Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor | Looking Ahead

Blessed and/or cursed! Those seem to be the only possibilities. And everything seems, in the view of the word of God, to depend upon our relationship with our God. Surely, God’s word is not suggesting that to trust in men and women in itself is bad or harmful. The word is describing a trust that reaches down to the depths of our souls where, in silence and in prayer and in the daily living of life, we discover God and God’s grace, and trust it!

Trust that we will find what we need and go where we need to go, and give and receive justly and lovingly because somehow, some way, God will be there in all of God’s mystery, simplicity, and wonder.

+ So Paul asks directly and bluntly about our faith in Christ and in the resurrection. Paul neither explains or describes in any detail (as if one could or can) exactly what the resurrection entails, or its “how”; there is real mystery here wrapped up in real faith. Faith enough to move mountains? Faith that will bring life out of death?

+ In the Gospel, Jesus walks us into that faith and trust and special place as he preaches to the crowd. He does not preach a folksy and simplistic nor easy message; rather, he digs down into their experiences of life — poor, hungry, weeping, hate, exclusion, insult, denounced.

And somehow through faith and trust in the presence and power, and gracefulness experienced in our relationship with God, God promises — kingdom, satisfaction, laughter, rejoicing, reward, joy, a place in heaven.

But one famous female comedian used to say, “Grow up!”

That is, we do not believe in “Pie in the sky when we die.”

No. We, rather, believe in “It’s heaven all the way to heaven.”

To walk with God in faith and in trust in both good times and bad times is to welcome God’s love and blessings and gentle guidance each and every day, and expect that it will pick us up and lead us forward deep down in the deepest recesses of our heart and soul.

Quote of the week |
“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” — Helen Keller (1880-1968).

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Scholastica, virgin, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

Creation and re-creation: Maybe that is one way of looking at and listening to the word of God today.

Now, as we enter the book of Genesis and the beginning of the Bible, we look also at the “beginning” of the earth as we know it, and the beginning of all things — that is, the genesis of all things.

We see God’s active and solo creation of all things, and his seeing of it as good. And this is also the first of two stories of creation within the first two chapters of the Bible; the goodness of God and the goodness of creation fills this first chapter. One could say that the goodness of creation clearly and simply flows out of the very goodness of God.

Our responsorial psalm follows these first days of creation, singing out —

“May the Lord be glad in his works.”

These two stories that we will hear answer many questions about God and us, and are an important set of reflections to begin our journey with God and to understand some of the mystery of us.

Then, we see into the mystery of the Holy One of God, the Christ. Barely one-third into the Gospel of Mark, we see the increasingly wonderful re-creating power of the Christ as he took the infirm and those whose lives became entangled with every kind of illness and disease and discomfort.

He re-created or healed them; he made them new again!

As the word says —

“They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.”

The sick were carried all over the countryside, as if they were in personal and family ambulances, so they could get well. The people stacked the sick (so to speak) in the marketplaces and begged Jesus to touch them or let them touch him. They believed (which was a very big part of the equation) that if they just, “might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.”

The story of the woman suffering for 12 years with hemorrhages (in Mark 5:25-34) who thought that if she just touched the tassel on his cloak — and then she did, and was healed; and she was told to tell no one, and she must have told everyone — might set the stage for today’s Alleluia passage.

In any case, they kept on coming, and he kept on healing. Clearly, the messiah’s moment was in full force!

Alleluia!

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor | Looking Ahead

The uniqueness and mystery of The Call is shared in today’s scriptures.

Isaiah describes his calling in classic form. There is a theophany, or some kind of appearance of God, that is “earth-shaking” and involves the “elements.”

He sees, not clearly, but something of God’s throne, and cries out —

“Woe is me, I am doomed!”

This is because humans have encountered the divine; it is too much to experience without death itself following. However, the experience cleanses and purifies Isaiah. Through it all, he somehow “hears” God calling him, and he answers without hesitation —

“Here I am; send me!”

