who do we resemble in the story: 1, the spoiled brat; 2, the resentful and angry older brother; or 3, the loving father?

Probably it is all three at different times; but the Gospel calls us clearly to grow like the loving father.

This story is just another family story, but this story brings hope and love, and the possibility for renewal and life!

Quote of the week |
“The day of my spiritual awakening was the day I saw and I knew I saw all things in God and God in all things.” — Mechthild of Magdeburg (1207-1282).

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ Have you ever been in a situation when you had enough explanation o1r understanding that everything made sense and nothing more was required? Would that Ahaz had had such a moment, but instead Isaiah the prophet had to set him straight —

“You will not ask for a sign? You will not tempt the Lord?”

And Isaiah declared that God would give the sign —

“The virgin will be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us!”

Hopefully, that was enough!

The letter to the Hebrews tells us that there is no more need for sacrifices and offerings; Jesus was the final offering and sacrifice, and was once-and-for-all!

But it is in the beautiful Annunciation story that we see God’s plan and Mary’s participation in it.

The most mysterious invitation and plan is revealed; the most wonderful and generous response happens from Mary’s “Yes.”

And although it is definitely plausible that Mary did not really understand the whole picture, she definitely understood that somehow God was inviting and doing something grand in the human story.

God was giving and loving in a way never imagined before.

And Mary said “Yes.”

And human history would never be the same.

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection of the Sunday readings, for the Third Sunday of Lent, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor | Looking Ahead

In these Masses, the Cycle A readings are proclaimed, and the scrutinies are celebrated.

The woman at the well discovers there is water to be had that comes from within and which will provide eternal life. Drinking from this water means we will never be thirsty.

The C Cycle readings link us back to the Exodus story with Moses atop the mountain looking upon and remarking about a remarkable vision —

“I must go over to look at this remarkable sight,
and see why the bush is not burned.”

There, at the bush, Moses experiences God who calls him and sends him to free his people whose cries for mercy and release from affliction have been heard. God’s response brings freedom of spirit and wholeness of life. God attends to the inner life of his people and every person.

It is surely why Jesus, in today’s Gospel, attends to fruitfulness and fertility. The fig tree (which is a special biblical sign of Israel and her faith) sits in ground that has been fertilized and cared for, and should become fruitful.

But barrenness results from Israel’s lack of acknowledgement of sinfulness and refusal to live faithfully.

This is no different for the Christian who is also called to acknowledgement of individual and corporate sinfulness, and a true spirit of repentance. This is what Lent is all about: confessing sinfulness. We all get our Moses chance each day to stand before our burning bush (God) who remarkably gives light and life and power and grace to us. We are given the chance to become resplendent and fruitful fig trees that produce much fruit because the ground in which we have been planted is fertilized, loved, graced, and tilled by our Father’s care.

Are we open? Are we willing? Will we respond? Do we desire it? Is life — God’s life — to be at the center of our own?

Quote of the week |
“No one was created to be a slave or a beggar.” — Dom Hélder Câmara (1909-1999).

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ Two words come to mind from this feast, and this man, and these readings — integrity and dilemma. And what a dilemma this was!

Joseph, betrothed to Mary — and for the Jews in those days, once betrothed you were already married; it was the first step, even more so than just being engaged — discovered that Mary was pregnant.

Now also in those days, if a woman was pregnant — and this, obviously, had to have occurred as a result of an adulterous affair; at least Joseph was sure he had not brought this about — the woman, according to the Law, could be taken out and stoned to death.

First, deal with the adultery, the unfaithfulness of the woman you loved; and, second, now deal with picking up stones and throwing them at her until she dies?

Yikes!

But Joseph was a good and just man; he couldn’t and wouldn’t do it. It was going to be a private and very quiet divorce, removing the possibility of any “shame” for Mary.

But God intervened; God sent an angel and told Joseph there was more here than meets the eye. And Joseph now had to deal with some deep mystery, and grow even more in his faith; through all of this, we see his tremendous integrity.

Son, why have you done this to us?

In the alternate Gospel for today’s solemnity, we see the same integrity when Joseph and Mary discover that Jesus is not in their caravan. He is lost; and this, in Jerusalem, a very large city during festival times.

Yikes!

But good and just man that he was, he simply hunkered down, and with Mary, went looking for their son.

The first and second readings give reference to Abraham and to the line of David. Both stories take us back to Abraham, our father in faith, and God the Father of Jesus and us all, as he spoke through Nathan to David and made clear there was to be a direct line to Jesus through Joseph who was in the line of David.

What an amazing story! What an amazing reality!

Does God work like this through and for us? Does mystery and salvation work its way into our lives? Are we called to receive God’s voice and open to God’s graces in our lives?

Even in our own dilemmas, might it be true that we are called to live an integrity of faith and allow those graces to do their work within us, maybe just like Joseph and Mary?

Joseph is patron saint of the Catholic Church. No wonder! He took good care of Mary and Jesus, and the church believes he does the same for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the Second Sunday of Lent, by Father Perry.