In the Gospel, Peter had just experienced Jesus healing his mother-in-law a few verses before. He, with his own eyes, had seen the power of Jesus and knew there was more to Jesus than meets the eye.

Then, at the shore of the lake after a night of fishing with no results, Peter and the others were washing their nets; Jesus tells him to go out a “short distance from the shore” and lower the nets yet again. Peter makes sure that Jesus knows that he, a fisherman, has been at it all night without success and that he, a fisherman, knows when to quit. The catch, however, is astounding.

Why did Peter “listen” to Jesus? He had already seen a bit of Jesus’ power with his mother-in-law. There was something unique — powerful, grace-filled, God-like — about this Jesus.

Through it all, Peter even experienced a grace-filled moment in his weak and doubting nature, and uttered —

“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

But Jesus didn’t depart, nor did he see anything less in Peter. It is here, in this moment, in weakness and doubt, that Peter experiences the “call.”

Jesus casts out fear. Jesus reaches into the vulnerable and unguarded soul of Peter. Jesus deepens his relationship with Peter. It is here, too, that we can expect to hear God’s call again and again. It is probably here, too, that men and women of this parish, in this moment of time, in these circumstances, in doubt and fear, that some — perhaps many — will hear the “call” of Jesus Christ to follow as priests, deacons, and religious.

We encourage, support, and pray for the call to be heeded!

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Paul Miki and companions, Martyrs, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

The first reading today speaks about the unapproachable God. He was simply too great, too much, too powerful, too … everything.

As Moses would tell it, the tree was on fire, burning constantly, yet it was never consumed. And the scripture put it well when they told that Moses came down from Mount Sinai, and his face was glowing with a tremendous brightness somehow from within. The people told Moses not only can we not look at the face of God and live; we cannot even look at the face that looked at the face of God, and so you must cover your face with a towel for we are afraid to look at you.

Today’s excerpt from the letter to the Hebrews recalls and brings to the present that same awesomeness of God.

But then Jesus, in our Gospel, sends his disciples out to bring God’s wonderful good news — his Gospel’s good news to the world. Jesus didn’t wait for people to approach; rather, he sent his disciples to go into their very homes and bring to them the good news. Not only that, but the unapproachable God of the Old Testament would become the God who is love!

He doesn’t just love; he is love.

And elsewhere, we would be advised to remain in him, and he in us! The union between Father and Son and their remaining in one another is the invitation for us to do and be the same.

As for those to whom the disciples were to go, their only task was to listen and come to believe that a transforming mission was beginning!

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

Today’s readings offer some contradictions to us and remind me of a Latin phrase I remember from seminary days: non sequitur (“it doesn’t follow”). Or in other words, it isn’t logical, and it doesn’t make any sense.

The first reading today begins with the same and final verse of yesterday’s reading —

“Brothers and sisters:
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.”

Yikes! Faith seems to necessarily require suffering. Or because we have faith and are faithful in our faith, we will have the stuff to endure suffering and not lose that faith. Not a contradiction after all, it would seem.

Then the psalm tells us in the oft repeated refrain —

“The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.”

That Old Testament fear mongering raises its ugly head again! But what an odd way of putting it: everlasting kindness in exchange for fear. Yikes, again!

Then the Gospel shows us an astonished crowd in the synagogue, uttering such phrases —

“Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!”

And then, identifying his family, they conclude with this response —

“And they took offense at him.”

A total non sequitur — amazed, then condemnatory. Then Jesus himself became amazed “at their lack of faith.”

In spite, almost, at this seemingly contradictory stuff, doesn’t it arouse in us our faith, and a strong and firm faith at that?

In letter, psalm, and Gospel passages, don’t we kind of look at them and then get a better picture of who we want to become more and more, and what is, kind of, required of us?

Then, that one little verse from John’s Gospel that is our Gospel verse refrain stands out and even shouts out —

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.”

Alleluia!

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the daily readings, for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A rather ordinary event in the life of the Holy Family is seen today. As was the custom and practice, Jesus was presented to God in the temple. But then a most extraordinary thing occurred. Prophecies erupted first by Simeon, who was clearly “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Then right after that, the prophetess spoke, and this began Jesus’ special pathway. And the word proclaims that the Holy Family returned to their home in Nazareth, and “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”

Today’s psalm asks a recurring question in its response and answers the question immediately after it is asked —

“Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!”

And both Malachi and the letter to the Hebrews seek to inform us that the who of great significance is the Holy One of God sent to redeem and free and heal, and restore and to teach — all of this through word and action most supremely revealed on that dreadful cross.

There would come love and forgiveness.

And we would never be the same.

Quote of the week |
“To love another person is to see the face of God.” — Victor Hugo (1802-1885).

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. John Bosco, priest, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ Ah, finally, the letter to the Hebrews gets to the point!

Endure in your faith! Exposed to abuse and affliction, don’t lose faith! Stay faithful to God, and he will certainly be faithful to you. Don’t lose your confidence. Don’t throw your confidence away. And finally, in the final line of today’s passage, the letter declares boldly —

“We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.”

Then again, today, Jesus speaks in parables. He focuses on the growth of seeds sown, and a tiny mustard seed that becomes a huge tree in which birds come and nest.

But the comparison is so we can understand how faith grows the same in us because of God’s grace and Spirit. That is what happens within us as we come to know more and more the kingdom of God and its riches.

Are we people “who draw back,” or are we among the blessed to whom the —

“Father, Lord of heaven and earth, has revealed …
the mysteries of the kingdom”?

Archbishop José H. Gomez.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles celebrated a Gold Mass for Scientists at Our Savior Church on Jan. 28 on the campus of the University of Southern California, on the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Thomas Aquinas. The following is adapted from his homily.

By Archbishop José H. Gomez | New World of Faith

It is a joy to celebrate this Gold Mass with you and to hold up the noble vocation of our Catholic men and women in science.

And it’s fitting that we celebrate this Mass today, on the 800th birthday of St. Thomas Aquinas, who was one the world’s wisest men and one of the church’s greatest teachers.

St. Thomas understood that all creation is the work of the one creator, from the tiniest organism to the furthest planets in the solar system. And he taught us that all of creation has a telos, a divine direction and purpose, that all things in heaven and earth flow from and follow the creator’s plan of love.

In St. Thomas’ words, “Creatures came into existence when the Key of Love opened his hand.”

So, we ask his intercession today in this holy Mass. For all of us, but in a special way for our scientists.

St. Thomas once said, “Our wisdom does not consist in discovering the natures of material realities, nor the course of the stars, or any such like; rather, it concerns Christ alone.”

He wasn’t trying to discourage scientific research or new discoveries. No. Just the opposite. He wanted us to know where to look to find the answers. He wanted us to understand that if we seek the truths of creation apart from the creator, we seek in vain.

So, St. Thomas urged us to seek first the “mystery of [God’s] will,” the mystery of his “intense love for humanity.” And that’s what Jesus is talking about in the Gospel today.

Let’s listen again to his words: “For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

In God’s plan of love, Jesus came to gather a new family from out of all the peoples on earth, the family of God, his Catholic Church. And what unites us as brothers and sisters in this new family is not blood, but faith, our faith in God’s plan for creation, and our desire to serve God’s plan with our lives.

That’s what Jesus came to show us, it’s at the heart of the prayer he taught us: “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus came down from heaven, not to do his will, but the will of the Father who sent him.

As we heard in that first reading today, from the Letter to the Hebrews: “For this reason, when he came into the world, he said … Behold, I come to do your will, O God.”

Brothers and sisters, Jesus calls us to learn from him, to listen to his words, and to do what we see him doing. The point is that everything we do, no matter what our vocation, everything must start with this one desire: to do God’s will, from the heart.

God created us out of love to know him and to love him. He made us in his own image, the imago Dei, and gave us the gifts of reason and free will so that we could seek him and find him.