The Bible, all through the Old Testament, tells us that the people believed — if you ever looked at God’s face — you would die. Not that God would kill you, but that you would die because God was too big, too great, too powerful. Maybe it was something like looking at the sun — eventually you would become blind or your sight might be severely compromised.

But Abraham, in this first reading, had quite a relationship with God. They conversed. God led Abraham out to a sacred space for a sacred experience and made a sacred covenant with him.

In the letter to the Philippians we are told that, “our citizenship is in heaven.”

If this doesn’t continue and complete what was said to Abraham, then the truly glorious thing happens in today’s Gospel, as we experience with Peter, James, and John the transfiguration moment. Jesus becomes the most radiant light; and Moses and Elijah appear with him and speak with him, and God speaks to them of his Son, saying —

“Listen to him.”

And there, in the midst of this cloud, with this voice of God surrounding them, they became frightened. But after the voice concluded, and they heard the command to listen to his Son, they looked up and saw Jesus alone with them.

We know this story well. This story is meant to guide us to the same. The transfigured Lord of this story has become the transformed and risen Lord of all time and all creation. We are invited to know him now and be with him forever!

Quote of the week |
“In the search for me I discovered the truth. In the search for truth I discovered love. In the search for love I discovered God. And in God, I have found everything.” — Anonymous.

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the Sunday readings, for the First Sunday of Lent, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

The language of numbers in the Bible is a language of significance.

The number 40 was used to signify a very long time. For Jews to wander in the desert was one thing, but to wander for 40 years was quite another. For Jesus to go out into the desert without food or water for three days would have been a real test; but for 40 days and nights, it was clearly significant.

With great effort, 40 was a reachable number, but not for all; for someone in the days of Jesus to live for 40 years was quite an accomplishment. (It would probably be equivalent to living for 90 years today.) But add to that, Jesus was without food and water; weak, alone, uncomforted, and without support for 40 days — a long time! It was at this precise moment that he was tempted. It was also at this precise moment that he needed to depend on grace and spirit, and faith and trust to get him through it.

When things are easy and we believe, that is not so significant. When things are a mess, and we are pressured in every way, it is then that being faithful and believing means a lot. For this reason we, the church, go on this journey together. We are not alone. We join all of our brothers and sisters in faith. We can count on over a billion people on this planet, having been marked by a cross of ashes on our forehead, to walk together as we do something different during these 40 days to let God in, to let him love us, call us, heal us, redirect us, renew us.

If I were forced to pick one expression that best summed up the spirit of Lent it would be: “Renew us, Lord!”

This is a time of grace and love. This is a time not of “being alone” in the desert, but quite the contrary; this is a time of allowing God to be so present — so totally present, that our lives will be made new through his love.

This is God’s time. This is a time of grace.

Quote of the week |
“Our true life lies at a great depth within us.” — Tagore (1861-1941).

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for Friday After Ash Wednesday, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ What is the purpose of fasting? What does the scripture say?

In Isaiah, God speaks strongly and clearly, and tells us he does not want, nor is he pleased with, fasting. Nor does fasting in itself do anything, and in itself, is not valuable.

God tells Isaiah to —

“Cry out full-throated and unsparingly.”

And God makes it clear that the way the people are fasting is useless; they end a day after fasting in fighting and quarreling, and having spent the day going after their own pursuits. Fasting should, says God, lead you closer to me, your God, where you should, through your fasting, accomplish good through your love by doing good, like —

“Releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking off every yoke.

“… Sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh.”

This delights the Lord! This is living with the image and likeness of the Lord!

And in the Gospel, Jesus looks at it in another way.

When his disciples were being criticized for not fasting, Jesus notes that at a wedding feast you do not fast; you feast. And Jesus the bridegroom was with them now, and feasting is appropriate. After Jesus the bridegroom would leave them — or more correctly, be taken from them — then they would fast. I can only assume they didn’t have a clue what he was saying. This image of the bridegroom most likely went right over their head. In any case, Jesus was saying the same as God, which was being proclaimed by Isaiah.

Just fasting for the sake of fasting isn’t worth much. But fasting to make us better and more loving people has a great purpose.

The psalm today captures that truth in other words —

“A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.”

And the verse before the Gospel amplifies it —

“Seek good and not evil so that you may live,
and the Lord will be with you.”

-30-

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for Thursday After Ash Wednesday, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

Well, clearly, the book of Deuteronomy spells it out, clear and plain —

“If, however, your heart turns away and you do not obey, … you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life.”

Then John writes even more definitively —

“God is love.”

Now there is no lack of clarity; Jesus tells us that there are crosses in life. We need to pick up our own crosses and carry them. In losing one’s life, one really finds their life.

This kingdom talk is the message that gives life, and does so in an eternal way. Really! Forever and ever! And it’s a pretty paradoxical language that many don’t quite get.

But sacrifice and love? Those open up and bring much blessing. They are, so to speak, keys to the kingdom of heaven!