We can know the beauty of the world that God created, we can unlock the deepest secrets of nature, we can make discoveries that change lives and open new possibilities for the human family.

Through the things that he has made, we can know the maker and his love, and we can share in his divine life.

If we seek God’s will first, he will do the rest. That’s the promise Jesus made to us: if we seek, we will find; if we knock, the door will be opened to us.

There’s a beautiful story from near the end of St. Thomas Aquinas’ life.

Thomas is on his knees in the chapel of St. Nicholas in Naples. He hears Jesus speaking to him from the crucifix on the wall.

Jesus says, “You have spoken well of me, Thomas. What reward would you like?”

Thomas replies, “Nothing but yourself, Lord.”

As we prepare to meet the Lord today in the holy Eucharist, let us make that our prayer.

May we want nothing but Jesus! And, like Jesus, may we seek, not our will, but the will of the one who sent him.

St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us! Most holy Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us!

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the church, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ Hebrews again makes the point that Jesus the Christ came to save and redeem from sin, break the power of sin, and do the will of the Father.

And the end of the first covenant is the beginning of the second. All this takes place in Christ!

The ministry of Jesus the Christ keeps unfolding in amazing language. Imagine the scene: family comes; and standing outside the house where Jesus was, it is announced —

“Your mother and your brothers [and your sisters] are outside asking for you.”

There are several answers that might have been given: “Tell them I will come out soon”; or, “I will come home as soon as I finish here”; or, “Let me take care of business here first.”

He said none of these things, but surprisingly said, as he looked at all in the house —

“Here are my mother and my brothers./
[For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

He placed the kingdom before everything and everyone, including his family. And this, too, was an invitation to all who would see and hear.

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the daily readings, for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

When the people heard the law of God, they wept; Ezra told them instead —

“Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not lament, do not weep! — for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord is your strength!”

Our relationship with God means that we always care for the common good. This is the beauty of our faith. Loving God means loving our neighbor; when we love our neighbor, we have already loved God!

The simplest way to look at sin is to ask who has been hurt by it, because it always hurts, and can destroy someone or something. To begin to live an order of lawful life that respects self and others is to live in a way that will always give honour and glory to our God.

But we cannot underestimate the power of sin within us. No need to blame Satan “out there,” or someone else. Each of us must look to ourselves and within ourselves to the attitudes and desires that twist us and contort our thinking. Sin in its many forms obscures our ability to see our neighbor’s needs or the common good. So quickly we can become selfish, turned inward, desiring only our comfort, seeking only our pleasure, going only after our wants. Order and law call us back to the bigger reality of the common good.

In politics today, is not that one of the most nagging and irritating concerns of the “special interests”? These special needs are presented to our lawmakers by lobbyists who often represent the most wealthy and powerful of interests. Most of the time we don’t even know who they are, but they spend millions and millions of dollars to influence or even buy the vote of our legislators, who after all, do want to be re-elected; and elections cost lots and lots of money.

But are special interests good for our country, good for our citizens, good for the “common good”? Hardly; thus, we can see plainly the need for order and law; we, too, ought to rejoice in it. With law there are always consequences. Is this what caused the people to be sad and to weep? Did they fear the consequences? Did they fear the punishments that accompanied the law?

If people accept law and order, there are always consequences. In fact, nothing in this life happens without consequences — “cause and effect.”

When the people heard the law of God, they wept.

True consequences

Better than “punishment,” however, are true consequences.

When we do wrong, we should right the wrong. When we are part of the harming of others, we should be part of the healing, too. When our actions offend others, we should be responsible to help bring healing. When choices destroy, we should be responsible to rebuild and to replace.

Today in many circles we hear the phrase “restorative justice”; these two words connect well with love for the law of God. When we see the destruction caused by sin, should we not be about restoring and healing? This is what truly makes us and any day “holy to our Lord”!

Quote of the week, eh? |
“The courage to die for their beliefs is given only to those who have the courage to live for them.” — Sheila Cassidy.